Xylitol is a low-calorie
sugar substitute that has helped diabetics and weight loss seekers to
get their sugar fix without the calories. Xylitol is appearing in
products you'd never suspect. New products on the market such as
sleep aids, multivitamins, sedatives, antacids, stool softeners amy
contain unexpectedly large amounts of xylitol. Dogs that ingest these
products may face a double risk – poisoning by the xylitol (a sugar
alcohol) and also liver failure.
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| Just a small sample of some of the more popular household products containing xylitol. |
Xylitol is also sold in
bulk to substitute of table sugar for baking and home use. Pet Poison
Helpline has had several cases of dogs becoming severely intoxicated
after ingesting homemade bread, muffins and cupcakes made with
xylitol.
Toxicity is dose
dependent. The dose necessary to cause dangerously low blood sugar
could be as little as one piece of xylitol chewing gum for a 10-pound
dog. To obtain a list or which products contain xylitol, google
“products containing xylitol.”
If you suspect that your
dog has ingested a xylitol containing product, call the Poison
Control Hotline at 1-800-548-2423.
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