Sweet but Deadly

Many pet owners are aware that certain foods, like chocolate, are not safe for dogs. One product not everyone is familiar with is Xylitol. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is put in many of our low calorie foods. We love it because it makes things taste great but does not add extra calories. Dogs tend to love it too. Xylitol is often found in sugar free gum, toothpaste, peanut butter, Jello, candy, drink mixes, and protein bars. Check your ingredient lists. Different products as well as different flavors of the same product can all contain varying amounts of this sweet ingredient. When fed to your dog on purpose or by accident, xylitol can be extremely dangerous. A single stick of gum could have very serious consequences to a small dog. It seems that cats are not affected.

When a dog eats xylitol, it’s body mistakenly thinks it ate sugar and releases a large amount of the hormone insulin. Since the pet has not eaten any real sugar at all, this can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels, which can lead to vomiting, weakness, and seizures. These symptoms can show up as quickly as thirty minutes after eating the item, or hours later. Some dogs will develop serious liver disease eight to twelve hours after, which often leads to death.

If you know or think that your dog has eaten something containing xylitol it is important to call your Qatar Veterinary Center Veterinarian right away. Never wait until the symptoms appear. The veterinarian may want to purposely make your dog vomit, check the blood sugar, and likely start an IV drip containing sugar. Remember that prevention is key! It is important to always keep all foods containing xylitol, including gum, well out of reach from your furry friends.

Dr. Sam, DVM
with Bandido, QVC Spokeswoof