Brushing your dog’s teeth is essential for their dental health. There are numerous varieties of toothpaste designed specifically for dogs to help with this. The toothpaste you use is not safe for your pet, even though these products are.
You should never use human toothpaste to brush the teeth of dogs because it contains numerous ingredients that are harmful to them.
This article will cover everything you need to know about what to do if your dog consumes human toothpaste and whether you should be concerned. Continue reading to find out how to treat your dog if they eat toothpaste.
Yes, toothpaste is harmful to dogs and can be fatal. It’s best to seek medical care right away if your dog consumes any, especially if they consume a significant amount.
Xylitol, fluoride, and sodium lauryl sulfate are a few toothpaste ingredients that are bad for your dog. However, the amount consumed and the size of your dog will determine their level of toxicity. These substances affect dogs in different ways, so I’ll discuss them individually.
Xylitol is the toothpaste ingredient that’s most dangerous to dogs. It is a natural sweetener found in many sugar-free snacks, chewing gum, and toothpaste.
Even in amounts of up to 130g per day, this sugar alcohol is safe for humans. But if your dog ingests more than 0. 1g/kg of body weight, they’ll be in trouble.
When your dog consumes xylitol, its body absorbs it quickly. The pancreas releases a lot of insulin to control the blood sugar level after the dog’s body detects a significant sugar intake. Your dog’s blood sugar level drops sharply and quickly with more insulin in the system, putting them at risk for liver failure.
First, the xylitol kills liver cells, resulting in tissue damage and liver failure. Your dog is at a high risk of going into a coma and dying if the issue is not treated right away.
If your pet consumed a reasonable amount of xylitol, they’ll probably exhibit the following signs:
These physiological responses are brought on by low blood sugar, which also damages liver cells. Be aware, though, that some canines don’t exhibit any symptoms until their livers have been seriously harmed.
Decide how much toothpaste your dog has consumed in order to get them to the vet as soon as possible, even if they aren’t exhibiting any symptoms.
To make foam, sodium lauryl sulfate is used in both soaps and toothpaste. It is not recommended to swallow toothpaste because SLS is a known carcinogen, even for humans. SLS is not present in dog toothpaste because it is toxic to dogs and they are unable to spit out toothpaste like we do.
Because toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulfate, it’s likely to upset your dog’s stomach after consumption. After that, it stays in the system for a few days, during which time it harms the heart, liver, and brain.
Therefore, even if you don’t believe that SLS has had a significant impact on your pet, it’s essential to have a veterinarian check them for poisoning.
toothpaste contains fluoride to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. To experience fatal toxicity, your dog must consume approximately 5mg of fluoride per kg of body weight.
However, even a very small dose of about 1 mg per kg is sufficient to produce symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Other symptoms associated with dogs ingesting fluoride are:
Fluoride toxicity can cause organ failure in the kidneys, liver, and lungs if it is not treated. As soon as your dog consumes fluoride, you must immediately take them to a veterinarian.
Diagnosis of Toothpaste Poisoning in Dogs
While many dogs exhibit xylitol toxicity right away, some do not exhibit symptoms until the liver has been severely damaged.
Be prepared to explain any and all suspicions to the veterinarian in great detail once you’ve scheduled an appointment and arrived at the veterinary hospital. The veterinarian will start with a full blood profile after confirming your concerns, asking if your pet consumed toothpaste, sugar-free gum, or baked goods. She will discover absolute hypoglycemia, supporting the xylitol poisoning diagnosis. Other test results may reveal hypophosphatemia (phosphate deficiency) and hypokalemia (low potassium), which are caused by insulin moving the potassium into the cell.
There may be signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, hyperbilirubinemia (abnormally high bilirubin levels in the blood), prolonged coagulation times (caused by low blood platelets known as thrombocytopenia), and hyperbilirubinemia.
Why Is Human Toothpaste Bad For Dogs?
First of all, it depends on exactly what your dog consumed. If your dog ingested a plastic tube or cap, these cannot be digested and may act as bothersome foreign objects in the gut. If left untreated, this could result in bowel obstruction and other serious consequences. The presence of foreign objects can result in pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Second, toothpaste is meant to be used sparingly and frequently, which is why it’s advised that people use a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush and avoid swallowing much, if any, of it. Modern toothpaste is really good for your teeth and highly recommended, but can be toxic in large quantities as dogs are obviously smaller than people and may unintentionally swallow quite a lot more than their human owners—I’ve yet to meet a dog that has been taught to “spit”!
Flouride
Fluoride is a chemical compound found in pretty much all of the major toothpaste brands – why because it has been studied extensively and shown to reduce dental cavities and support dental health.
Nevertheless, it is only supposed to be used in small quantities – and can lead to fluoride poisoning in dogs if swallowed.
In addition, if your dog managed to get into your toothpaste bottle, it’s likely that they consumed a significant amount of fluoride.
Additionally, this product’s primary ingredient is fluoride.
In terms of dosages, to serve as a point of comparison
When we apply this to toothpaste, we can see that a 100g tube contains enough fluoride to cause symptoms in any breed, but smaller breeds under 35 pounds will be more susceptible.
Fluoride toxicity symptoms to watch out for include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, and a rapid heartbeat.
The fatal dose would probably cause seizures, and in the worst case, death.
Xylitol
It must be noted that not all toothpaste contains xylitol, but occasionally you will find it in some brands.
Some toothpaste contains the sweetener xylitol, which makes it tastier and more pleasurable for humans.
But Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs according to Renee Schmid DVM at the Pet Poison Helpline.
It can result in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) 10 to 60 minutes after consumption, which can be fatal. Especially in smaller dogs.
Of course, it depends on how much is consumed, but dogs can experience weakness, lethargy, and vomiting even in small amounts.
Additionally, chewing gum frequently contains this sweetener, so make sure not to leave any packets lying around.
FAQ
What happens if your dog eats a little bit of toothpaste?
Additionally, some toothpastes contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Low blood sugar levels with even small ingestions have the potential to be fatal. Larger ingestions of xylitol have been associated with liver damage.
How much toothpaste will hurt a dog?
A dose of 100 mg per kg of body weight of xylitol can cause toxicity. A typical tube of toothpaste could have 5 to 35% by volume of xylitol. Consequently, a 100 g standard toothpaste tube is sufficient to severely poison your dog.
Is there xylitol in Colgate toothpaste?
Xylitol. Green tea extract. Papaya plant extract.
Will regular toothpaste hurt dogs?
Do NOT use regular human toothpaste for your dog. Fluoride, which is commonly found in human toothpaste and is extremely toxic to dogs. The majority of reputable pet stores carry toothpaste designed for dogs. You can add dog mouthwash to water bowls to help reduce plaque and kill bacteria in some pet stores.