This article will discuss “what happens if a dog eats Nicorette gum?”. Here we will also answer some interesting questions like how much nicotine will cause nicotine toxicity in your dog, what are the symptoms of nicotine toxicity in dogs and why nicotine is harmful to dogs.
What happens if a dog eats Nicorette gum?
Eating Nicorette gum will cause nicotine toxicity in dogs. You should always watch out for your dog using such products, so they don’t get paws on these things. They are highly toxic for your pets, and their consumption in high amounts can cost the life of your pets.
Our pets often engulf these substances because they are curious and can not resist them, as these things have good palatability.
How much nicotine will cause toxicity in dogs?
Nicotine products contain nicotine ranging from 2 grams-114 grams. The gums have minor nicotine, while cigars have five times more nicotine than cigarettes.
How much your dog will be affected and how much toxicity nicotine will cause depends on the amount of nicotine taken by your dog. a 1mg/kg dose of nicotine will yield the clinical signs. A lethal dose of nicotine is 9.5mg/kg body weight. As nicotine is readily absorbable in blood, symptoms appear after 1 hour of ingestion.
What are the symptoms of nicotine toxicity in canines?
Following are the symptoms of low-dose exposure to nicotine. Some of these signs are seen at the initial stages of high nicotine toxicity:
- Tremors
- Staggering gait
- Hyperactivity (excitement)
- Low heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Hypersalivation
With time the drug starts to absorb in the blood from the stomach, and as the number of nicotine increases in the blood, the chances of severe nicotine toxicity increase.
So, if your pet has eaten your Nicorette gum, it is better to take him to the vet as soon as possible because as time passes, more nicotine will be absorbed in the blood and will cause more harm to your dog.
Following are the symptoms of high nicotine toxicity in dogs:
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Increased heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Labored or difficult breathing
- Death
Why is nicotine harmful to dogs?
Nicotine, when ingested and goes to the stomach, acts like a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical is a neurotransmitter and is released naturally by our body. Acetylcholine helps in nervous system stimulation. Low amounts of nicotine will cause hyperactivity of the nervous system.
If ingested in more significant amounts, it will cause hurdles in the normal functioning of the nervous system.
Why do dogs vomit instantly after eating Nicorette gum?
When Nicorette gums are ingested, nicotine is released and absorbed by the blood. When nicotine is in the blood, it activates the vomiting center in dogs and the brain orders the gastrointestinal tract to start the regurgitation reflex and induce vomiting.
This reflex is helpful for dogs as it prevents any further harm from happening.
What are the ingredients of Nicorette gum?
Following are the ingredients of Nicorette gum:
- Nicotine:
- Xylitol- causes sudden low blood sugar, weakness, lethargy, seizures, staggering gait and even death if not treated immediately. It is highly toxic for dogs.
- Sodium carbonate
When a dog ingests Nicorette gum, it ingests nicotine and xylitol. Together they are a deadly combination that requires immediate medical attention and treatment. If not acted accordingly, it can cost you your pet’s life.
Will my dog live after eating a Nicorette gum?
The answer depends on how much nicotine it has consumed and how much time has passed. As we discussed earlier, with time, more nicotine gets absorbed in the blood, and it will worsen your dog’s condition.
So, if you doubt that your dog has eaten your nicotine gums or you observe any of the above mentioned symptoms, you should hurry to the vet with your dog to get your fluffy and excellent medical attention.
There is, unfortunately, no antidote for nicotine, so the treatment includes methods that lessen the absorption of nicotine in the blood.The vet will try to induce vomiting in your stomach to get the gum out so it won’t worsen the condition further. Intravenous fluids are given to acidify the urine, so nicotine gets out of the body.
Conclusion:
This article discussed, “what happens if a dog eats Nicorette gum?”. Here we also answered some interesting questions like how much nicotine will cause nicotine toxicity in your dog, what are the symptoms of nicotine toxicity in dogs, and why nicotine is harmful to dogs.
References:
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/titanium-dioxide-no-longer-considered-safe-feed-additive
