Human toothpaste
ToxicHuman toothpaste can contain xylitol or fluoride. Xylitol causes hypoglycemia above 100 mg/kg and liver failure above 500 mg/kg in dogs. Brush your dog's teeth with pet toothpaste only.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Do not offer as a treat
There is no recommended treat portion for this hazardous item. If swallowed, contact a vet with the amount, time and product details. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Poor coordination or balance
- Lethargy
- Seizures
- Low blood sugar
- Jaundice
- Blood clotting disorder
- Irregular heartbeat
- Liver failure
More about this food
Dogs do not rinse and spit. They swallow. That is the whole reason human toothpaste is the wrong product for a dog's mouth, even in the small amount that goes on a brush.
The ASPCA notes that toothpaste can contain fluoride or xylitol. Xylitol is the one that turns a routine into a poisoning. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that in dogs xylitol triggers a rapid, dose-dependent insulin release producing profound hypoglycemia, that doses above roughly 100 mg/kg (45 mg/lb) have been associated with hypoglycemia, and that some dogs ingesting more than 500 mg/kg (227 mg/lb) develop severe hepatic insufficiency or failure. For an 11 lb (5 kg) dog, half a gram of xylitol reaches the hypoglycemic threshold. Toothpaste tubes almost never state the milligrams of xylitol they contain, so "he only got a little" is not a calculation anyone can actually make. Merck lists toothpastes and other oral hygiene products among the common sources.
Timing matters. Hypoglycemia can develop within 30 minutes, or be delayed up to 12-18 hours when the xylitol is in a substrate that slows absorption, and it shows as vomiting, weakness, ataxia, lethargy, seizures and coma. Liver injury runs later: clinical signs may not appear until 24-48 hours, though liver enzymes are often detectable as rising within 4-12 hours. Watch for lethargy, vomiting, icterus and coagulopathy.
Fluoride is a smaller but real problem. The ASPCA states that in most cases not enough fluoride is ingested to cause significant signs, but a large ingestion can cause severe stomach upset, irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure and life-threatening electrolyte changes. A chewed and emptied tube is that scenario.
Bring the tube, read the ingredient list for xylitol, estimate how much is gone, weigh your dog, and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home. Dextrose, glucose checks every 1-2 hours for 12 hours or more, and liver enzyme monitoring for 72 hours are veterinary decisions. Then switch to a toothpaste made for dogs.
Frequently asked questions
- I have brushed with human toothpaste for years and nothing happened.
- Check the label for xylitol first. If it is there, your dog has been swallowing small daily doses, and if it is not, human toothpaste is still wrong for an animal that cannot rinse. Switch to a veterinary toothpaste today.
- He chewed the tube and I cannot tell how much he swallowed.
- You do not need the exact amount. An 11 lb dog reaches the hypoglycemia threshold at half a gram of xylitol, and tubes do not print the content. Bring the tube and call your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435.
- It has been a few hours and he is fine. Are we past it?
- No. Hypoglycemia can be delayed 12-18 hours depending on the product, and liver signs may not appear until 24-48 hours even though enzymes rise at 4-12 hours. That is exactly why bloodwork is done before symptoms.