Important Info On Dogs !!!!

[Yme2]

IF YOU LOVE DOGS, IF YOU HAVE A DOG, PLEASE READ THIS!!

Only 3 grams of Xylitol (found in sugar free chewing gum) is enough to kill
A 65lb dog. And QUICKLY!!!!! Please pass this warning on to everyone you
Know who has dogs. It may just save a life.

Here is the link to a popular truth or fiction rumor site for further information:

<http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/xylitol.asp>

Warning to all dog owners... Pass this on to everyone you can!!!
STORY:
Last Friday evening, I arrived home from work, fed Chloe, our 24 Lb
Dachshund, just as I normally do. Ten minutes later I walked into the den
Just in time to see her head inside the pocket of Katie's friend's purse.
She had a guilty look on her face so I looked closer and saw a small package
Of sugar-free gum. It contained xylitol. I remembered that I had recently
Read that sugar-free gum can be deadly for dogs so I jumped on line and
Looked to see if xylitol was the ingredient. I found the first website below
And it was the one. Next, I called our vet. She said to bring her in
Immediately. Unfortunately, it was still rush hour and it took me almost 1/2
Hour to get there. Meanwhile, since this was her first case, our vet found
Another website to figure out the treatment. She took Chloe and said they
Wou ld induce her to vomit, give her a charcoal drink to absorb the toxin
(even though they don't think it works) then they would start an iv with
Dextrose. The xylitol causes dogs to secrete insulin so their blood sugar
Drops very quickly. The second thing that happens is liver failure. If that
Happens, even with aggressive treatment, it can be difficult to save them.
She told us she would call us.

Almost two hours later, the vet called and said that contents of her stomach
Contained 2-3 gum wrappers and that her blood sugar had dropped from 90 to
59 in 30 minutes. She wanted us to take Chloe to another hospital that has a
Critical care unit operating around the clock. We picked her up and took her
There. They had us call the ASPCA poison control for a case number and for a
Donation, their doctors would direct Chloe's doctor on treatment. They would
Continue the iv, monitor her blood every other hour and then in 2 days test
Her liver functio n. She ended up with a central line in her jugular vein
Since the one in her leg collapsed, just as our regular vet had feared.

Chloe spent almost the entire weekend in the critical care hospital. After
Her blood sugar was stabilized, she came home yesterday. They ran all the
Tests again before they released her and so far, no sign of liver damage.
Had I not seen her head in the purse, she probably would have died and we
Wouldn't even had known why.

Three vets told me this weekend, that they were amazed that I even knew
About it since they are first learning about it too. Please tell everyone
You know about xylitol and dogs. It may save another life.

Verified with Snopes.com

[Joy]

Thank you for posting this information. I appreciate you taking the time and making the effort to inform us about this danger.

[janking]

I saw this about a couple years ago in the paper and was shocked..never knew about it till then. And you know how dogs are..always eating stuff they are not supposed to. So everybody keep an eye on what your dogs are getting into!

[KittyTyme]

I actually read about this a little while back.. and I"m so glad I did..with Molly being a diabetic.. for a split second I thought to myself.. well.. I'll just get her sugar free treats..you know.. like some sugar free human cookies or something.. then the BONGGGGG went off in my head NO!! I remembered about this article!
Good post Dar.