mouseatthebusstop Posted June 7, 2003 Posted June 7, 2003 Subject: TOXIC warning/please CROSSPOST I would like to share with the list an experience that we have just endured and hopefully the death of this young dog will help someone e lse. I really don't want to believe that her death was for no reason. Our granddaughters 4 1/2 yr. old bitch ate 28 pieces of sugarless gum, contained ASPARTAME, 30 minutes after ingestion 3 seizures took place in 30 minutes, the emergency vet would not listen to me when I stated over and over that she ate this gum, he insisted that if it was a mushroom or something else that she got into, that it couldn't be the gum. This was 6:30pm and by the time they got the blood work back at 11pm, liver levels were not out of sight however the ammonia levels were already extremely high. By the time the regular vet got the blood work back at 5:30pm the next day, it was a done deal, and they all then agreed that she was being poisoned. Jade was a wonderful pet and companion for our granddaughter, ran on our sled team. This was a terrible tragedy that I feel could have been prevented, and when, because I insisted he call the poison control, they too said "no, couldn't be the Aspartame", it is toxic but....... Hopefully if this ever happens to anyone out there that this will help make the vets more aware. I know that our vet certainly is more aware now and is calling the Poison Control and letting them know that this is more toxic than they are telling people. Sheila Laughton Husker Du Kennels Reno, NV Quote
Malamum Posted June 7, 2003 Posted June 7, 2003 What a sad story :cry: Though thanks for posting it Mouse, the more people know about things like that the better. Quote
Lemon-dog Posted June 7, 2003 Posted June 7, 2003 :cry: How sad i will cross post it on the other forum i use . Tracy&gangxx Quote
courtnek Posted June 7, 2003 Posted June 7, 2003 I'M SORRY, BUT BOTH POISON CONTROL AND THE VET WERE IDIOTS ABOUT THIS. It's already been proven, with the deaths of people, that large quantities of aspartame can cause seizures, liver damage, strokes... 28 pieces of gum could easily be considered a large quantity for a dog, depending on the size of the dog. Also, because their hearts beat faster, they metabolize faster than humans do, which gives less time for the liver and kidneys to clean out the poison. This was very poor judgement on their part. Also, it would not have hurt them to have the dog vomit it up. Chewing gum is not like gas, it doesnt burn coming up. Also, the majority of products containing aspartame also contain phenylalanine, which is always printed on the label in red because to some people it can cause seizures. I drink diet pop all the time, (diabetic) and I know how serious an overdose of these two chemicals can be....A little syrup of Ipecac could very well have saved that poor dog, if either the vet or the poison control center had suggeseted it on time..... :evil: Quote
Rowie-the-Pooh Posted June 9, 2003 Posted June 9, 2003 :cry: :cry: :cry: So sad! :bigcry: I agree, both where idiots! :evil: Once I noticed Rowie was chewing something, and that it took her a long time to swallow it.... I checker and found out that she was chewing GUM! :o I was so shocked! I took it and threw it, then called my vet. She said it was OK, as long as she didn't eat it. After that I called the whole household and tould them what could happen if Rowie had swallowed the gum, and asked them if they where chewing gum. Turns out our gardner thought it was OK to throw his gum in the garden, and that it was safe for dogs! :x People these days! :roll: Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.