Xylitol

Do you chew gum? Is it sugarless or low calorie? If you do, there is a good chance your low calorie gum has xylitol in it. This NATURAL sweetener is also used in a variety of other foods, like candy, baked goods, and toothpaste. It's great for people because it's a reduced (not zero) calorie sweetener, it's all natural (if you're into that kind of thing - it's found in all sorts of plants), and it has beneficial effects (like reduced cavities). Other purported benefits include treatment of osteoporosis, as part of the diet for diabetics, prevention of infection, etc. Wooohooo! Good and good for you!

But not for dogs.

Xylitol is toxic to some species, causing liver failure and hypoglycemia. The body thinks "oh, this is sugar" and it does what it normally does, which is make and release insulin. But since xylitol is not technically sugar, there isn't enough sugar in the bloodstream to keep the blood sugar levels normal. The blood sugar level falls (hypoglycemia). Signs of hypoglycemia include depression, weakness, incoordination, and sometimes seizures. Vomiting and diarrhea can often be seen in xylitol toxicity. In some cases, xylitol can also cause liver failure. Apparently, humans and cats are less sensitive to these effects. That's why xylitol is available in all sorts of products intended for human consumption. Remember, cats are not small dogs, and people are not large dogs!

Due to its increasing popularity for human use, we're seeing an increase in dogs who think that getting mom's chewing gum out of her purse is fun! Unfortunately, that usually means a trip to the vet for several days of tests and treatments. We're definitely seeing this problem on a routine basis.

What should you do?

1. Know what's in your house. Xylitol is so popular, it's hard to eliminate it from your possession, but at least know what you've got.
2. Keep it away from pets. Children often think it's fun to give the dogs 'treats', so monitor your children's use of xylitol, or warn them if they are old enough to understand.
3. If you think your pet has ingested a xylitol containing substance, even a small amount, call your vet immediately. TVEC is open 24/7/365 if your vet is closed.

Here's 2 links for more information about xylitol toxicity in dogs. Link One and Link Two.

It seems like we're always blogging about toxic substances, but we see it commonly, so we want to try and get the word out!