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 hospitalized for medical monitoring. If you think your dog has eaten xylitol, take him to your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately, Hartogensis advises. Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, followed by symptoms associated with the sudden lowering of your dog’s blood sugar, such as decreased activity, weakness, staggering, incoordination, collapse and seizures. Help protect dogs by displaying this flyer (PDF 1.3 MB) in animal shelters, pet stores and veterinary clinics in your neighborhood. Ferret owners, however, should be careful, as ferrets have been known to develop low blood sugar and seizures, like dogs, after eating products containing xylitol. Cats appear to be spared, at least in part, by their disdain for sweets. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can quickly be life-threatening, Hartogensis says.Ī note to cat and ferret owners: Xylitol does not seem to be as dangerous for cats and other pets. 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. However, it’s different in canines: When dogs eat something containing xylitol, the xylitol is more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, and may result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. In people, xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. In both people and dogs, the level of blood sugar is controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. Why is Xylitol Dangerous to Dogs, but Not People? It’s a good idea to keep all such products well out of your dog’s reach. Some pediatric dentists also recommend xylitol-containing chewing gum for children, and these products could end up in a dog’s mouth by accident. In-store bakeries also are selling baked goods containing the sweetener. People can buy xylitol in bulk to bake sweet treats at home. Xylitol can be used in baked goods, too, such as cakes, muffins, and pies - often because the baker is substituting another sweetener for sugar, as in products for people with diabetes. sugar-free desserts, including 'skinny' ice cream.Other products that may contain xylitol include: Slightly lower in calories than sugar, this sugar substitute is also often used to sweeten sugar-free candy, such as mints and chocolate bars, as well as sugar-free chewing gum. Gum isn’t the only product containing xylitol. The most recent report was related to 'skinny' (sugar-free) ice cream.Īnd you may have heard or read news stories about dogs that have died or become very ill after eating products containing xylitol, which also may be known as birch sugar or wood sugar.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received several reports-many of which pertained to chewing gum-of dogs being poisoned by xylitol, according to Martine Hartogensis, a veterinarian at the FDA. Over the past several years, the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. If you think your dog may have eaten a product containing xylitol, call your vet, emergency clinic, or animal poison control center right away.

Xylitol is present in many products and foods for human use, but can have devastating effects on your pet. Sugarless gum may contain xylitol, a class of sweetener known as sugar alcohol. But you may not know that if Hoover sticks his nose in your handbag and eats a pack of sugarless chewing gum, the consequences could be deadly. Like many dog owners, you know chocolate can be dangerous to your pooch. Your six-month-old puppy, Hoover, will eat anything that isn’t tied down.

Dog and cat paw print