Sugar-Free Gums & Candies Can Be Dangerous For Your Dog !

Xylitol is a sugar substitute ingredient commonly found in many sugar-free gums and candies.  It has also recently been added to some toothpastes.  If your pet is like mine, they may like to eat any or all of these things and are therefore at risk of ingesting toxic xylitol.

 

Xylitol is not harmful to people but dogs metabolize it rapidly in their blood, causing their body to release insulin and quickly lower blood sugar.  Signs of low blood sugar that might be noticed after ingestion are weakness, staggering, seizures, and coma.  Xylitol can also lead to liver damage and death if a high enough dose is ingested.  Other signs of ingestion/toxicity may include vomiting and diarrhea and these may be the first signs that are noticed.

 

**A TOXIC DOSE OF XYLITOL CAN BE AS LITTLE AS 1-2 PIECES OF CHEWING GUM FOR A 20 POUND DOG!!**

 

If you suspect your pet has ingested any amount of food or oral hygiene product containing xylitol please contact your veterinarian immediately.  If the ingestion has occurred recently (within 1-2 hours) your vet may induce vomiting to eliminate as much of the xylitol from the body as possible.

 

Although there is not a specific antidote, blood tests can be performed to see if any changes to blood sugar or liver enzymes is occurring.  Symptomatic treatment is started based on the severity of signs and may include: fluids with or without dextrose (sugar) added, anti-vomiting and anti-diarrhea medication, antibiotics, and liver protectant medication.

 

Remember to keep all products containing xylitol out of your pet's reach because most of them taste good to pets. 

Dr. Jodi Houser

Brandywine Hospital for Pets

Xylitol toxicity in dogs - AAHA Healthypet

www.healthypet.com › Pet Care

Grapes and Raisins are Dangerous for Your Dog

Keep your pets away from Grapes and Raisins!

 

Many people know that chocolate can be toxic to dogs but few are aware that something as common as grapes and raisins can be toxic and life threatening if enough are consumed.  Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure.  Doses as low as 4 oz of grapes for a 20 pound dog can be dangerous.  Raisins are more potent and as little as 1 oz of raisins for a 20 lb. dog have been shown to cause kidney failure. 

 

Clinical signs of toxicity include vomiting and lethargy which can start several hours after ingestion.  Signs of acute kidney failure (not able to produce urine) can occur within 24 hours.

 

If your pet ingests grapes or raisins, call your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately.  You may be instructed to induce vomiting in your pet immediately or be instructed to bring your pet to the hospial to induce vomiting, followed by procedures to decrease absorption of the grapes/raisins into the pets system and possibly fluid therapy for a few days to support the kidneys.  It is important to contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet ingests grapes or raisins as the sooner treatment  is initiated, the better chance your pet has of being treated effectively.

 

Jeff Hustey, DVM

Here are a few links for Pet Poison Hotlines

www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

Lily Toxicity in Cats

Lilies known to cause kidney failure in cats include the Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Oriental Lily, Asian Lily, Daylily, Stargazer Lily

     Cat owners need to know that some of the most common lily plants are highly toxic to their beloved feline companions.

Easter lilies (Lilium Iongiflorum), other species of the genus Lilium (Tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily, Asiatic hybrid lily), some species of daylilies (Hemerocallis spp), and possibly other species of the family Liliaceae are highly toxic to cats. Ingestion can lead to kidney damage. All parts of the plant are considered toxic, and intoxication can occur with ingestion of less than one leaf. To date, the toxic component has not been determined.

     Within the first two to six hours of lily ingestion, a cat might manifest intestinal upset, including vomiting, loss of appetite, and depression. Signs might temporarily subside only to return within twelve to eighteen hours as kidney damage begins. Treatment consists of rapid decontamination (inducing vomiting to remove plant material, administering activated charcoal) and intravenous fluids. Postponing treatment for more than eighteen hours can result in kidney failure and death. Therefore, prompt and aggressive veterinary care is paramount. With prompt treatment, full recovery is possible. However, if treatment is delayed, varying degrees of permanent kidney damage will occur. If the cat is not treated at all, death usually occurs in three to seven days.

     Cats can be extremely inquisitive and might graze on plants in and around a house.  Therefore, cat owners are encouraged to avoid placing lilies where cats reside, whether indoor or outdoor. During Easter celebration (and for that matter year-round), substituting Easter lilies and other kidney toxic plants with plants such as Easter orchids, Easter lily cactus, Easter daisy, or violets is recommended.

     

Dental Needs Vary by Dog Type Dogs are not all created equal when it comes to dental issues. Oral problems are influenced by many factors, including breed, age, size and skull type. Patients with brachycephalic skulls like Bulldogs and Pugs are prone to rotated teeth especially their maxillary premolars. In this case, the root is often surrounded by palatine(roof of the mouth) tissues, which are less resistant to periodontal disease than gingival (gum) tissues. It's usually a good idea to extract rotated teeth because they trap food and allow plaque to accumulate. Small breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Chihuahuas can develop severe periodonatal disease at a very young age. Small dogs have just as many teeth as a large dog, but less space for them in the mouth, which can make them difficult to clean. Also, small dogs on a soft food diet do not receive the mechanical cleaning action that dry food provides. Daily home care should begin as soon as small dogs' adult teeth have erupted, and professional dental exams and cleaning should start at the same time as the spay or neuter surgery. Because the pet will already be under anesthesia for the procedure, clients are less likely to decline. Large dogs commonly fracture teeth by chewing on hard objects like sticks or hard toys. Fractures can expose the nerve to food particles and bacteria and may lead to serious infections. In some cases, the tooth may need to be extracted or a root canal may need to be performed. Most large breeds are slightly less susceptible to periodontal disease, but Greyhounds are an exception. They can develop significant disease very early in life. Toy breeds such as poodles, maltese and yorkies have problems with retained deciduous (baby) teeth. This condition can cause a maxillary canine tooth to fall out, leaving an oronasal fistula and resulting in chronic sinusitis. Retained teeth should be extracted as soon as possible.

February Is Pet Dental Health Month

February is Dental Health Month so let's talk teeth! Did you know that all dogs have 42 permanent teeth and cats have 30?  From the smallest Chihuahua to the biggest Mastiff they all have the same number.  All of their permanent teeth should erupt by 6 months and should push out the deciduous (baby) teeth.  Sometimes this does not happen and the baby teeth need to be extracted. The best time to do this is during a spay or neuter procedure.  Deciduous teeth that are retained can cause overcrowding and tartar buildup between the baby teeth and the permanent teeth so this is a good reason to remove them when possible.  Most puppies and kittens end up swallowing their baby teeth so unfortunately they do not get to leave them under the pillow for the tooth fairy! 

Stay tuned for more dental health information throughout the month.