So, how does one turn a $1.29 cube of bubble gum into a medical emergency with a bill ranging from $200-$1200? Did you know that sugar-free gum is supposed to be good for your teeth because of the natural sugar derivative called xylitol? That sounds like good news but I was not aware until last nights adventures involving our 10 year old, a cube containing 40 pieces of bubble gum and our 4 month old german shepherd puppy that as few as 2 pieces of gum with xylitol can be deadly!
When we heard the puppy shaking something that sounded like a rattle last night at 11:30pm, we went in to find her finishing off the last of the delicious pink bubble gum. Immediately my mind flashed to all those things big brothers tell you when your growing up, “If you swallow your gum, it stays there forever until your dead” or “It will grow a great big gum tree in the middle of your stomach that will bust out of your gut and you’ll die”. Maybe you had older siblings too….then we did the count, how many pieces left out of 40. Only 5 left, one found on the floor and my daughter had only gotten 2 pieces (no fair she immediately says). So 33 pieces of gum enjoyed by our sweet shepherd, Sophe.
My first Google search yields the great news, “Xylitol although perfectly safe for human consumption can be deadly even in small doses for dogs”. I don’t do well in emergency situations, but I took Sophe outside to try to get her to throw up. Easier said than done. I then called a local 24 hour vet just up the street and they said bring her in immediately. We only had about 30 minutes from ingestion before things could turn out badly according to the veternarian’s office.
Thankfully, we got her there before midnight (the price for an emergency visit goes up drastically after midnight). They induced vomiting, and could then account for 31 of the 33 pieces ingested. I’m super glad someone gets paid to count items such as this in our pets vomit and am so grateful to the incredibly efficient staff at our local animal hospital for their care of our Sophe. I was then offered the option to have her stay overnight for observation or wake her up myself every 3 hours to get her to eat so she would not go into a hypoglycemic state.
Well other than forking over $200.00 for the vet bill and getting about 3 hours sleep, it turned out very well. Sophe doesn’t seem to be any worse for the wear but we will need to follow up with our regular vet to make sure she didn’t suffer any liver damage from her bubble blowing adventure
FUN FACTS:
Xylitol is naturally found in low concentrations in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, and can be extracted from various berries, oats, and mushrooms, as well as fibrous material such as corn husks and sugar cane bagasse, and birch.
A dog’s body absorbs xylitol very rapidly into the bloodstream, where it stimulates the release of a large amount of insulin, which in turn causes extreme hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia can cause liver failure, bleeding, and ultimately death. It can only take a little bit of xylitol, say one piece of gum or one cupcake, to cause visible signs of low blood glucose:
The first symptom is usually vomiting, or collapse.
- Hypoglycemia can come on quickly, causing lethargy and loss of coordination.
- Diarrhea and seizures are possible.
If your dog ingests xylitol, it should be immediately taken to a veterinarian. The vet will need to know what the xylitol was in and how much was consumed—if you aren’t sure, estimate on the high side. With prompt attention, treatment can be as simple as inducing vomiting, and chances of recovery can be very good. More severe cases may require administration of dextrose to prevent hypoglycemic shock, followed by treatment for liver disease. (AnnArborPetHospital.com)
Pass this link along to prevent anyone from not taking this seriously. And remember, don’t swallow your gum….who knows what really happens!
Sandy Scherschligt
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