When your dog encounters chewing gum for the first time, he may want to taste it or he may decide to roll on it to test out a new texture. This makes a real mess in dog fur. Gum is easily removed with some elbow grease and a few household items.
Step 1
Pull loose hair away from the area that has chewing gum in the fur. Place hair clips in longer hair to keep it from getting in the gum.
Step 2
Turn a blow dryer on a warm setting and direct the nozzle at the gum. Warming the gum will make it pliable and easier to remove.
Step 3
Pour warm water on a washcloth and massage it into the gum to break it down. Wipe the excess moisture off your dog’s fur with a towel.
Step 4
Pour vegetable oil in the palm of one hand. Grasp the chewing gum with your fingers and tip your palm up to drizzle the cooking oil onto the gum. Press the cooking oil into the gum to dilute it. Comb small pieces of chewing gum that break off the clump out of the hair with a fine-tooth comb. Keep working vegetable oil into the gum and removing it with the comb until you remove all the gum.
Step 5
Give your dog a warm bath. Apply a generous amount of dog shampoo on the area with cooking oil to remove the oily residue. Rinse him thoroughly with warm water and comb his fur out as you normally do.
References
Resources
Tips
- If your dog steps on chewing gum and it is in the fur between his pads, you can cut the hair off even with his pads using round-tipped scissors and it will not be noticeable.
- Use scissors as a last resort to remove chewing gum from dog fur. Depending where it is, it can be very noticeable if you cut out a patch of fur.
Warnings
- Remove chewing gum from your pet’s fur as soon as you notice it. Gum can work its way close to your dog’s skin and cause skin issues just as hair mats do.
- Sugar-free chewing gum contains sweeteners that are toxic to dogs. Place chewed gum in a paper towel first and then deposit it into a garbage can that your dog cannot access.
Writer Bio
Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a major in Management and a double minor in accounting and computer science. She loves writing about careers for busy families as well as family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages.