Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sweetener in
the place of sugar. Its use has been on
the rise and I first heard about it in sugar free gum. More recently it can be found in candy, some
toothpastes, mints, sugar free granola bars, pudding, multivitamins,
probiotics, chocolates, protein shakes, some liquid medications and even some
peanut butters.
Many of these products such as the peanut butter are often marketed at health
food stores. Xylitol can also be
purchased in a granulated form for baking.
People will often use over the counter medications for their
animals or use peanut butter to disguise medication given to their dogs. If these products happen to contain xylitol
it can have serious and even life threatening effects.
Xylitol can cause severe hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
and/or liver failure in dogs. Cows,
goats and rabbits can be affected as well.
For some other species such as cats and birds the effects are not clear
yet. Low blood sugar can lead to
weakness, seizures and potentially death.
The liver is involved in many different functions. With liver failure we can see seizures, low
protein levels, internal bleeding and death.
Not all dogs will show both signs.
The signs of hypoglycaemia are usually noted within 30 minutes of
ingestion, but can take up to 12 hours
to be seen. The signs of liver failure
are often noted within 12-24 hours but can take longer.
It can be difficult to determine how much xylitol is in a
product to calculate your toxic dose.
For instance, one piece of sugar free xylitol containing gum can cause
low blood sugar in a 10kg dog. However not all brands of gum contain the same
amount of xylitol and the amount is not usually on the label of the gum. Larger doses need to be consumed for liver
failure to occur generally. Dogs that
develop liver failure often don’t survive.
There is no antidote for xylitol. Early recognition is important for an optimal
outcome. If you have the package of the product please always take this to your
veterinary clinic with you. Your
veterinarian may get your dog to vomit if the product was ingested recently
enough. Blood sugar levels and liver enzymes will need to be monitored closely. Often an intravenous sugar drip is started and
these animals are hospitalized for a number of days.
It is important to read labels on any human product that you
happen to give your dog. Even better
avoid human products in dogs if possible or contact your veterinarian prior to
giving anything to your pets that is not labelled for them. Remember dogs and cats are not small humans
and their bodies metabolize things differently than us. If you have any questions about toxins or
products please talk to your veterinarian.
Dr. Brigitte Rudolf
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic
