Toothpaste is toxic to dogs

[pugmanic]

 

Hi Everyone,

 

My name is George and I'd like to get the message out about toothpaste. Strange as it may seem, dogs love the sweet minty taste of toothpaste. Our gorgeous, adorable one year old Pug named Maisy found the toothpaste tube neglectfully left on the bathroom floor.  I was at work at the time, but when my partner and daughter noticed she was chewing on the tube, they thought it was fairly innocuous, took it from her and put it in the bin and thought nothing more about it. This took place about 9pm in the evening. About 4am she started vomiting on my daughter Melanie's bed. She also had diarrhoea, then more vomiting later in the morning and looked very sick, listless and depressed. But no-one made the connection to the toothpaste tube as the cause of her illness. I was not made aware until a couple of days later that she had been chewing on the tube.

 

By the time she was taken to the Vet clinic later that evening she was critical. Her blood sample revealed that her blood sugar was extremely low and had to be put on a glucose drip and her white cell count was zero. The Vet said she must have ingested something toxic but no-one thought to mention the toothpaste. She remained overnight in the clinic under observation, but in the morning she had a seizure, went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived.

 

We were all devastated, shocked and heart broken, especially Melanie for whom we purchased this Pug for her eighteenth birthday. Maisy was the love of her life - she had desired a Pug for a pet and finally got her wish. We all adored her for her cute looks and crazy antics. Suddenly, she is gone out of our life and sadness remains.

 

I needed a sense of closure, so I went into detective mode to identify what caused her untimely death. I searched everywhere inside and outside the house, but found nothing. I backtracked where I had walked her that morning - maybe there was a poison mushroom - found nothing. Then, out of the blue, by partner said, "oh, she was chewing a toothpaste tube". I then retrieved the toothpaste tube out of the bin, and found the "smoking gun". Maisy must have relished the taste - the tube was riddled with tooth marks, the cap and opening was licked clean.

 

Onto the internet I go and begin researching toothpaste. To my horror I find that toothpaste can be fatal to dogs because it contains sodium fluoride which in fact is a toxic poison. Sodium fluoride is more toxic that lead and a little less toxic that arsenic. An overdose of fluoride result in symptoms such as restlessness, stiffness, loss of appetite, drooling, and vomiting. It can progress to urinary problems, seizures, weakness, severe depression, and cardiac failure. A small 50mg of toothpaste has enough fluoride to kill a 10Kg dog. Just 10mg will result in clinical illness. Our Maisy was just 7Kg. How much she ingested is uncertain, but only a small amount would have had a catastrophic impact on her tiny organs. I can't imagine how much pain she endured.

 

More research reveals that sodium fluoride was most effective in killing rodents like rats and mice and insects such as cockroaches. It was the number one poison to use in the late eighteen hundreds. When we brush our teeth with a paste containing sodium fluoride, we rinse and then spit. Hence, we ingest only a minute amount which apparently does not harm us. Dogs don't spit.

 

I rang the Vet and when I mentioned the toothpaste she replied that all the symptoms Maisy presented were consistent with sodium fluoride poisoning. Unfortunately, the minute she began chewing on the tube there was going to be a fatal outcome.

 

Now, we did not know that toothpaste can be fatal to dogs and everyone that I spoke to, without exception, even many dog owners replied that they did not know toothpaste is toxic to dogs. The reason why is because there is no warning whatsoever on the tube or box it comes in that it is toxic to pets. I am extremely disappointed about this! The manufacturer of this product should be made responsible to warn of its danger.

 

Sorry if I have rambled on with this story. I am doing this for our darling Maisy. I just hope to make all dog owners aware that in our homes we have and use toothpaste every day, therefore we think it is harmless, but it can be deadly to our beloved dogs. If I can save just one other dog, then Maisy's death won't be in vain. Please do your own research on sodium fluoride.

 

Regards, George from South Australia.

[PossumCorner]

Pugmanic welcome, wish you came to the forum under less sad circumstances.  So sorry you have lost your loved little dog.

 

Yes you are right, toothpaste is quite toxic at times, most outer packaging does clearly warn even us (in the small print of course) to rinse mouth and not to swallow it.  Many people put out cut toothpaste tubes in sheds as rat poison - but many are unaware of its possible danger and your warning does make this clear. 

[Little Gifts]

I am so sorry you and your family are going through this. I didn't know this myself and have a dog who is notorious for eating things she shouldn't so it's a very real risk in this household. We are careful about how low anything remotely edible is left. Thank you for this information. Take care of yourselves.

