What Happens When Dogs Eat Toothpaste?
Xylitol is a common ingredient in toothpaste. It is a sugar alcohol found in sugar-free gum, chewable vitamins, and even some baked goods. If your dog consumes toothpaste, the toxic effect of xylitol can lead to severe complications that could end in death. The sooner this condition is diagnosed, the faster it can be treated.
So, if your dog eats some toothpaste, what are some of the symptoms that you might notice? They include:
If xylitol poisoning in dogs is not treated quickly, this could lead to a coma and possibly death. Depending on how much toothpaste your dog ingested, these symptoms might not show up immediately. The onset could be delayed, making it harder to link the symptoms to toothpaste poisoning. Therefore, any dog showing these symptoms should be taken vet immediately.
If you are worried that your dog has ingested toothpaste, then you need to take him or her to the vet immediately. Sometimes, the symptoms described above might not appear until extensive liver damage has already appeared.
When you go to the vet, it is a good idea to bring whatever toothpaste contained you think your dog ingested. When in doubt, look for teeth marks. Your vet can take a look at the ingredient list on the toothpaste container and tailor the treatment to match the ingested ingredients. After the vet has listened to your story, he or she will likely order numerous blood and urine tests to look for signs of xylitol poisoning. Some of the most common test results that indicate xylitol poisoning include:
Once the vet has completed this battery of tests, he or she will start the treatment process.
There are a few treatment options that the vet might employ to help your dog. If your dog has not started vomiting yet, then the illness might still be early in its course. In this case, the vet might induce vomiting in your dog to try to get rid of the xylitol in your dog’s stomach before the toxidrome gets worse.
In the vast majority of cases, the dog will have to be hospitalized for intravenous (IV therapy). The vet is going to use IV fluids to correct issues in our dog’s electrolytes. The vet will monitor your dog’s liver enzymes, potassium, phosphorous, and blood profile regularly to make sure these electrolytes stay within normal limits. The vet will also follow your dog’s blood sugar levels carefully.
Dogs may have to spend a few days in the hospital to make sure that they recover completely. The vet might also administer antioxidants, vitamin E, and other medications to protect your dog’s liver as they recover. The vet might also provide your dog with plasma or other blood products if there are severe issues in your dog’s blood profile. You should expect the vet to keep you updated as your dog recovers from toothpaste poisoning.
The Prognosis of Toothpaste Poisoning in Dogs
If your dog has toothpaste poisoning, then his or her prognosis will be dependent on the extent of the liver damage. If your dog’s electrolytes remain stable after a few days in the hospital, then the vet will probably release him or her; however, the vet will probably also want to see your dog in a few days to test your dog’s liver.
If your dog’s liver is intact after the episode, then your dog will probably make a full recovery. If there are still signs that your dog’s liver is struggling following toothpaste poisoning, then the prognosis may not be as favorable. Your vet will address the exact prognosis of your dog with you on a case by case basis.
How Can I Prevent Toothpaste Poisoning in Dogs?
Toothpaste poisoning in dogs can lead to life-threatening xylitol poisoning. To prevent this from happening, you need to make sure that you store your toothpaste out of your dog’s reach. Try to keep your toothpaste behind closed doors. The best place for this is either in the medicine cabinet or the cabinet under the sink. Make sure the doors are closed. Do not leave toothpaste where counter-surfing dogs can get to it.
How Do Vets Get the Toothpaste Out of Dogs?
It depends on how soon your dog sees a vet. If your dog just ate the toothpaste a few minutes ago, then the vet might induce vomiting to remove the toothpaste from your dog before he or she absorbs it. If your dog ate the toothpaste a few hours ago, then the vet may not remove the toothpaste at all. Instead, the focus is on keeping your dog stable until their body processes the toxin on its own.
Do Other Products Contain Xylitol?
In addition to toothpaste, many other products could lead to xylitol poisoning. These include sugar-free types of gum, peanut butter, mouthwash, sugar-free candy, certain fruit drinks, and specific jellies. Always read the label on your food carefully before giving any of it to your dog.
Will Toothpaste Hurt My Dog?
Toothpaste will likely harm your dog; although the severity of the symptoms depends primarily on the ingredients of the toothpaste and how much they manage to consume.
Nevertheless, pretty much all toothpaste designed for humans will contain at least one of, if not several of the harmful following:
My Dog Ate Toothpaste – What Should I Do?
Your dog’s dental health is important and maybe you’ve already shared your toothpaste with your pooch, thinking of all the benefits that good teeth brushing can bring them (for example, getting rid of that bad breath that dogs always have)!
Unfortunately, if your dog ate toothpaste they should be monitored because the ingredients in our toothpaste are toxic to them, and in some cases, they can provoke severe reactions and even be deadly.