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Lexi the Labrador is one very lucky dog! This lovely girl was at home when her feline sibling knocked over a pack of Icebreakers gum, which Lexi quickly scarfed down. Unfortunately, the gum contained an ingredient called Xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener that is common in gum, but for pets it can be deadly – even just a few pieces of gum can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), liver failure, and seizures. 
Thankfully for Lexi, her family acted fast and brought her straight to our Middletown ER where Dr. Urbonas, our head of emergency services, started treating her. Lexi was already hypoglycemic by the time she came in, and was admitted to the hospital for fluids, medication, and round-the-clock monitoring.
Thanks to the quick action of her family and the care from Dr. Urbonas and our ER staff, Lexi recovered and was able to return to her family after a few days at Pieper and making a full recovery.
Because Xylitol is a sugar substitute, it is often used in “sugar-free” foods like candies, breath mints, gummies, and baked goods – even typically dog-friendly treats like peanut butter can sometimes contain xylitol, so make sure to ALWAYS check the ingredients list. If you ever suspect that your pet has eaten anything with Xylitol, please contact your local ER vet ASAP!