[sandgrubber]

Ate you sure it wasn't xylitol (the sweetener for many toothpastes) that did the poisoning?  Sodium floride is toxic, but it's generally ok at the tiny levels present in toothpaste.  

Edited July 2, 2018 by sandgrubber
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[Papillon Kisses]

1 hour ago, Khouji said:

I didn't know that toothpaste will be toxic to dogs. I brush my dog once a week, maybe I should be careful next tme I'll do that.

 

Toothbrushing is great. Just use one for dogs.

[Dogsfevr]

2 hours ago, Khouji said:

I didn't know that toothpaste will be toxic to dogs. I brush my dog once a week, maybe I should be careful next tme I'll do that.

You buy pet toothpaste 

[pugmanic]

Hi Everyone, 

 

Thank you for your replies about the toothpaste topic. It is true that some toothpastes 

contain xylitol which is an alcohol based sweetener which will kill a dog quicker as it will

drop the dogs blood sugar very rapidly and cause liver failure. However, sodium fluoride

on it's own will kill a dog if enough is ingested. The symptoms will be similar, but the 

outcome will be the same. Maybe, it will take a bit longer. Our little Maisy died approximately

35 hours after found chewing on the tube. 

Regarding the warning on the toothpaste tube, yes it is there in small print. It  will typically

say: "Do not swallow, Not to be used in children under 6 years of age......." This is no doubt

because children this young may be inclined to swallow and not rinse and spit. Also, with

fruit and bubble gum flavours available in toothpastes, children may be more inclined to 

swallow as they love the yummy taste. Alarmingly, I have two brands of toothpaste in my 

house that have NO warning whatsoever and they are two Colgate advanced whitening

brands. 

There is. however. no warning that it is toxic to pets, especially dogs, who, when they get 

hold of a tube, will swallow as much as they can because they love the sweet minty taste. 

Below, I have copied a reference from the website "Family Pet"

What are the dangers of letting my dog swallow human toothpaste? BY FAMILYPETReport Advertisement

Some people are tempted to brush their dog’s teeth with human toothpaste in an effort to get rid of “doggy breath.” Some others have dogs that will get into anything, and that includes eating entire tubes of toothpaste. Dogs should never have it, and these are the specific reasons why:
First, human toothpaste contains fluoride, and that substance is toxic to dogs. An overdose of fluoride result in symptoms such as restlessness, stiffness, loss of appetite, drooling, and vomiting. It can progress to urinary problems, seizures, weakness, severe depression, and cardiac failure.
Human toothpaste might also include a sweetener called xylitol which wreaks havoc on blood sugar levels and can cause liver failure in dogs.
We also need to remember that human toothpaste is not edible, and we spit it out instead of swallowing it. Pets generally cannot spit and will swallow the toothpaste. Human toothpaste tubes have a warning on them that stresses not to swallow it. Manufacturers of pet toothpastes formulate their products to swallow and be fully digestible.
Human toothpastes also contain a detergent, or surfactant, to help fluoride work well, causing the toothpaste to foam and carry away debris while brushing. Pet toothpaste does not foam. The foaming action is very unpleasant to pets and gives them a bad experience that makes brushing their teeth difficult.
Even those specially formulated pet dental products need to be used with care because, although it’s generally safe, it does contain xylitol—so you really need to strictly use it as directed. Minor stomach upset could occur if your pet swallows more than what is normally used for brushing. When ingested in amounts that exceed the recommended per label dose, xylitol can cause a sudden drop in a dog’s blood sugar, resulting in weakness, tremors and seizures as well as the potential for liver failure.
Second, if your dog just gets into the toothpaste to eat it, there is another concern: Did she swallow chunks of the plastic tube in which it came?
Consult your veterinarian or animal poison control center immediately if your dog eats any amount of human toothpaste.

 

As I mentioned in my first post, my family and everyone I have spoken to were not aware of how potentially lethal toothpaste is to dogs. If we were aware, our darling Maisy would still be with us now. We all love our dogs, they are like our children, and we want to do everything to protect them and give them a happy, healthy life. So I hope this has been useful information for you all. 

 

Regards, George. 

 

 

 

 

 

[westiemum]

Hi George, I'm so sorry you're not here under happier circumstances and thank you for posting.  I didn't know that toothpaste could be toxic for dogs and will be much more careful in the future - particularly as my new westie is a bit of a chewer. And what you've said makes so much sense.  But it also makes me wonder about the long term effects of fluoride toothpaste on us?  Even in minute quantities? As over an average lifetime we could still ingest quite a bit! 

