Swallowing chewing gum can be dangerous for a dog and lead to health problems. That's why it's important to know how to react and take preventive measures in such a situation. In this article, we'll explain what you should do if your dog has eaten gum and how to prevent your dog from being tempted to eat gum unintentionally in the future.
Why chewing gum can be toxic to dogs
Dog ate chewing gum: Chewing gum can be toxic to dogs because many varieties contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that increases insulin secretion in dogs, which can lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels. Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coordination problems and even liver failure can occur when dogs ingest xylitol. Therefore, it is important to ensure that dogs do not have access to gum or other sugar-free products that may contain xylitol.
Suppose an owner reports that his dog ate sugarless gum containing xylitol more than a few hours ago. In this case, the veterinarian asks that the owner bring the dog to him immediately.
Fortunately, prompt, supportive treatment can help the dog recover, but these stories don't always have a happy ending. If your dog has recently consumed xylitol gum, stop reading now and contact your veterinarian. Time is of the essence. If you have a friend or family member who can contact the vet for you, you can quickly read through the next section.
What happens in the dog's body when he eats chewing gum?
If you see your dog has eaten chewing gum, you need to be extra careful because this can cause various problems in your dog's body. The main ingredient in chewing gum is gum arabic, which is difficult for dogs to digest and can form a lump in the intestines, blocking the digestive tract. Additionally, many gums contain xylitol, a sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs and can cause insulin release, leading to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, convulsions, and even coma and death. Other ingredients in gum, such as sugar and artificial flavors, can also cause gastrointestinal problems. Overall, eating gum can be very dangerous for dogs and it is important to act quickly if a dog has eaten gum.
Symptoms of xylitol toxicity in dogs
Even if your dog doesn't show these symptoms right away, you should contact your veterinarian. Symptoms may not appear until a few hours later.
- Vomit
- lethargy
- weakness
- Tremble
- Loss of coordination
- Seizures
- Pale gums
- Dark red blood stains on the gums
- shock
- collapse
Your dog eats chewing gum - what should you do?
Determine the type of gum your dog ate. Let's say it was sugary gum without xylitol. In this case, your dog could have indigestion - especially if he ate a large amount. Watch your dog. Contact your veterinarian if you notice symptoms of intestinal blockage in your dog.
Suppose the chewing gum was sugar-free but contained no xylitol, only sorbitol, aspartame or mannitol. In this case, you shouldn't notice any negative effects.
Call your veterinarian if your dog has consumed gum containing xylitol within the last 30 minutes. Your vet may suggest that you induce vomiting at home with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. See your veterinarian immediately if you cannot induce vomiting or feel uncomfortable doing so.
If your dog swallowed sugar-free gum more than 30 minutes ago, you should report it to your veterinarian immediately, even if there are no symptoms. The sooner you see the vet, the better the prognosis.
My dog ate sugar-free gum without xylitol
If the gum does not contain xylitol, your dog is less likely to have health problems. However, some sugar-free gums contain other ingredients such as sorbitol or mannitol, which can cause digestive problems such as diarrhea or stomach pain if consumed in excess.
Monitor your dog over the next few hours for signs of discomfort such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or lethargy. If you are concerned or experience these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. It is always better to be safe and seek professional help.
My dog has eaten xylitol gum within the last 30 minutes and has shown no symptoms
Call your veterinarian if your dog has consumed sugar-free gum within the last 30 minutes. Your vet may suggest that you induce vomiting at home with 3% hydrogen peroxide to minimize intake. Vomiting is triggered when the dog shows no symptoms. Your dog's weight depends on the amount of hydrogen peroxide to be given. See your vet immediately if you cannot induce vomiting or feel uncomfortable doing so. Your vet can also induce vomiting using other methods or perform gastric lavage. Activated charcoal has not been shown to be effective for xylitol toxicity in dogs.
My dog ate xylitol gum more than 30 minutes ago
If your dog has consumed sugar-free gum more than 30 minutes ago, you should report it to your vet immediately, even if there are no symptoms. Your vet can provide support to reduce the likelihood of complications. The sooner you see the vet, the better the prognosis. Remember that symptoms can also appear later.
