{"id":2319,"date":"2017-12-04T18:20:19","date_gmt":"2017-12-04T18:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/?p=2319"},"modified":"2017-12-05T18:54:06","modified_gmt":"2017-12-05T18:54:06","slug":"dangers-of-xylitol-poisoning-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/dangers-of-xylitol-poisoning-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Dangers Of Xylitol Poisoning In Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Xylitol Dangers In Dogs<\/h1>\n

\"\"\u00a0<\/a>Dog owners should already know the dangers that foods like\u00a0chocolate,\u00a0garlic, onions, and\u00a0grapes\u00a0pose to their canine companions\u2019 health, although they are foods that are harmless to most people.<\/p>\n

Another common substance that\u2019s harmless to most humans but potentially life-threatening if consumed by dogs is\u00a0Xylitol<\/em><\/strong>. 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\u2019s commonly called a \u201csugar alcohol,\u201d and is naturally found in certain fruit (in very small amounts).<\/p>\n

But for dogs, Xylitol poisoning is a major problem. Ingesting Xylitol causes a rapid and massive\u00a0insulin release in dogs, which will manifest itself outwardly to a pet owner as\u00a0acute\u00a0weakness, 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.<\/p>\n

Why is Xylitol Dangerous to Dogs, but Not People?<\/h3>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

(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.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Xylitol is found in trace amounts in many fruits and vegetables, but because it\u2019s occurring naturally and in such small amounts in these cases, it\u2019s hardly ever a problem for pets.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 You\u2019ll need to check the ingredients list on the label to know if something sugar-free is made with Xylitol or some other substitute.\u00a0 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.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Xylitol is commonly found in many household products including the following:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Some nut butters (peanut, etc)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sugar-free or Diabetic snacks (e.g., gums)
\nSugar-free or Diabetic foods
\nBaked goods
\nChewing Gum
\nMints
\nCandies
\nMouthwashes
\nToothpastes (Xylitol has been found in large amounts)
\nChewable sugar-free multivitamins
\nChewable sugar-free medications
\nNasal sprays
\nMedications (including oral pills over-the-counter like melatonin or prescription medications like gabapentin)<\/p>\n

As you can see from this list, Xylitol is in just about everything now.\u00a0The Pet Poison Helpline<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include the following:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Weakness or lethargy
\nDepression
\nWalking drunk
\nAcute collapse
\nVomiting
\nTrembling or tremoring
\nSeizures
\nA racing heart rate
\nJaundiced gums
\nBlack-tarry stool
\nDiarrhea
\nBruising
\nAbnormal mentation
\nClotting problems
\nDeath
\nLiver failure\u00a0may 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.<\/p>\n

If you think your dog was accidentally poisoned by a sugar-free product, first, stay calm<\/strong>! 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<\/span>!<\/p>\n

At this point, you need to call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline<\/span><\/strong><\/a> immediately, and give them as much information as you can. Depending on the severity, they may suggest feeding [the dog] syrup or honey\u2014something sweet to help keep their blood sugar up temporarily while you drive to seek emergency help.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

**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\u2019s not poisonous. No need to worry, as long as you\u2019re positive there\u2019s no Xylitol!<\/p>\n

If your dog did ingest a poisonous dose of Xylitol, treatment includes the following:<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n