Become a Xylitol Free Home

Everyone reading this please reach in your pocket or purse.  Pull out your pack of gum.  Read the ingredients.  If you see XYLITOL in the ingredients, and have dogs, throw it away!  According to this article published by USA Today, two sticks of gum containing Xylitol can kill your dog.

I recenly heard this story, and was nervous because Presley loves shopping in my purse.  I made a commitment to only keep gum in a certain pocket zipped up.  One morning I was getting ready for work, and I came downstairs and saw half my purse scattered around my living room carpet, including a two gum wrappers.  I panicked, and called a vet (hoping the media was hyping the story, and Presley would really be fine).  The vet assistant said “Check the label, if the gum has Xylitol in it, bring her in immediately.”  I grabbed the gum wrapper, and she had chewed the ingredients off.  UGHHHH.  I got online, called Extra, and asked if the Strawberry Banana gum contained Xylitol, and the customer service rep calmly told me it did not.  I can’t tell you how relieved I was.

About three weeks later, I caved and bought a pack of Orbit Cinnamint, because I absolutely love it.  About a week later, again, the ONE time my purse is on the floor, Presley got into my purse.  Luckily about one minute later I caught her.  She had already pulled out the pack of gum.  If I would have been upstairs, Presley could have eaten the gum, and I can’t even imagine what would have happened.

Since then, we have committed to be a Xylitol Free home, and I challenge you to make the same pledge.  Trust me, you could be saving your dog’s life.

I visited the grocery store and made a list of Xylitol Free gums, as well as a list of gums containing Xylitol.  Please read through this list, and next time you’re grocery shopping, buy only Xylitol Free chewing gum.  You never know when that “one time accident” could happen.

Xylitol Free Gum (GOOD):

• Extra Spearmint
• Extra Strawberry & Banana (my personal favorite)
• Extra Polar Ice
• Eclipse Spearmint
• 5 Rain
• Big Red
• Trident White
• Trident Layers

Gum containing Xylitol (BAD):

• Trident Wintergreen
• Trident Cinnamon
• Trident Bubblegum
• Trident Strawberry Twist
• Trident Original
• ALL Orbit Flavors
• ALL Stride flavors

Remember to always watch your pets!

Thanks for reading.