Xylitol is gaining popularity in the human health and fitness world. It is a sugar alcohol that is healthier than table sugar (cane sugar), due to its lower glycaemic index and fewer calories.
It is used to sweeten table-sugar-free products such as gums, candies, and baked goods.
Xylitol is highly toxic in dogs. Its affect on cats is poorly researched but we would still recommend you rather keep xylitol products away from your cat. There are only a few reported cases of xylitol toxicity in cats, but this is mostly due to their natural dislike of such products.
Why is xylitol toxic to dogs?
Since xylitol is rapidly absorbed into a dog’s bloodstream, its consumption will result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas.
This quick release of insulin will cause the blood glucose of your dog to plummet rapidly. The affects may be seen as soon as 10-60 minutes after eating xylitol. The drop in blood glucose can be fatal if left untreated.
How much xylitol can kill a dog? While the quantity will differ depending on the size and weight of a dog, it takes around >0.1 g/kg to develop hypoglycemia and around >0.5 g/kg to suffer acute liver failure, which can be fatal.
Common household products containing xylitol:
- Breath mints and gum
- Baked goods
- Sugar-free products like chocolate (regardless of the type of sugar, you should never let your dog or cat eat chocolate).
- Cough syrup
- Mouthwash
- Toothpaste
- Nut butters
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Chewable vitamins
- Dietary supplements
You should keep these products far away from your pets!
My pet ingested xylitol, what now?
If you suspect your pet has ingested xylitol, take them to the vet asap.
Take the packaging of the product ingested with you.
Symptoms of xylitol toxicity:
- Drowsiness
- Restlessness
- Weakness
- Muscle tremors
- Convulsions
- Vomiting
- Bloody Diarrhea
Treatment:
Fast and effective treatment is of utmost importance when your dog has ingested xylitol.
If your dog has just eaten xylitol but has not yet developed any clinical signs, your veterinarian may induce vomiting to prevent further absorption, depending on what your dog’s blood glucose level is. If clinical signs have developed, treatment will be carried out symptomatically.
In all cases, your dog will require hospitalisation for blood sugar monitoring, dextrose administration, intravenous fluids, liver protectants, and any other supportive care that may be needed. Your vet will check your dog’s blood values frequently to monitor blood glucose levels and liver function.
Prognosis:
If treatment was implemented before any clinical signs developed, then the prognosis is usually good. As soon as liver damage becomes evident, the prognosis becomes more serious.
Prevention:
Prevention is always better than cure. Make sure all products that contain xylitol are safely stored away.
Always use pet-approved treats and toothpastes.
And if you find a friend asking, ‘How much xylitol can kill a dog?’ then we hope you now have all the information you need to steer them away from this harmful substance!