Beware Sugar-Free Gum, Xylitol
My purse is no longer a place for unmentionables to be carried about in private. My 14- month old daughter has commandeered the accessory and enjoys emptying the bag, one pen and credit card at a time. And though I usually keep it out of her sticky-fingered reach, sometimes I indulge her under my supervision. Last week, she had finished pulling scraps of paper from my checkbook and started pulling pieces of gum out of the package. She started feeding these to my attentive boarder collie, who will take anything out of her hands, usually because they are sweet and sticky. Luckily, he is not a fan of orange-mint sugar free gum and didn’t ingest any.
For dogs that do eat sugar-free gum, they can develop xylitol toxicity. Unlike in humans, xylitol in dogs causes insulin release and can result in severe hypoglycemia. The low blood sugar levels can cause weakness, collapse and seizures. The xylitol can also harm the liver, enough to be fatal. And it doesn’t take much, as little as 1-2 pieces in a 25 pound dog! If you think your dog has gotten into your chewing gum, call your veterinarian right away. While there is no antidote, supportive care begun quickly can save your dogs life.
--Dr. Olson
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Dr. Olson practices small animal medicine in Denver, CO and is a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
Brenda on January 15, 2009 at 09:07 PM
Oh, what great information. I had no idea. Thank you.
Cristobal De Licia on January 18, 2009 at 07:00 AM
Xylitol fairly new ingredient in chewing gum (outside of Finland, where it originated), and there are many sugarless gums that don't contain it.
As long as you are willing to read ingredient labels in sugarless gum, dog owners can continue to enjoy sugarless gum without worry
Xylitol Gum on January 31, 2009 at 03:01 PM
the gum center is hard. Seriously, frighteningly hard. I’m not sure how that happens, but it’s not hard all the way through, just on the first bite, like it’s been coated with cement or something. (I’m guessing it’s just a gumball that has one of those polished coats instead of being a lump of gum.
Xylitol on July 28, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Xylitol:
Looking for a healthy alternative to conventional table sugar that’s much lower in carbohydrates? Xylitol is an outstanding choice! This sugar alcohol is derived from fruits, is approximately 50% less sweet than sugar, and has a much lower glycemic rating. As a result, it metabolizes slower in the body and Enhances support healthy blood/glucose levels. Extensive clinical studies continue to demonstrate that Xylitol is 100% natural and completely safe for both adults and children. Try some today and see for yourself! Xylitol on discount at Nutrovita.com.
For more details please visit :
http://www.nutrovita.com/24476/now-foods/xylitol.htm
Xylitol Fresh on December 03, 2010 at 11:45 AM
I love these post's on dogs and xylitol - Thank god when I used to give my Dog gum to amuse myself - Not to be mean it just looked cute when he chewed it - Thank God It wasn't xylitol Gum - I can't even imagine how I would have felt if it died ugh - I am still researching it but there is a way to save the dog's life as long as it is within 30 min of consumption - Ill have it posted on our new blog over the weekend - Just google xylitol Fresh to view it - Thank you and keep spreading the word :)
joesen on December 29, 2010 at 10:28 PM
My purse is no longer a place for unmentionables to be carried about in private.