Samantha Carress lost her beloved Golden Retriever, Luna, and is now warning other dog owners about a hidden danger found in many homes.
Most dog owners know that sweets and chocolate can be harmful to dogs. Sugar can damage their teeth, and chocolate contains substances that can make dogs very sick, causing vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or even death if eaten in large amounts.
Samantha was aware of these dangers, but she didn’t realize that another common ingredient, which Luna accidentally ate, could be just as deadly.
Luna found a pack of lemon-flavored chewing gum and ate it.
Unfortunately, most sugar-free gum contains Xylitol, a sweetener that is very dangerous for dogs.
Just a few hours after eating the gum, Luna’s liver started to fail. Sadly, by the time Samantha realized what was wrong, it was too late to save her.
Samantha was heartbroken because she knew Luna’s death could have been prevented if she had known about the dangers of the gum.
Now, she is warning dog owners to check labels and keep their pets away from anything that contains Xylitol. Even a small amount of this sweetener can cause liver failure in dogs.
Some common household items that contain Xylitol include sugar-free gum, peanut butter, baked goods, candies, drink powders, ketchup, and BBQ sauce.
Luna isn’t the first dog to die from Xylitol poisoning. In fact, cases of Xylitol poisoning have increased by 3,000% over the past ten years.
After Luna ate the gum and started feeling sick, Samantha and her husband rushed her to the vet. They were told that the only way to save her was an emergency liver transplant, which would cost $20,000.
Sadly, Samantha had to say goodbye to her beloved dog.
She urges all dog owners to be extra careful and watch out for hidden dangers.
Please share this story with your family and friends to help spread awareness.