Is chewing gum poisonous to dogs?

The sweetener xylitol is found in many sugar-free products such as chewing gum, sweets, throat lozenges, etc. If a dog eats any of these it can result in poisoning. Xylitol dangerously lowers the blood sugar and Potassium levels in dogs, resulting in unsteadiness, fits and collapse. Xylitol can also seriously damage the liver in dogs, and can, in the worst -case scenario, have a deadly outcome.

It is believed that as little as 0.2-0.4 grams of xylitol per kg body weight is enough to poison the dog. That means that a dog that weighs 10kg only needs to eat 1-2 pieces of gum to become poisoned. You should seek veterinary care immediately if your dog has eaten gum that contains xylitol. If you get your dog to the vet early enough an emetic (medication to induce vomiting) can be used. If not, or if your dog shows symptoms of feeling unwell, it will likely need to be hospitalised and monitored by veterinary staff.