Xylitol and Dogs

Xylitol is a strong sweetener. Only a little is needed to create a very sweet taste. It has no negative effects in people. In fact, it has no effect on blood sugar which is a boon for diabetics. Without the sugar in the product, there is less chance of tooth decay.

Veterinarians first became aware of xylitol when it was added to sugar-free gums. Dogs were becoming hypoglycemic after eating a few strips. The drop in blood sugar was so severe that these dogs began seizuring.

The reason xylitol is toxic to dogs is that it causes a massive release of insulin, up to a seven-fold increase over the amount released with ingestion of glucose. The insulin drops blood sugar to dangerous levels.

The treatment for hypoglycemia is an immediate injection of glucose. Once the sugar level is stabilized, glucose administration is tailored to the patient’s needs.

However, xylitol has another significant effect. At higher doses, it damages the liver. The exact mechanism of how xylitol does this is unknown, and there is no specific treatment. Veterinarians can only provide supportive care and medication to protect the liver. This is often fatal.

Xylitol is added to baked goods, toothpastes, mouthwashes, sugar-free candies, and it’s available as a granular sweetener. Currently, xylitol can be found in some oral sugar-free syrups and suspensions, as well as orally dissolving tablets. It’s possible that new formulations could contain xylitol and pose a threat to dogs. If you are using a human pharmaceutical, read the label or ask the pharmacist if xylitol is added to the drug. This applies to ones you pull off the shelf yourself and ones dispensed through a pharmacy by your veterinarian. You may be glad you did.

*Portions of this article are borrowed from http://www.dogsincanada.com/xylitol