More Deadly Than Chocolate

Keep Sugar-Free Products Away From Dogs

Everyone knows that when Halloween, Easter and Christmas all roll around, there is one thing we definitely need to keep out of reach of our pooches: Chocolate. This information has been widely available for a long time. While dogs do tend to have a sweet tooth, we need to keep this particularly tasty treat to ourselves.

In the fields of both dentistry and nutrition, there has been a rising star for a safe and natural sweetener: Xylitol. This tasty sweetener doesn’t have the bitter tastes of other, chemical sweeteners, and, when used in moderation, it also doesn’t have the gastric consequences of most sugar alcohols. What’s more, this tasty sweetener has been found to help decrease the incidence of cavities in those who consume it regularly, making it a favorite choice for those who manufacture sugar-free gums and mints.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to xylitol. We need to keep it far, far away from our dogs. In fact, it is known to be so toxic to our pooches that as little as one to two pieces of sugar-free gum containing xylitol can cause acute liver failure.

The Signs of Xylitol Toxicity

If your dog consumes xylitol in sufficient amounts, he will generally begin vomiting right before his blood sugar plummets (hypoglycemia). Signs of perilously low blood sugar in dogs include weakness and stumbling around, collapsing and sometimes seizures. At that point, liver failure begins.

Get to the Veterinarian!

If you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol, get him to the veterinarian immediately. Bring as much information as you have. If your pet has eaten packaged foods containing xylitol, bring along the packaging and try to estimate how much he has ingested. If you have prepared foods containing xylitol, bring along the recipe and try to work out how much xylitol was in the amount of food he ate.

If treated quickly enough, your dog may survive ingesting xylitol.

Keep Xylitol Out of Reach

Because dogs have a sweet tooth, it’s likely your dog is on the lookout for any food you have left lying around. Be sure to keep packs of gum, mints and other xylitol-containing sweets in places your dog can’t reach.