I KNOW better!!!

[MaddiesMommie]

I am posting just as a reminder to everyone, Trident is deadly to our babies! I am almost embarrassed to say this happened in my home.

I returned to the house this afternoon to find a shredded Trident package and not sign of the gum that it once held. I start freaking out. I have to explain to my husband why this IS such a horrible thing. I immediatly contacted the ER vet. We are about an hour or more away and I had been gone for 2-3 hours, so the vet guided me through what to do.

We induced vommiting and Cooper was the only one who had ingested any. That was what I figured, but wanted to make sure. Long story short, all is okay but I am still keeping them close tonight and setting an alarm to wake me up through the night. Again, I can't believe I let this happen. I am vowing here and now to NEVER purchase another pack of gum.

[jadabug]

What a scary thing. Since getting my babies I don't bring anything sugarless in the house. If I buy gum I keep it in my desk at work or in the console in my car. I hope your girls do ok through the night. Will keep you all in my prayers tonight.

[Patti]

How scary. I banned gum from my house last year too. Hopefully Cooper will be fine.

[jjohnson86]

Oh man, I was never a big gum chewer so keeping gum out of my house away from my babies isn't a big deal. I'll keep your little furbaby in my prayers and hope all turns out ok!

[yorkieusa]

I hope you both will be ok. I can just hear the stress in your post.

[Wall-eWorld]

I never knew this!! I rarely have gum around, but Is it the mint or the sugarless or just gum in general? I just want to know so I can be informed...!!!

[joeyandtanksmom]

man...I don't think I would be able to ban gum from my home!!! My boys have never gotten into anything sugarless though, we keep it all in drawers that are too high for the boys to reach.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Wall-eWorld

I never knew this!! I rarely have gum around, but Is it the mint or the sugarless or just gum in general? I just want to know so I can be informed...!!!

Read this. It isn't just gum, but any product containing xylitol.

....a heart-wrenching story about how he lost his dog to xylitol poisoning. Here's a quick definition of xylitol from its Wikipedia entry: "Xylitol, also called wood sugar or birch sugar, is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute. It can be extracted from birch, raspberries, plums, and corn and is primarily produced in China."

Our dog died this morning from Xylitol poisoning. Xylitol is a 5 carbon sugar alcohol derived from birch, raspberries, and corn. It is used as a sugar substitute in lo-carb, sugar-free, and diabetic products. It is completely non-toxic to humans. However, it is very toxic to dogs. This is a new problem because xylitol has only recently begun being used in America. It has been used in Sweden and Finland since the 1960?s. However, it is fast becoming the number one sugar substitute in this country because of its health benefits. I want to make people aware of the danger it posses to their dogs. Initially it can cause potentially fatal hypoglycemia and can lead to liver failure. It does not take much to cause these effects. The hypoglycemia was first noted in 2003 in dogs that got into their owner?s purse and ate sugar free candy or Trident gum that contained xylitol. In 2004 animal poison control made the connection between xylitol consumption and liver failure. There is no antidote. The reaction can take place as quick as 30 minutes. My 60 lb. Shepard/Lab mix ingested ½ cup in a cake he dug out of the garbage. This was 10x?s the known toxic level for a dog his size. We began treatment within 24 hours, but he died just over 48 hours after consumption anyway.

As a new puppy-dad, this really got to me. Here's some information on xylitol to help all of you pet-parents stay informed:

Xylitol Toxicity:
A Warning to All Dog Owners

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used in sugar-free products such as gum and candy, as well as for baking and is used in the production of certain low-carbohydrate products now on the market.

As early as the 1960's, experiments indicated a link between the ingestion of xylitol and hypoglycemia in dogs. However, it has only been recently that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has begun to receive reports of xylitol toxicosis in dogs. It is believed that this recent rise is likely due to the increased use of products containing xylitol in the United States.

Effects of Xylitol Ingestion

In both humans and dogs, the levels of blood sugar are controlled by the body's release of insulin from the pancreas. In human xylitol ingestion does not cause any significant changes in insulin levels or, therefore, blood glucose. However, in dogs, xylitol causes a fast release of insulin, which results in a rapid decrease in blood glucose (hypoglycemia).

Clinical Signs

Clinical signs of xylitol toxicity can develop in as few as 30 minutes after ingestion. Clinical signs may include one or more of the following:

* Vomiting
* Weakness
* Ataxia (uncoordinated movements)
* Depression
* Hypokalemia (decreased potassium)
* Seizures
* Coma
* Liver dysfunction and/or failure

Treatment

After ingesting a xylitol-containing product a dog may receive one of more of the following treatments, depending on the amount of time that has lapsed since the ingestion occurred. The induction of vomiting is recommended if performed very soon after ingestion of the xylitol-containing product but before clinical signs develop. Frequent small meals or an oral sugar supplement may be used to manage dogs that have not yet shown clinical signs. Following the appearance of clinical signs intravenous dextrose can be used to control hypoglycemia. It may also be necessary to treat the patient for low potassium levels (hypokalemia), if indicated. Treatment should be continued until the blood glucose levels return to normal levels.

