what-happens-if-your-dog-eats-gum

What happens if your dog eats gum

Dogs are not always food thieves, but they may unwittingly swallow gum they find on furniture or in a pocket. This can be a health hazard for them.

When the owner comes across the remains of his chewed gum, it is often a time of panic: has my dog been poisoned? The answer to this question will vary greatly depending on the size of the dog, the amount ingested and the type of chewing gum your dog has swallowed.

 

Is chewing gum toxic to dogs?

Chewing gum itself is not toxic to dogs, but one ingredient in chewing gum, found only in certain products, can be very dangerous. This is Xylitol, a sweetener found in most sugar-free chewing gums, intended to improve their taste without damaging the teeth.

Xylitol is in fact widely used in chewing gums for its anti-caries properties and its ability to restore tooth enamel. It is found in the composition of many products marketed by well-known brands such as Freedent and Hollywood Chewin-Gum, to name only the most widespread.

Xylitol is very quickly metabolized by the dog's body (in about 30 minutes) and triggers an excessive production of insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating the sugar level in their blood. The blood sugar level then drops drastically and causes violent hypoglycemia, which manifests itself in vomiting, general weakness and convulsions.

If not treated urgently, hypoglycemia caused by Xylitol poisoning can lead to coma and sudden death. Moreover, only a very small dose of Xylitol is needed to cause hypoglycemia, and a single chewing gum is highly toxic for a dog weighing less than 10 kilos.

Chewing gum without Xylitol is not particularly dangerous for our pets' health and is usually eliminated through his natural channels without any problems. However, you should make sure that the list of ingredients of the product in question is free of Xylitol and watch for any signs of intoxication or intestinal obstruction in your dog.

Also note that Xylitol is present in many other sugar-free or diet foods for humans, such as syrups, candies or candy bars. Finally, nicotine chewing gum is also toxic for dogs and can cause digestive problems and nervousness, but the dog must ingest a large quantity (in proportion to its weight) to be seriously poisoned.

 

dog-eats-gum

 

How should I react if my dog swallowed chewing gum?

In case of poisoning, the owner's reaction will greatly impact the prognosis of his companion, so it is important to know what attitude to adopt.

First of all, never try to make your dog vomit, give him water or medication without the explicit approval of an animal poison control center or a veterinarian, and/or when you are not sure of the nature of the product ingested.

In the case of chewing gum containing Xylitol, inducing vomiting may be a life-saving solution, but only in the following cases:

• The dog has just swallowed the gum. Xylitol is absorbed by the dog's body in less than 30 minutes, so it is important to act without delay, otherwise vomiting is useless and you will lose precious time that you should use to rush to the veterinarian.
• The dog is alert and capable of vomiting. Dogs that are unconscious, weak, have convulsions, laryngeal deformities and animals with short muzzles may choke on their vomit.

The best thing to do is to contact a veterinarian or an animal poison control center in a hurry. They will be able to tell you if vomiting is a good solution and how to proceed. To do so, inform your veterinarian of the brand of chewing gum ingested and/or the presence of Xylitol in the list of ingredients, your dog's weight, his general condition and the quantity absorbed.

For example, a 40 kg Labrador that has swallowed only one piece of gum is not necessarily in immediate danger of death, and it is better to take him to a veterinarian than to try to make him vomit yourself. To make your dog vomit, you need to have 3% hydrogen peroxide on hand, which is hydrogen peroxide, and be able to administer it to your dog directly into his mouth with a syringe.

Give your dog 1 to 2ml of hydrogen peroxide per kilo of body weight: the goal is not to risk hydrogen peroxide poisoning either! It is strongly advised against trying to make your dog vomit by any other means. Putting your fingers in the animal's mouth exposes you to a high risk of biting, and giving salt in large quantities can kill the animal as can Xylitol (40 grams of salt alone can fatally poison a 10 kilogram dog).

After giving your dog hydrogen peroxide, wait about 10 minutes to see if he vomits and, if so, make sure the gum has been expelled. If nothing happens, you can repeat the operation once, but not twice to avoid poisoning your dog.

The best thing to do, however, is to take your dog to a veterinarian who will hospitalize him to manage the hypoglycemia caused by the Xylitol intake and avoid the dramatic consequences that may follow. Swallowing gum can be fatal for dogs when the candy in question contains Xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to our four-legged friends.

Fortunately, it is possible to save the animal by quickly contacting an animal poison control center or a veterinarian. To reduce the risk of poisoning from chewing gum and other human foods (chocolate, coffee, etc.) it is important to keep your food under lock and key and to be aware of the list of dangerous food products for dogs.