GLS
Classic Southern Gentleman
Last week we returned from dining and found our daughter's pocket book open on the floor and a lot of guilty looks on the MuttPak's muzzles.
I asked her what was missing: A half pack of Orbit Spearmint gum. Knowing that some sugar free gums contain Xylitol as a sweetner, we looked up contents online. Sure enough, it contained Xylitol, known to be toxic to dogs and sometimes fatal. Since neither dog was willing to rat out the other, I took both to the ER Vet office. I was given the number of Animal Poison Control by the ASPCA, a $95 dollar service. Once I got a case number, they'd book the dogs in for treatment if necessary. After taking the information as to weight of dogs, and what was eaten, the voice on the other end did the research and told me that Orbit Spearmint gum contained a small amount of Xylitol and that even if a whole pack of the stick gum in daughter's pack was eaten by one of the dogs, no treatment was necessary or recommended. Worst case would be the runs or nausea. The expert said that we were lucky as some chewing gums contain fatal levels of Xylitol which is a fast acting toxic substance that destroys liver function. One stick of some brands can and have killed dogs. This was Abby's fourth run in with toxic substances: she once ate a half pound of fudge. A concoction of yogurt and hydrogen peroxide caused her to up chuck the fudge, launching it like a small brick of chocolate. She has also swallowed a used lidocaine back patch she found in bathroom waste paper basket. The home remedy emetic didn't work so off to the vet she went. Lidocaine can stop the heart of a dog. The drug administered by the vet caused her to up chuck it. A drop of the emetic is placed in the corner of one eye where it is quickly absorbed into the system. Earlier this year she was trembling and lethargic--she had dug up and partially eaten a planted amaryllis bulb (toxic) on the deck. She was treated and released. Here's a handy phone number to keep in your phone. There is one other subscription service, but this was the one the vet recommended: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435 Gil
I asked her what was missing: A half pack of Orbit Spearmint gum. Knowing that some sugar free gums contain Xylitol as a sweetner, we looked up contents online. Sure enough, it contained Xylitol, known to be toxic to dogs and sometimes fatal. Since neither dog was willing to rat out the other, I took both to the ER Vet office. I was given the number of Animal Poison Control by the ASPCA, a $95 dollar service. Once I got a case number, they'd book the dogs in for treatment if necessary. After taking the information as to weight of dogs, and what was eaten, the voice on the other end did the research and told me that Orbit Spearmint gum contained a small amount of Xylitol and that even if a whole pack of the stick gum in daughter's pack was eaten by one of the dogs, no treatment was necessary or recommended. Worst case would be the runs or nausea. The expert said that we were lucky as some chewing gums contain fatal levels of Xylitol which is a fast acting toxic substance that destroys liver function. One stick of some brands can and have killed dogs. This was Abby's fourth run in with toxic substances: she once ate a half pound of fudge. A concoction of yogurt and hydrogen peroxide caused her to up chuck the fudge, launching it like a small brick of chocolate. She has also swallowed a used lidocaine back patch she found in bathroom waste paper basket. The home remedy emetic didn't work so off to the vet she went. Lidocaine can stop the heart of a dog. The drug administered by the vet caused her to up chuck it. A drop of the emetic is placed in the corner of one eye where it is quickly absorbed into the system. Earlier this year she was trembling and lethargic--she had dug up and partially eaten a planted amaryllis bulb (toxic) on the deck. She was treated and released. Here's a handy phone number to keep in your phone. There is one other subscription service, but this was the one the vet recommended: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435 Gil
