10/04/2025
Today was one of those days that reminds us of just how mischievous puppies can be. So now that everything is handled and the puppy is safe, we want to take the opportunity to put out this safety reminder.
Puppies like to explore new horizons and taste test EVERYTHING in their reach (especially as they grow and can reach more things).
Please remember that artificial sweeteners are EXTREMELY toxic to dogs. Xylitol can cause acute onset prolonged hypoglycemia and liver failure. It does not take much to be lethal.
This morning little Beans decided to snack on some sugar free gum in a plastic canister. Not only did she enjoy the crunch of the canister, she ate multiple pieces of the grape flavored temptations.
In a perfectly fluke situation, I was in the office 2 hours earlier than normal (for a Friday). Bean's mom made the daily acknowledgement of the puppy's sneaky snacking option but was unsure of if she truly ingested the gum pieces or not. Fortunately our team knows the dangers of xylitol and we immediately induced vomiting to remove any gum that may have been in her stomach. And upon doing so little Bean's morning snacking shenanigans were confirmed. Had we not had the information from her mom, had we not known the dangers of xylitol toxicity, had we not had the hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting immediately, this could have ended very differently.
Puppies are so determined that no matter how well things are put away, they sometimes outsmart us and reach new heights. So please remember to check those snacks and make sure anything that contains xylitol is put far out of reach of reach. With holidays coming up, remember to check those desserts for xylitol and do not share anything that contains it with your dog.
We will be making a list of toxic items to pin to the top of our page soon.
Thank you also to Pet Medical Center of Klamath Falls. In true fashion, they let us get her in immediately and managed her all day to get her through the most critical part of the toxicity. So while we will have to wait up to 7 days to make sure there is no residual damage to the liver, she is home safe and sound tonight. We can not thank you enough for always accommodating our clients whenever we need you. You guys truly are amazing.