For more information on this and other poison control questions the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at 888-426-4435 or on the web at ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Source: Knowles Animal Clinic
My Yorkie Puppies: Xylitol (sugar substitute) Danger for Dogs‏

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I hope you both will be ok. I can just hear the stress in your post.

Thanks! They are both healthy and happy tonight! Mommy is really tired though. I was up almost every 45 min. last night. I just couldn't let myself really ever get to sleep.

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by joeyandtanksmom

man...I don't think I would be able to ban gum from my home!!! My boys have never gotten into anything sugarless though, we keep it all in drawers that are too high for the boys to reach.

I hope you never feel you have to. I had this in my purse on a bench. She jumped up there and dug it out. What was sooo funny was nothing was disturbed on my bench or in my purse. If I hadn't saw the few shreds of wrapper in the floor, I would have never know. Scary

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Read this. It isn't just gum, but any product containing xylitol.

....a heart-wrenching story about how he lost his dog to xylitol poisoning. Here's a quick definition of xylitol from its Wikipedia entry: "Xylitol, also called wood sugar or birch sugar, is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute. It can be extracted from birch, raspberries, plums, and corn and is primarily produced in China."

Our dog died this morning from Xylitol poisoning. Xylitol is a 5 carbon sugar alcohol derived from birch, raspberries, and corn. It is used as a sugar substitute in lo-carb, sugar-free, and diabetic products. It is completely non-toxic to humans. However, it is very toxic to dogs. This is a new problem because xylitol has only recently begun being used in America. It has been used in Sweden and Finland since the 1960?s. However, it is fast becoming the number one sugar substitute in this country because of its health benefits. I want to make people aware of the danger it posses to their dogs. Initially it can cause potentially fatal hypoglycemia and can lead to liver failure. It does not take much to cause these effects. The hypoglycemia was first noted in 2003 in dogs that got into their owner?s purse and ate sugar free candy or Trident gum that contained xylitol. In 2004 animal poison control made the connection between xylitol consumption and liver failure. There is no antidote. The reaction can take place as quick as 30 minutes. My 60 lb. Shepard/Lab mix ingested ½ cup in a cake he dug out of the garbage. This was 10x?s the known toxic level for a dog his size. We began treatment within 24 hours, but he died just over 48 hours after consumption anyway.

As a new puppy-dad, this really got to me. Here's some information on xylitol to help all of you pet-parents stay informed:

Xylitol Toxicity:
A Warning to All Dog Owners

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used in sugar-free products such as gum and candy, as well as for baking and is used in the production of certain low-carbohydrate products now on the market.

As early as the 1960's, experiments indicated a link between the ingestion of xylitol and hypoglycemia in dogs. However, it has only been recently that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has begun to receive reports of xylitol toxicosis in dogs. It is believed that this recent rise is likely due to the increased use of products containing xylitol in the United States.

Effects of Xylitol Ingestion

In both humans and dogs, the levels of blood sugar are controlled by the body's release of insulin from the pancreas. In human xylitol ingestion does not cause any significant changes in insulin levels or, therefore, blood glucose. However, in dogs, xylitol causes a fast release of insulin, which results in a rapid decrease in blood glucose (hypoglycemia).

Clinical Signs

Clinical signs of xylitol toxicity can develop in as few as 30 minutes after ingestion. Clinical signs may include one or more of the following:

* Vomiting
* Weakness
* Ataxia (uncoordinated movements)
* Depression
* Hypokalemia (decreased potassium)
* Seizures
* Coma
* Liver dysfunction and/or failure

Treatment

After ingesting a xylitol-containing product a dog may receive one of more of the following treatments, depending on the amount of time that has lapsed since the ingestion occurred. The induction of vomiting is recommended if performed very soon after ingestion of the xylitol-containing product but before clinical signs develop. Frequent small meals or an oral sugar supplement may be used to manage dogs that have not yet shown clinical signs. Following the appearance of clinical signs intravenous dextrose can be used to control hypoglycemia. It may also be necessary to treat the patient for low potassium levels (hypokalemia), if indicated. Treatment should be continued until the blood glucose levels return to normal levels.

For more information on this and other poison control questions the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at 888-426-4435 or on the web at ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Source: Knowles Animal Clinic
My Yorkie Puppies: Xylitol (sugar substitute) Danger for Dogs‏

Thanks so much for adding. This is something we should remind others of regulary. SO many don't know and would never think it was so dangerous.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by MaddiesMommie

Thanks! They are both healthy and happy tonight! Mommy is really tired though. I was up almost every 45 min. last night. I just couldn't let myself really ever get to sleep.

That's so nice to hear - I mean that they are both healthy and happy. Not that you were up so much.

[Wall-eWorld]

Thank you!! Now we know.

[AbbysMom08]

Ooohhhh.
Sorry this happened and I am so glad to hear your little one is ok.

[jadabug]

Amanda I am so glad Cooper is ok. I know you had to be scared to death. I swear It is harder keeping my house puppy proofed than it was keeping it child proofed when my kids were little. These little guys keep you on your toes.