Xylitol and Dogs: Protect Your Pet

Xylitol and dogs are a potentially deadly combination. Learn how to protect your canine companion.

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Many of us associate the sugar substitute xylitol with chewing gum. And with all of the publicity surrounding the dangers of xylitol and dogs, most of us thankfully by now know that when we are done chewing our xylitol-containing gum, we must discard it in a sealed, “doggy proof” waste receptacle so that our canine companions cannot get hold of it. But while gum seems to be the obvious product that xylitol-conscious dog parents keep a careful guard on, the fact is that there are many other common foods and household items that we may not think about as containing xylitol – yet they do and can be harmful, or even fatal, to our beloved dogs.

While xylitol makes its way into many dental products such as chewing gum due to its reputation for helping fight cavities and gingivitis, other notable benefits of xylitol — for people — include clearing nasal passages, preventing ear infections and reducing intraocular pressure to stave off glaucoma.^[1] Hence, we can expect to find xylitol featured prominently in places where we least expect it, such as in nose, ear and eye products.

A few months ago, I purchased a bottle of natural nasal drops to help battle clogged sinuses. I didn’t realize that the product contained xylitol until I scrutinized the ingredients a couple of weeks later. Thankfully, my boy, Chase, isn’t the kind of dog to get into non-food items such as nasal spray, but many dogs will eat anything that isn’t tied down. And while we of course must be diligent in preventing them from getting ahold of any potentially harmful food or product, my point is that products containing xylitol can lurk where we least expect them, and we can never be too careful.

My nasal drops prompted me to think more about xylitol and dogs – right in time for the FDA to publish new information warning consumers about its dangers to our canine companions. Let’s take a look at why xylitol is harmful to dogs, what foods and products commonly contain it, and what you should do if your dog gets into anything containing xylitol.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a naturally occurring, lower-calorie sweetener derived from either birch trees or corncobs. It is a sugar alcohol that is used in many products as a sugar substitute. Many people that are trying to curb their sugar intake, including diabetics and those watching their weight, turn to products containing xylitol.

How does Xylitol Harm Dogs?

In both people and dogs, the pancreas is the organ that releases insulin, a hormone that controls our blood sugar level. The pancreas releases insulin in response to the foods we eat. In people, eating xylitol does not cause the pancreas to release insulin. However, this is not the case with dogs. Xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream of dogs. Thus, when dogs eat something containing xylitol, it may trigger the pancreas to rapidly release a potent amount of insulin. This sudden burst of insulin in turn may result in hypoglycemia, a rapid and dangerous decrease in blood sugar levels.^[2]

Symptoms: xylitol and dogs

The first sign a dog has been poisoned by xylitol is commonly vomiting. This is followed by other signs associated with sudden hypoglycemia, including:

• Decreased activity
• Weakness
• Staggering
• Incoordination
• Collapse
• Seizures^[2]

Acute liver failure is another potentially deadly consequence of xylitol and dogs. A 2006 case study stated that six out of eight dogs with liver failure did not develop hypoglycemia. Scientists are not certain why this is the case, however they strongly suspect that xylitol and its metabolites deplete adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stores in the liver. ATP is the cells’ main source of energy. Without a sufficient amount of ATP, the cells in the liver die off.^[3]

What to do if You Suspect Your Dog Ate Xylitol

Dogs can experience the toxic effects of xylitol within 10 to 60 minutes of consuming it, however in some cases symptoms may not occur for as long as 12 to 24 hours, so your dog will need to be monitored. If you suspect your dog has eaten or chewed xylitol, I urge you to rush him to the nearest emergency veterinary facility or your regular veterinarian. There is no time to waste. The effects of xylitol and dogs can quickly become deadly.

Xylitol and Cats

The toxicity of xylitol for cats has not been documented. In addition, cats have a well-known disdain for sweets, and so are far less likely to be drawn to products containing xylitol. However, until documentation proves otherwise, it is prudent to also keep your companion cat far away from any xylitol-containing products.^[2]

Common Products Containing Xylitol

My growing concern is that many of us may pick up human products for our dogs without reading the labels closely enough for harmful ingredients, such as xylitol. Here are a few notable ones:

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Chewing gum

We already discussed xylitol’s prevalence in chewing gum, but it’s worth mentioning again to be extra cautious. I even read about a dog who died from picking up a piece of chewing gum someone had discarded on the street. Remember, dogs are curious animals, so it’s up to us to keep a vigilant watch over them.

