Gum is a Sticky Issue For Your Dog
I received this posting from a friend who is also the owner of a King Charles Cavalier.
"I know that many of you already are well aware of the risks of xylitol
(an artificial sweetener used in diabetic foods, mints, chewing gum,
sugar free pudding, jello, etc.) when it comes to our dogs, but
thought this could serve as a reminder... I almost lost 2 of my girls
last night...
I had a friend over yesterday evening, and (without thinking) she put
her purse on the ground, and we ended up chatting in another room for
an hour or two. When we returned to the room in which she placed her
purse, I noticed, to my absolute horror, a *shredded* gum box
torn to oblivion all over the floor.
I am well aware of the risks of xylitol ingestion with dogs (as little
as 2 pieces of gum can cause death in a 20 lb dog). I immediately
grabbed my dogs and smelled their breath - the only one with the minty
fresh breath... Izzy, my 10 lb female tri puppy. In a panic, I
accosted my friend as to EXACTLY how much gum she had left in the
package - she thought 3 or 4 pieces. Oh my god.
I immediately induced vomiting (with hydrogen peroxide) and Izzy
vomited violently 4 times - very minty smelling vomit, with small
chunks of the gum. I then rushed both her and Darby (my 3 yo Bl girl -
the only other one with access at the time - she didn't have minty
breath, but I wasn't about to take any chances) to UC Davis for blood
glucose monitoring and treatment.
By the way, for those who don't know, xylitol causes mass insulin
release in dogs, leading to severe, acute hypoglycemia. Dogs can show
symptoms in as little as 20 minutes, or as late as 12 hours: ataxia
(staggering gait), depression, lethargy, confusion, seizures & death.
Even if they survive the hypoglycemia, many dogs experience liver
failure and death 3-4 days later. There is no antidote or "cure." Your
only option is to try and stay ahead of it by giving mass amounts of
glucose to combat the effects of the xylitol until it finally
metabolizes out of their system in 12-24 hours. Also, to check liver
enzymes a few days later to see if your dog is experiencing fatal
liver failure - no real cure or treatment, just supportive care and
prayers. "
I have to admit that I had never heard of this, so I did a little digging.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has posted the following warning regarding xylitol.
"If you think it's no big deal that your dog just ate some sugar-free gum or a cookie or two, think again. You may want to make an immediate trip to your veterinarian. While veterinarians have suspected that the sugar substitute xylitol can make dogs sick, there is now further clinical evidence of an association between the product and possible liver failure in dogs…Xylitol, a sweetener found in many sugar-free chewing gums, candies, baked goods and toothpastes, is a naturally occurring ingredient that may have far-reaching negative health effects on dogs....
"Not all things that are natural are safe," said veterinary toxicologist Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, who along with veterinarian Eric K. Dunayer co-authored the report. "There are plenty of things in the environment that are toxic to pets."
While not all pets become ill after eating xylitol, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said the public—and especially dog owners—needs to be aware of the potential dangers. She added that pet owners should make sure that products containing xylitol are kept away from dogs. If an owner suspects that their dog has eaten products containing xylitol, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.
"The potential for severe illness is very high," she said. "People don't think sugar-free gum can kill their dog. I didn't before I got into this. But this is something people should be aware of."
I have also found some data that even the small amount in a breath mint can be harmful to you dog.
You are the owner. You are responsible
Look after your pets.
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