How much xylitol gum is toxic to a dog?
As a rule of thumb, one piece of unchewed gum containing xylitol is potentially toxic to a 10-pound dog.
It can be difficult to determine how much xylitol a dog has consumed because the xylitol content in sugar-free gum can be difficult to determine. This is best done by your vet. Have the candy wrapper with the ingredient list ready when you call your vet, and bring it with you when your vet comes to see your dog.
An average piece of gum or mint can be expected to contain between 0.22 and 1.0 grams of xylitol. That means a 10-pound dog would only have to eat one piece to ingest a potentially toxic dose.
What you can do while monitoring your dog's symptoms
It may be helpful to feed your dog to increase blood sugar levels. Give your dog a snack every 2 to 3 hours for the next 12 hours. If your dog won't eat, you can try rubbing a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey directly into his mouth and gums.
If your dog has eaten sugar-free gum without xylitol and you are concerned, you should monitor him and watch for possible symptoms. Some symptoms to look out for are:
- Vomit
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy or weakness
- Tremors or convulsions
- Difficulty breathing
If your dog shows one or more of these symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian immediately. You can also try getting your dog to drink something to potentially flush the poison out of his system.
It's also a good idea to bring the gum packaging with you so the vet can check the ingredients list to see if there are any other potentially harmful substances. If your dog is doing well and showing no symptoms, you should continue to monitor him and make sure he is drinking enough water and eating and drinking normally.
Xylitol and Liver Failure in Dogs
A recent study from the ASPCA reported cases in which dogs developed increased liver enzyme activity within 12 to 24 hours of consuming xylitol. Several of these dogs developed acute liver failure, which resulted in death.
It is very important to note the brand of gum a dog has eaten when contacting a veterinarian. Different brands of gum contain different amounts of xylitol. The higher the amount of xylitol consumed, the greater the risk of liver failure.
For example, some brands only contain very small amounts. For a 20 kg dog, just 9 chewing gums would cause severe hypoglycemia, and 45 chewing gums would result in liver failure. With other popular brands of chewing gum that contain 1g of xylitol per piece of gum, just two pieces would cause severe hypoglycemia. In contrast, 10 pieces can lead to liver failure.
How common is xylitol poisoning in dogs?
Few owners are aware of the dangers of sugar-free chewing gum. The culprit is a substance called xylitol, which is commonly used in sugar-free candies, mints, breath fresheners, chewable vitamins, toothpaste, nicotine gum, and baked goods. While consuming xylitol is fairly harmless in humans, it can cause serious, even life-threatening illnesses in dogs.
More cases of xylitol poisoning in dogs occur every year because more and more products containing this artificial sweetener come onto the market.
Prevention
Dogs have a love of sweets, and some will eat anything they can find. That's why it's so important to dog-proof your home and make sure your dog doesn't have access to potentially harmful foods and products like chewing gum and candy that contain xylitol. Check to see if your dog is picking up gum from his purse, trash can, car, or floor.
Sugar-free chewing gum almost always contains xylitol. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to tell if other products contain this ingredient. The labels list sugar alcohols, but don't say whether one of them is xylitol. Added sugar alcohols, sorbitol and maltitol are not toxic to dogs. It's safest to be careful with any products that are labeled "sugar-free" or "no added sugar."
Always brush your dog's teeth with a special dog toothpaste and never with one made for humans. And even if your dog looks at you pleadingly with his big brown eyes, you shouldn't share your food with him if there's a chance it contains xylitol.
Conclusion
Dog has eaten chewing gum, which can cause panic for many dog owners. Dog owners should ensure that their dogs do not consume products that are toxic to them, such as chewing gum containing xylitol. If a dog accidentally consumes such products, they should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. It is also important to observe the dog's symptoms and provide the veterinarian with all relevant information about the incident to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. If in doubt, a veterinarian should always be consulted.