Gelatin

I love gelatin for dogs. Gelatin, a potent anti-inflammatory and brain protective food, is an important supplement for dogs with epilepsy, arthritis or hip dysplasia. Its primary amino acid is glycine, which is known to protect against seizures and brain damage. It is also well known for its gut-healing abilities. However, more gelatin products are appearing on the shelves with xylitol. The only type of gelatin I recommend ever giving a dog is Knox Original, unflavored, unsweetened gelatin. This product is pure gelatin and is perfectly safe for our canine companions.

Peanut butter

Many people use peanut butter to sneak medication to their dogs. Peanut butter is particularly useful for giving thyroid medication, as it does not contain soy or calcium to which thyroxine binds. As long as your dog does not have an allergy or a food sensitivity to peanut butter and you watch the amount you give due to the fat content, this ingredient should be fine. The catch is that many peanut butters now contain xylitol, and since consumers don’t expect this, we don’t check the label. The result, if we give this xylitol-containing peanut butter to our dogs, could be deadly.

Toothpaste

It’s a great idea to brush your dog’s teeth, but it’s a horrible idea to use a toothpaste made for people. Many toothpastes made for humans contain xylitol. When caring for your dog’s pearly whites, be sure to only use a toothpaste designed specifically for pets.

Yogurt

Yogurt has wonderful probiotic properties for digestive health. Yet, more yogurt products today contain xylitol. Again, always check labels and be sure that any yogurt you give your dog is unflavored and unsweetened. In other words, just pure yogurt.

Following are some additional categories of foods and products that commonly contain xylitol:

• Cakes, candy, cookies and other baked goods
• Chewable vitamins (children’s and adult’s)
• Chocolate (which is toxic for dogs in its own right)
• Condiments
• Cough syrup
• Cosmetics
• Desserts
• Face, body and hair care
• Flavored waters and drink powders
• Gum
• Honey and other sweeteners
• Ice cream
• Jams and jellies
• Mouth wash
• Medications (never give human medications to a dog without consulting your vet)
• Mints
• Mixes
• Peanut and other nut butters
• Protein bars and protein powders
• Sauces and gravies
• Supplements
• Syrups
• Toothpaste and other oral care products
• Vitamins and supplements
• Yogurt^[2][4]

The list continues to grow as more and more products are introduced with xylitol or are changed without our knowledge to contain this lethal sweetener to dogs. Visit this awesome Web site for a list of specific products containing xylitol.

The message? Xylitol and dogs are a potentially deadly combination, and xylitol lurks in many places we may not think about. Before you give any product made for humans to a dog, be sure to read the label.

When I purchased that bottle of “natural” nasal drops, I had no idea it contained xylitol. Thankfully, this innocent ignorance did not cause any harm to my beautiful boy. However, that is not always the case, and dogs who get into xylitol can suffer unthinkable consequences. We can never be too vigilant when it comes to protecting our precious four-legged companions from harm, whether it be from the effects of xylitol and dogs or from anything else they should not get their paws (or noses, or mouths) into. After all, they depend upon us!

1. ^[1] Xylitol.org.(2016). Benefits of Xylitol Retrieved from http://xylitol.org/xylitol-uses. ↩
2. ^[2] U.S. Food and Drug Administration(2016).Xylitol and Your Dog: Danger, Paws Off Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM500628.pdf. ↩
3. ^[3] Becker K.(2011), Xylitol: This Toxic Sugar Substitute could be in Your Purse, Pocket or Pantry, Retrieved from http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/03/24/dangers-of-xylitol-for-pet-dogs.aspx. ↩
4. ^[4] Preventive Vet. (2016). Which Products Contain Xylitol? Here’s a list!, Retrieved from http://www.preventivevet.com/xylitol-products-toxic-for-dogs. ↩

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