Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute sweetener, now commonly used in food products meant for human consumption. It appears as a sweetener in many processed foods and candies, including sugar-free gum. It is also available in a granulated form for use in home baking; as such, it has become popular with diabetics and others on carbohydrate-restricted diets. It is also a popular sweetening agent for oral care products, including toothpaste.
Is this a problem for my dog?
In general, sweet-tasting foods are more of a problem for your waistline and not your immediate health; hence the rise is the popularity of artificial sweeteners like xylitol. The problem stems from the differences in the way that dogs absorb xylitol from the intestinal tract. Human do so slowly but, in dogs, xylitol enters the bloodstream very rapidly. Once absorbed, xylitol can promote a massive release of insulin and a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to signs of depression, ataxia (a loss of coordination) and seizures. Xylitol can, in some cases, also lead to liver failure, disorders of blood clotting and death.
The number of products containing xylitol has been on the rise, with a surge in xylitol cases reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in recent years.
What about my cat?
Xylitol’s effect on insulin and blood glucose in cats is not clear at this time, although there have been reports of toxicity in ferrets.
How much xylitol should make me worry?
It doesn’t take much. You’re probably aware of chocolate’s potential for toxicity in dogs – xylitol is more than 100 times as toxic. Dogs that ingest even small amounts of xylitol should be considered a risk for hypoglycemia. At higher doses, there is risk of liver failure and other more serious effects.
Unlike chocolate, however, it is generally unclear how much xylitol was ingested by a dog. Xylitol levels are generally listed on packaged food products, but this is rarely the case with chewing gum. It has been estimated that only one or two pieces of gum, or one cupcake containing xylitol, could lead to hypoglycemia and liver disease in a 20 pound dog.
What symptoms should I look for?
- Vomiting is often the first symptom
- Lethargy, weakness and ataxia - signs of hypoglycemia - may occur rapidly, within 30-60 minutes after ingestion. However, signs relating to gum ingestion may be delayed for more than 12 hours.
- Diarrhea, collapse and seizures may be seen It is possible for dogs to ingest xylitol, not exhibit signs of hypoglycemia, and nevertheless develop liver disease afterwards.
What other diagnoses should be considered in cases of low blood sugar?
Many other conditions can cause low blood sugar levels, including insulin overdose and juvenile hypoglycemia. Other toxins can cause liver disease as well.
Can we treat xylitol poisoning?
- All exposures to xylitol should be treated by a veterinarian immediately! Blood sugar levels can be increased and maintained by intravenous infusion, although there is no specific antidote for xylitol toxicity.
- Remember that very small exposures (1 or 2 pieces of xylitol-containing chewing gum) can be toxic to your dog.
- We don’t recommend that you try to induce vomiting at home, as hypoglycemia can alter consciousness and increase the risk of choking.
Can we treat it successfully?
In case of uncomplicated hypoglycemia, when treatment is instituted promptly, the prognosis is good.
Those cases where the hypoglycemia is profound, and where the patient experiences a serious compromise in mental state or coma, a favorable outcome is far less likely. Patients that develop liver failure and bleeding disorders carry a poor prognosis
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