[sandgrubber]

3 minutes ago, westiemum said:

Hi George, I'm so sorry you're not here under happier circumstances and thank you for posting.  I didn't know that toothpaste could be toxic for dogs and will be much more careful in the future - particularly as my new westie is a bit of a chewer. And what you've said makes so much sense.  But it also makes me wonder about the long term effects of fluoride toothpaste on us?  Even in minute quantities? As over an average lifetime we could still ingest quite a bit! 

The long term effects on us are well know.  Trace amounts of floride harden dental enamel.  Epidemiological studies haven't turned up adverse effects in regions where floride is present naturally.  

 

[westiemum]

Thanks SG - Sorry not a topic I know a lot about so hope you don't mind some questions.  So what are the long term effects on us?  And do you know about any studies done in areas which have fluoridated water AND use fluoride toothpaste (so a bit of a double whammy? Or isn't it)?  Or maybe what happens in areas without fluoride occurring naturally?  Just really interested  !

Edited July 9, 2018 by westiemum

[sandgrubber]

1 minute ago, westiemum said:

Thanks SG - Sorry not a topic I know a lot about so hope you don't mind some questions.  So what are the long term effects on us?  And do you know about any studies done in areas which have fluoridated water AND use fluoride toothpaste (so a bit of a double whammy? Or isn't it)?  Or maybe what happens in areas without fluoride occurring naturally?  Just really interested  !

Sorry, I spoke too soon.  Been many years since I looked at this subject.  The scientific evidence seems to be turning against use of floride.  Here's a good review article.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956646/

[PossumCorner]

My uninformed opinion not based on any studies is that some long term effects are a small price to pay for the wider public having the benefit of better dental health: because the long term effects of early tooth decay causing gum disease and a lifetime of misery from that is something horrific.  Wish I had better teeth, wish we had had the benefit of town water with the additives instead of raised in the country on tank water: some health benefits there too, but I'd trade a lot for being dentally sound, which I am not.

[westiemum]

Thanks PC - good perspective.  I suppose I've just become acutely aware that my apparently genetically metabolically disordered body might not deal well with even trace amounts of stuff like fluoride - its been dawning on me that I don't have a normal body, I've never had one, I don't know what having a normal body is like and what's normal for others might not be normal for me (and vice versa).   So I suppose at the back of my mind is the possibility I might be better off without some of this stuff that I've assumed over a lifetime is safe, may not be and/or may not be safe for me.  (Hope that makes sense!)  

 

ETA: Oh and with apologies to the OP for the hijack!  

Edited July 9, 2018 by westiemum

[westiemum]

52 minutes ago, sandgrubber said:

Sorry, I spoke too soon.  Been many years since I looked at this subject.  The scientific evidence seems to be turning against use of floride.  Here's a good review article.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956646/

Holy dooley SG.  Thanks for posting.  While I'm not panicking yet,  that article has certainly got me thinking and wanting to know more. 

  

Quote

A recent study of the effects of inorganic fluoride compounds on human cellular functions revealed that fluoride can interact with a wide range of enzyme-mediated cellular processes and genes modulated by fluoride including those related to the stress response, metabolic enzymes, the cell cycle, cell-cell communications, and signal transduction 

And this...

 

Quote

As with calcium, magnesium plays important roles in optimal bone and teeth formation. By competing with magnesium and calcium in teeth and bones, fluoride deranges the delicate bone formation and bone resorption processes. Such derangements, and consequent intensity of fluoride's adverse effects on bone and teeth, are amplified in malnutrition, calcium deficiency, and magnesium deficiency [68, 69]. Chronic fluoride ingestion is commonly associated with hyperkalaemia and consequent ventricular fibrillation

I know I'm magnesium (and iron) deficient and my mother is calcium deficient. (I'm not but I also have Vitamin D deficiency).

 

And this...

 

Quote

Given the uncertainties and debates about effectiveness, efficacy, and the potential for harming health, it is not surprising that community water fluoridation raises important ethical questions. However, these are not restricted to issues of benefit and harm. In addition, community water fluoridation provides policy makers with important questions about medication without consent, the removal of individual choice and whether public water supplies are an appropriate delivery mechanism

Oh boy... thanks tons SG.  Lots to think about and research further. 

 

But you know what?  I'm thinking that after Georges story and the fact that I now have come to the conclusion that sugar is the root of all evil (LOL!) and I'm now in my mid 50's, still have all my own teeth (admittedly heavily 'filled'!) and I have a 'chewy' westie  for the first time, I might change my toothpaste, drink tank water and filtered water exclusively for a little while and see what happens.  Can't hurt. 

Edited July 9, 2018 by westiemum