Stash your gum and check your peanut butter label because there is a commonly used ingredient called xylitol in many foods and products made for human-use. Xylitol, also known as birch wood, is often seen in sugar-free desserts, certain peanut butters, and even baby wipes.
It doesn’t take much to cause harm to your pooch. For example, one piece of gum is toxic to a 10-pound dog!¹ This sugar can make its way into the paws of many pups since it is frequently used, and humans tend to be unaware of its hazards to dogs. If you are a dog pawrent, educate yourself on this important pet-safety topic now!
What is it and why is it dangerous: Xylitol is a natural sugar derived from plants that has a very sweet taste, can keep items moist, and is heat-stable, which means it doesn’t carmelize.³
People can ingest xylitol because it doesn’t cause a change in blood sugar, making it a popular sugar substitute. Unfortunately, in canines it has the opposite effect. When a dog ingests xylitol, it is absorbed quickly and signals the pancreas to release a large amount of insulin, resulting in a sudden drop in blood sugar that can lead to a number of side effects, including death.
Products commonly containing xylitol:
Dental products: gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, breath mints
Toiletries: shampoo, moisturizer, deodorant, baby wipes, sunscreen, cosmetics
Medicines: cough syrup, cough drops, nasal spray, chewable/gummy vitamins
Foods: peanut butter, fruit drinks, drink powder, jelly/jam, cereal, Jell-O, ketchup, syrup, sugar-free desserts, and ice cream
700+ products containing xylitol can be viewed by clicking here
This is an emergency!: If you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol, you should immediately have your dog evaluated and treated by a veterinarian. Left untreated, this can quickly turn into a life-threatening event.
Pet Poison Number: 800-213-6680
Symptoms: Signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may appear 10 mins after ingestion, while in others cases, it could take over 24 hours for a sign or symptom.
Vomiting
Loss of balance
Stumbling
Weakness
Lethargy
Depression
Tremors
Seizures
Collapsing
Lack of coordination
Coma
How common is ingestion?: The Pet Poison Helpline reported a 108% increase in calls regarding xylitol poisoning between 2015 and 2020, and their database has more than 20,000 cases between 2013-2020! ²
Other names: Xylitol can be listed as “inactive ingredients” or “other ingredients” on product labels. It isn’t always listed as xylitol and may be disguised under a different name, such as²:
Alcohol Sugar
Birch Sugar
Wood Sugar
Birch Bark Extract
CHO
E967
Meso-Xylitol
Méso-Xylitol
Pentahydric alcohol
Penta-hydroxy
Pentane
Sucre de Bouleau
Wood Extract
Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite
Xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol
In the news: Currently, steps are being taken to minimize the amount of this type of poisoning as cited from Whole Dog Journal, “…bipartisan legislation (called the Paws Off Act of 2021) that would require manufacturers of any product containing xylitol to include a warning label has been introduced in Congress.”³
References:
1.) AKC
2.) Dr. Beth Turner
3.) Whole Dog