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| Stay Clear of This Common Dog Danger |
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Two weeks ago it was actually Bubble Gum Week! (I really can't make this stuff up.)
That brings me to a really important point. Bubble gum (and regular chewing gum) is safe and enjoyable for humans, but it could be dangerous to dogs. Today I'd like to take a minute to tell you about the dangers of chewing gum.
Many gums are sugarless and made with an ingredient called xylitol, which is potentially toxic to pets. Xylitol is a type of artificial sweetener found in many sugar-free chewing gums, candies and baked goods. In dogs, it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. The symptoms of this dangerous condition include depression, lethargy, weakness, incoordination and seizures in some cases.
Xylitol poisoning can occur in as little as 30 minutes after ingestion. That's a big problem when you consider that dogs are so darn good about getting into things and can do it before we even notice them. I treated a dog that got in to his owner's purse - within minutes he had eaten an entire pack of gum (wrappers and all) and she didn't even notice. The dog "cleaned up his mess" so to speak by also eating the wrappers. Within about an hour he was falling over and the owners had no idea what caused it. (I'm so glad they brought him in to see me!)
These kinds of things DO happen, so please be careful. It is safest not to give your dog ANY human foods. For more information go to: xylitol poisoning
re-posted from:
