Xylitol Dangers In Dogs

 Dog owners should already know the dangers that foods like chocolate, garlic, onions, and grapes pose to their canine companions’ health, although they are foods that are harmless to most people.

Another common substance that’s harmless to most humans but potentially life-threatening if consumed by dogs is Xylitol. The problem is that many sugar-free products contain Xylitol. So what exactly is this scary sounding chemical (pronounced zi-li-tol)? Xylitol is a sugar-free substance used as a sugar substitute. It’s commonly called a “sugar alcohol,” and is naturally found in certain fruit (in very small amounts).

But for dogs, Xylitol poisoning is a major problem. Ingesting Xylitol causes a rapid and massive insulin release in dogs, which will manifest itself outwardly to a pet owner as acute weakness, staggering, and vomiting. Within 15 to 20 minutes, they might even be comatose, and depending on the amount consumed, a dog can also experience liver failure from ingesting Xylitol.

Why is Xylitol Dangerous to Dogs, but Not People?

In both people and dogs, the level of blood sugar is controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. In people, Xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. However, it’s different in canines: When dogs eat something containing Xylitol, it is more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, and may result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas.

This rapid release of insulin may result in a rapid and profound decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia), an effect that can occur within 10 to 60 minutes of eating the Xylitol. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can quickly become life-threatening.

(A note to cat owners: The toxicity of Xylitol for cats has not been documented. They appear to be spared, at least in part, by their disdain for sweets.)

Xylitol is found in trace amounts in many fruits and vegetables, but because it’s occurring naturally and in such small amounts in these cases, it’s hardly ever a problem for pets.

On the other hand, many grocery stores have started carrying sugar-free foods like ketchup, peanut butter, protein bars, pudding, and more that contain Xylitol as one of their primary ingredients.  You’ll need to check the ingredients list on the label to know if something sugar-free is made with Xylitol or some other substitute.  And in some cases, products that are not labeled as sugar-free still contain Xylitol. It is important to always carefully read the entire ingredient list of any food before giving it to your dog.

Xylitol is commonly found in many household products including the following:

Some nut butters (peanut, etc)                                                                                                                                                                                              Sugar-free or Diabetic snacks (e.g., gums)
Sugar-free or Diabetic foods
Baked goods
Chewing Gum
Mints
Candies
Mouthwashes
Toothpastes (Xylitol has been found in large amounts)
Chewable sugar-free multivitamins
Chewable sugar-free medications
Nasal sprays
Medications (including oral pills over-the-counter like melatonin or prescription medications like gabapentin)

As you can see from this list, Xylitol is in just about everything now. The Pet Poison Helpline cites gum as the source of nearly 80% of cases involving Xylitol. While gum manufacturers have the options of using other sugar substitutes, like erythritol and Stevia, Xylitol is the only one experts know of that causes such adverse reactions in canines.

Because packaged Xylitol can be bought in bulk at many food stores, baked foods are becoming a more common source of canine health emergencies. It’s a good option for diabetics who like to bake, and similarly, you might find some already-made baked goods containing Xylitol at bakeries and specialty stores. And because cupcakes and cookies have a lot more sweetener, a pet that consumes a baked good packed with Xylitol is in danger of facing a life-threatening situation.

Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include the following:

Weakness or lethargy
Depression
Walking drunk
Acute collapse
Vomiting
Trembling or tremoring
Seizures
A racing heart rate
Jaundiced gums
Black-tarry stool
Diarrhea
Bruising
Abnormal mentation
Clotting problems
Death
Liver failure may occur in severe cases of toxicity due to the dog’s low blood sugar. A small piece of sugar-free gum (or 0.1 g/kg of Xylitol) may be considered a toxic dose of Xylitol, depending on the dog’s weight.

If you think your dog was accidentally poisoned by a sugar-free product, first, stay calm! Next, read the ingredients to see if the product contained Xylitol. The general rule is that if Xylitol is listed in the first 3-5 ingredients (typically in order of the amount that they appear in the food or product), it is going to be poisonous!

At this point, you need to call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately, and give them as much information as you can. Depending on the severity, they may suggest feeding [the dog] syrup or honey—something sweet to help keep their blood sugar up temporarily while you drive to seek emergency help.

In most cases, symptoms will develop within 15 to 30 minutes of ingestion of the Xylitol. However, there are some sugar-free gums that delay the onset of symptoms for up to 12 hours or more.

**If your dog does get into something sugar-free, always check the ingredient list. Note that other sound-a-likes like sorbitol, maltitol, and erythritol are not poisonous to dogs. Likewise, other sugar-free products such as stevia, saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, etc. are also not poisonous to dogs. If your dog gets into one of these other sound-a-likes, it’s not poisonous. No need to worry, as long as you’re positive there’s no Xylitol!

If your dog did ingest a poisonous dose of Xylitol, treatment includes the following:

• Checking a blood sugar level with your veterinarian. If it’s normal and ingestion was recent (within a few hours), your veterinarian may induce vomiting.
• If your dog is hypoglycemic, an immediate intravenous (IV) dextrose (i.e., sugar) is a must, followed by hospitalization. Treatment will include IV fluids with sugar supplementation (e.g., dextrose) for a minimum of 12-18 hours. If your dog is able to maintain his blood sugar as the dextrose supplementation is weaned down over time, then your dog can go home.                       
• If a toxic dose was ingested and not vomited back up, your veterinarian will recommend hospitalizing your dog for IV fluids, dextrose supplementation, and symptomatic supportive care.
• Careful monitoring of blood work (including the liver enzymes, electrolytes and blood sugar) is necessary.
• If your dog ingested a dose approaching the liver-toxic amount of xylitol, the use of liver protectants is warranted. Most dogs are sent home on liver protectants for several weeks, and liver enzymes will be rechecked frequently by the veterinarian, to be on the safe side.
• Because hypoglycemia and other serious adverse effects may not occur in some cases for up to 12 to 24 hours, your dog may need to be monitored.

What Can You Do To Avoid Xylitol Poisoning In Your Dog?

If you’re concerned about your dog eating a food or product with xylitol in it, check the label of ingredients. If it does, indeed, say that it contains xylitol, make sure your pet can’t get to it.

In addition:

• Keep products that contain xylitol (including those you don’t think of as food, such as toothpaste) well out of your dog’s reach. Remember that some dogs are adept at counter surfing.
• Only use pet toothpaste for pets, never use toothpaste for humans.
• If you give your dog nut butter as a treat or as a way to take their pills, check the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol.

Living and Management

Dogs suffering from low blood sugar alone tend to recover well, but if liver damage occurs, the prognosis is guarded to poor. Blood glucose levels will be monitored for at least 24 hours; liver enzyme tests should be repeated often for at least 72 hours.

When in doubt, if you think your dog got into Xylitol, contact your veterinarian or an Animal Poison Control Center right away for life-saving care. They can help calculate and determine whether or not the amount of Xylitol ingested was poisonous or not. Always try to keep these products or foods out of reach of your pets.

Remember, with any pet poisoning, the sooner you recognize the problem and seek veterinary attention, the less expensive and less dangerous it is to your pet!

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.