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Episode 60: April 2, 2023
Sits & Wiggles, LLC:
XYLITOL IS ALSO MARKETED AS BIRCH SUGAR OR BIRCH SAP. IT IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO DOGS. CHECK YOUR INGREDIENTS. As pet & people lovers, our Sits & Wiggles team has committed to assisting our community through animal education and safety reminders.
Even in small amounts, Xylitol is very dangerous for dogs. It is an ingredient in many products other than food, such as chapstick, gum, sunscreen & baby wipes. Please protect your pups by securing all items that contain xylitol, and verifying that foods such as peanut butter don't contain this harmful ingredient.
ASCPA Animal Poison Control Center:
Xylitol is popular as an alternative sweetener because it has the same level of sweetness as table sugar but with 40% fewer calories. It is used in a variety of products such as sugar-free foods (e.g. candy, gum, baked goods, baking mix, jelly, condiments, syrup, flavored drinks, drink powders, peanut butter, nut butter, protein bars, protein powders), toothpaste, oral hygiene products, medications, medication bases (e.g. elixirs, syrups), vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, deodorant, skin gels, sunscreen, and hair care products. Xylitol has many great benefits for humans such as its antimicrobial properties against oral bacteria, a low glycemic index, it may help with osteoporosis, and may reduce the risk of endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and even breast cancer. Which is all great if you're a human but if you are a dog it’s a completely different story…
In dogs, even small doses of xylitol induce an exaggerated insulin release that results in hypoglycemia. With high doses it can also result in liver failure.
Hypoglycemia Blood sugar levels plummet resulting in vomiting first then weakness, disorientation, tremors, seizures and sometimes coma. It does not take many pieces of gum to poison a dog, especially a small dog. Symptoms typically begin within 30 minutes and can last for more than 12 hours however, since xylitol can be absorbed into the body slowly, symptoms may not begin until 12 hours after the xylitol was ingested. If symptoms are not caught early the hypoglycemia can become life- threatening.
Hepatic Necrosis The exact mechanism of the hepatic injury that sometimes occurs in dogs with ingestion of large amounts of xylitol is not well understood. It may involve depletion of hepatocellular ATP stores and/or oxidative injury to hepatocytes. The doses of xylitol required to produce this effect are much higher than the hypoglycemic doses. Signs of liver damage take longer to show up, typically 8-12 hours. Not all dogs who experience hepatic necrosis will have had hypoglycemia first. A lucky dog experiences only temporary illness but alternatively, a complete and acute liver failure can result in death.
Toxic doses The hypoglycemic dose of xylitol for dogs is considered to be approximately 0.03 - 0.045 grams per pound of body weight. Chewing gum pieces have variable amounts of xylitol depending on their flavor. A small dog can easily be poisoned by a single stick of gum depending on the gum, how much the dog ate, and the size of the dog. It is important for you to bring the packaging for the xylitol product in question to the veterinarian's office so that the amount of xylitol consumed can be estimated.
Treatment Ideally, your dog can be seen quickly (within 30 minutes) and can be made to vomit the gum or candy. Depending on the dose ingested, a dextrose IV drip and blood glucose monitoring is usually required for 24 hours. Liver enzyme and blood clotting tests are monitored for two to three days. Liver supplements will also be started to support the liver. If your dog ingested a xylitol containing product I suggest you call poison control on your way to bringing your dog to your vet.
This number is (888) 426-4435 for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, a 24-hour service whereby you can speak directly to a veterinary toxicology specialist. In addition to advice, you will receive a case number that your veterinarian can use for further consultation at no additional charge.
Consultations with Animal Poison Control are approximately $60.
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