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Most of us have had to remove chewing gum from our hair; to say it’s a challenge is an understatement! But what happens if your dog somehow gets gum stuck in their hair? How much more difficult must getting gum out of dog hair be? And how do you get gum out of dog hair anyway?
If your dog has gum in their hair, you can get it out with one of these three simple methods. Take a look below at our step-by-step guide so you can get your dog back to being gum-free! When removing chewing gum, be careful not to let your dog ingest it. Many forms of chewing gum contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.
Before You Begin: Gather Supplies
Before you begin removing the gum from your pet’s hair, you need to choose the method you want to use and gather everything you need. Depending on which way you decide to get the gum out of your dog’s hair, you’ll need:
- Ice cubes
- Peanut butter (xylitol free)
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Mayonnaise
- Comb
- Pet clippers
- Dishwashing soap
- Dog shampoo
- Towels
The 3 Methods for Removing Gum From Your Dog’s Hair
Here are three methods for getting gum out of your dog’s hair and all the steps to follow for each method! If you try one and it fails, move on to the next one. Contact your veterinarian for assistance if you are unable to remove the gum.
1. The Ice Cube Method
First, we have the ice cube method.
- Grab an ice cube.
- Hold the ice cube on the gum for 3–5 minutes, which hardens the gum. It’s much easier to get out of your dog’s hair than soft gum!
- Once the gum has hardened, try to pull it out of your dog’s hair—gently!—by breaking off pieces of it.
- If breaking off pieces and removing them by hand isn’t working or causing your dog discomfort, you can use clippers as described below.
- Once the gum is removed, give your dog a bath with a pet-safe shampoo to ensure no tiny bits of gum remain.
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Product
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For Bathing
Hepper Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
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For In-Between Baths
Hepper No-Rinse Pet Shampoo
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2. The Oil-Based Method
You’re probably familiar with this method, as it’s the most common technique of removing gum from kids’ hair.
- Grab an oil-based product—peanut butter (xylitol-free), olive oil, butter, or mayo.
- Work the oily substance into the hair with your fingers near the gum.
- Let it sit for 3 or 4 minutes. Stay with your dog while waiting to prevent them from eating the substance.
- Once the 3 minutes have passed, it’s time to break out the comb. Comb the gum out, starting from above and combing down. In some cases, an old toothbrush can also be useful for removing the gum.
- If the gum doesn’t come out the first time, repeat the process.
- If the gum refuses to budge after that, you’ll need to move on to the next method.
- If this method removes the gum, you’ll need to give your pup a bath to remove the oil and any leftover bits of gum.
3. The Fur Cutting Method
This is probably the simplest method of getting gum out of dog hair.
- Ensure your dog’s fur is dry; it’s less difficult to cut dry hair than wet.
- Hold your dog in place (or grab a friend who can gently hold onto them while you cut).
- Place your pet clippers above where the gum is located.
- Move the pet clippers downward to trim the hair surrounding the gum.
- If the gum isn’t cut out on the first pass, repeat as necessary until the gum is gone.
- If you aren’t comfortable trimming your dog’s fur, take them to the groomer or the vet so they can trim the fur and get the gum out.
- Bathe your pet once the gum is removed!
Removing Gum From Your Pup’s Paws
The skin on your dog’s paws is sensitive, and removing gum from it may require a slightly different approach.
- First, mix mild dishwashing soap with warm water.
- Next, soak a towel or cloth in the soapy water.
- Dab your pet’s paw with the wet towel around the affected area to loosen the gum from the hair and skin.
- Once your pup’s paw is wet enough, see if the gum can be removed.
- If the gum isn’t coming out, drizzle olive oil on the area.
- Use the rag in a sideways motion to loosen the gum so it’ll come out.
- If the soapy water and olive oil don’t remove the gum, take your pet to the vet so they can remove it.
- If this process works, wash your dog’s paw to remove the soap and olive oil.
Things to Avoid
There are a couple of things to avoid when trying to get gum out of your dog’s hair:
- Don’t try to wash chewing gum out! Leaving the gum as is, without trying one of the methods above, and bathing your pet could make the gum soften and spread, getting it into even more of your dog’s fur.
- Don’t attempt to comb or brush the gum out without applying something oily first. Doing this is another way to spread the gum around.
Conclusion
Getting gum out of your dog’s hair can be challenging, but by using one of these methods, you’ll hopefully have it out sooner rather than later. Follow the steps for whichever method you choose to get the best results. And though it isn’t always possible, try to keep your dog away from chewed gum to prevent it from getting stuck in their fur again!
- See also: 7 Benefits of Regular Dog Grooming
Featured Image Credit: Hannah Tu, Unsplash
