Does 5 Gum Have Xylitol?

The Short Answer is:

There is no xylitol in 5 gum, based on its ingredients list.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Does 5 Gum Have Xylitol?“.

There are many fans of 5 Gum out there and maybe you’re one of them. 

Sugar-free and low in calories this gum is made by the Wrigley Company. 

You might be hesitant to share a piece with your dog if you are a fan because of reports that some chewing gum contains xylitol which is dangerous for dogs. 

What about 5 Gums xylitol content? 

Xylitol is harmful to our furry friends for a number of reasons. Lets find out why.

Why is xylitol poisonous to dogs?

Why is xylitol poisonous for dogs when xylitol isnot poisonous to humans? 

Controlling blood sugar and more specifically insulin is the answer. 

Xylitol digested by dogs enters their bloodstream much faster than it does by humans resulting in too much insulin being released at once by the pancreas. 

This can result in hypoglycemia which if left untreated can be deadly for dogs.

What are the signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs?

The symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs normally begin within a few hours of consumption and they will normally include the classic signs of hypoglycemia. 

Your dog could develop liver failure from xylitol poisoning in which case they may not show signs of hypoglycemia right away.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs include vomiting weakness sluggishness/lethargy trouble walking/standing tremors seizures or coma. 

The vet should be consulted immediately if your dog exhibits any of these symptoms and even if your dog isnot yet showing symptoms you should still take him/her to the vet if they have ingested anything containing xylitol.

How much xylitol does it take to poison a dog?

Xylitol does not take a lot to cause a negative reaction in a dog and for this reason any amount consumed is harmful. 

Ingesting a small amount is more likely to cause hypoglycemia whereas ingesting a large amount usually causes liver failure. 

Its also important to note that the size of the dog affects the amount of xylitol required to cause toxicity.

A dog can become toxic if it consumes 50 mg of xylitol per pound of its weight if it consumes gum containing 300 to 1500 mg of xylitol per piece. If it contains 1000 mg or more one piece of gum could be fatal to a 20-pound dog.

What are the ingredients in 5 Gum? Does 5 Gum Have Xylitol?

On one of the packs of 5 Gum you will find the following ingredients (please keep in mind that the ingredients may differ depending on the flavor): 

Sorbitol 

The gum base 

Gracyrol 

Artificial and natural flavors; 

There are less than 2% of the following: Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate Aspartame Mannitol Acesulfame K Soy Lecithin Color (Blue 1 Lake) Bht (To Maintain Freshness) 

Warning: PHENYLKETONURICS: Contains PHENYLALANINE. 

Now lets look at the list.

5 Gum does not contain xylitol as you can see. 

However it contains sorbitol. Sugarless gums also use xylitol and sorbitol as sweeteners but sorbitol is typically used more often due to its lower price. 

Sorbitol is not dangerous for your dog to ingest and the worst it will do is cause some digestive issues in most cases.

In what other ways is 5 Gum bad for dogs?

There is no guarantee that 5 Gum is safe for dogs just because it does not contain Xylitol. 

Not only 5 Gum but chewing gum generally comes with certain risks and you should never give it to your dog. 

Due to the fact that dogs can not chew on things for long periods of time like humans chewing gum presents a serious choking hazard to them. 

In addition to that chewing gum contains a lot of other artificial sweeteners sugars and chemicals that are bad for your dogs health in the long run.

What other main artificial sweeteners are used in chewing gum?

You might run into aspartame as one of the main artificial sweeteners which isnot something you want your dog to consume but it isnot necessarily as dangerous for them as xylitol. 

You may have noticed that 5 Gum contains aspartame. 

Additionally erythritol stevia saccharin and sucralose are notable artificial sweeteners.

The question at this point may be why are artificial sweeteners used instead of sugar in the first place. 

There are a number of reasons for this but the most important one is that they do not cause tooth decay. 

Moreover they are almost calorie-free. 

Additionally artificial sweeteners use less energy than real sugar to achieve the same results so factories can use them at a lower cost.

What other things contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol?

Having learned how toxic xylitol can be for dogs you’re probably wondering what other products could potentially contain it. 

There are many products that contain xylitol so it always pays off to read the ingredients. 

Xylitol is also commonly used in oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouthwash besides sugar-free gum.

Other foods that contain xylitol include baked goods peanut butter drink powders candy pudding condiments (like ketchup and barbecue sauces) and pancake syrup. 

Additionally xylitol can also be found in some medications including chewable vitamins and “fast melts” or “meltaways”.

What are some other ways you can freshen your dog’s breath?

I’m sure you’re very disappointed right now if you thought chewing gum would be safe for your dog since your dog suffers from bad breath. 

Many dog owners can probably relate to trying to freshen their dogs breath after all many of us let our dogs lick us on the face. 

If your dog has stinky breath that isnot the best thing to happen. 

Then is there anything else we can do to freshen the breath of our dog?

Depending on the cause of our dogs bad breath we can use different methods to freshen their breath. 

There are many reasons why your dog might have bad breath and some of those reasons can only be treated by a veterinarian. 

Among the causes of stinky breath in your dog are poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease eating less than optimally (such as eating feces) liver disease kidney disease or diabetes.

Periodontal disease and/or plaque build-up will require a dental cleaning for the more severe health conditions. 

If the bad breath is caused by gross eating habits then you can solve the problem by making sure things like roadkill litter boxes and trash are out of reach.

What are some ways you can prevent bad breath in your pup?

It would be ideal if we could prevent bad breath from occurring in the first place. There are several ways to accomplish this. 

You should brush your dogs teeth regularly but you should make sure you get toothpaste that is made specifically for dogs. 

It is important to avoid human toothpaste because it contains xylitol as we discussed earlier.

Providing chew toys and dental treats for your dog will help prevent plaque and tartar buildup by promoting chewing which naturally removes these substances. 

Additionally you can also introduce some great dental chews and water additives to your dog. You can ask your vet for recommendations on which ones to choose. 

Keeping your dog on a good and healthy diet and ensuring they exercise regularly can help with preventing some of the more serious health conditions that can lead to bad breath. 

Key Takeaways

It should be obvious from this article that even though 5 Gum does not contain xylitol it does present other potential health issues for your dog and it probably isnot a dog-friendly treat. 

All gum is the same whether it is sugar-free or not. 

The food either contains xylitol or is a choking hazard. 

As for xylitol you should make sure that your dog does not ingest anything that contains it. If your dog does come in contact with something that contains xylitol you should immediately take him to the vet. 

Donot forget to pat yourself on the back for being the kind of pet parent that learns what is good and what isnot for your dog.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.