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dogs should not blow bubbles!
Brophy's Poison Alert
My Mom doesn’t like the sound of smacking
gum so she doesn’t let me chew it – I make too much
noise with my big lips! Actually, she keeps the gum
hidden in the pantry because it can be deadly to
me.
 The
reason gum is so dangerous to dogs (and cats) is due to
an ingredient called
XYLITOL. Mom says Xylitol is used
as a sugar substitute in lots of tasty things like gum,
candy, baked goods and even toothpaste.
Xylitol tricks a dog’s body into
releasing a bunch of insulin that causes the blood sugar
to drop to seriously low levels. It can also cause my
liver to fail in as little as 2 days. None of this
sounds like much fun!
Studies show that as little as 2 Trident
sized sticks of gum can cause serious problems – even
death – in a 20 pound dog!
If you see your dog acting funny like
vomiting, lethargy (lack of energy), loss of
coordination and/or seizures, get him/her to the vet
immediately.
Look around the house and if there is
evidence that gum or candy has been consumed, suspect
Xylitol. Don’t rule out baked goods or processed foods
either. Many low-cal grocery store items now have
artificial sweeteners in them. Even your favorite
Aunt’s home baked goods could be dangerous if she added
artificial sweeteners because she thinks you need to
lose weight!
So my dear humans (especially you kids
out there), put these things away in pantries and
drawers where we can’t get them – don’t forget to put
away the toothpaste too!
Oh, and don’t let me eat old gum and junk
off the sidewalk when we are out for a walk.
If you suspect Xylitol poisoning, call
your vet or emergency clinic immediately!
A good phone number to keep handy is for
the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435.
Be safe out there!
Love, Brophy |
