PRESS RELEASE: Sugarless gum deadly to dogs
PRESS RELEASE: Troy pet dog dies after eating Trident Gum
On Thursday, June 15th, 2006, a Troy resident brought her 8-year-old neutered male cocker spaniel dog to Dr. Brad Theodoroff at the Animal
Medical Center of Troy. This loved and well cared for pet had previously been seen in February 2006, at that time he was a healthy pet with normal blood test. However, today he was a pet that was dying.
The owner reported that five days prior he had vomited a few times, appeared normal and was eating well. In contents of her loved pet’s first vomit was gum and gum wrappers of Trident Sugarless Gum. The day prior he had managed to jump up onto the table and steal one pack of gum. Four days prior his appetite slowly had started to wane, and today he was weak and would not eat at all. When Dr. Theodoroff examined the pet, it was apparent to him that this pet had serious liver disease. Blood and urine tests confirmed that the pet was suffering advanced liver failure. In spite of the treatment provided, the damage was irreversible. The pet’s condition worsened and he died 20 hours later.
Trident Sugarless Gum, like many sugarless products, contains Xylitol, a sweetener that has been used since the 1960’s. Xylitol is considered the best sweetener since it reduces tooth decay; it is also in many toothpastes. Xylitol is even widely distributed throughout nature in small amounts. Some of the best sources are fruits, berries, mushrooms and lettuce. One cup of raspberries contains less than one gram of Xylitol.
While it is safe for people, it is deadly to dogs, even in small quantities. The effect of Xylitol is to cause the secretion of insulin, which dangerously lowers blood the sugar of the dog. In addition, it can cause liver failure depending on the quantity ingested. The amount that needs to be consumed to be toxic depends on the substance eaten and the weight of the pet. There is still no hard and fast data concerning what a lethal dose is of this substance or even how it damages the liver.
In September 1, 2004, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association first reported that the sweetener Xylitol could be toxic to dogs. “Dogs ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with Xylitol may have a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination, and seizures,” according to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, a consulting veterinarian in clinical toxicology for the poison control center. “Some data suggest a link between Xylitol ingestion and liver failure in dogs,” he said, “though those data are insufficient to draw firm conclusions.”
Since that time many dogs have been reported to have irreversible and most times, fatal liver disease, unless immediate treatment is started at the time of ingestion to prevent the rapid drop of blood sugar.
Dr. Theodoroff and the Animal Medical Center of Troy want to alert pet owners of the dangers of Xylitol, a sweetener that is in so many sugarless products. We want to prevent future heartbreak.
References
“Xylitol “Sweet” Temptation for Dogs” Veterinary Technician, Nov 2004
http://www.aspca.org/site/DocServer/Foss-Tox_Brief-Nov_VT_04.pdf?docID=3781
“Sweetener xylitol can be toxic to dogs” JAVMA September 1, 2004
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep04/040901c.asp
“Xylitol Sugar Substitute Toxic to Dogs”, Diabetes Daily, May 15, 2006
http://www.diabetesdaily.com/content/2006/05/15/xylitol-sugar-substitute-toxic-to-dogs.php
“What is Xylitol”
http://www.xylitol.org
For a list of other common foods and products that can poison pets
“A Poison Safe Home”
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_poisonsafe
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Animal Medical Center of Troy is proud to be an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Accredited Veterinary Practice since 1978. As an AAHA-accredited practice we have been evaluated on over 900 standards established to ensure that we will provide the highest quality veterinary care for pets in the Rochester Hills and Troy area. The voluntary commitment to the AAHA Standards and the Accreditation Program demonstrates that our practice has chosen to have itself measured by an outside organization against the most rigorous published Standards in the industry. Only 12% of the veterinary practices in the United States have made this commitment.
Our Veterinarians, Dr. Brad Theodoroff, Dr. Karen Saxton, Dr. Delta Leeper and our Licensed Veterinary Technicians are ready to help your pets in the following areas: Preventative Medicine, Puppy and Kitten Care, Geriatric Medicine, Dentistry, Pain management, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Anesthesia, Contagious Disease, Radiology Services, Laboratory Services, Pharmacy, Client Education, Ear Disease, Allergic Disease, Skin Disease, Arthritis, Nutritional Needs, Parasite Prevention, Zoonotic Disease, Laser Surgery and many other areas.
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