Thursday, July 7, 2016

Xylitol is bad for me

Xylitol is bad for dogs. Mom found this on the Internet. She says you need to go read the entire article, but here are the main points.


Xylitol is sugar-free, and reduces caloric intake for humans, but it’s toxic to dogs. It’s found in many household products including the following:

  • Diabetic snacks (e.g., gums)
  • Diabetic foods
  • Baked goods
  • Gums
  • Mints
  • Candies
  • Mouthwashes
  • Toothpastes (in large amounts!)
  • Chewable sugar-free multivitamins
  • Chewable sugar-free prenatal medications
  • Nasal sprays
  • Some peanut butters
  • Medications (including oral pills over-the-counter like melatonin or prescription medications like gabapentin)

While it’s completely safe for humans, it results in a severe insulin release when ingested by non-primate species (e.g., dogs!). Acute poisoning will occur in dogs, resulting in two main syndromes: hypoglycemia (i.e., a life-threateningly low blood sugar) and acute hepatic necrosis (i.e., severe liver failure).

Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include the following:

  • Weakness or lethargy
  • Depression
  • Walking drunk
  • Acute collapse
  • Vomiting
  • Trembling or tremoring
  • Seizures
  • A racing heart rate
  • Jaundiced gums
  • Black-tarry stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Bruising
  • Abnormal mentation
  • Clotting problems
  • Death

The general rule is that if xylitol is listed in the first 3-5 ingredients (typically in order of the amount that they appear in the food or product), it is going to be poisonous!*


*If your dog does get into something sugar-free, always check the ingredient list. Note that other sound-a-likes like sorbitol, maltitol, and erythritol are not poisonous to dogs. Likewise, other sugar-free products such as stevia, saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, etc. are also not poisonous to dogs. If your dog gets into one of these other sound-a-likes, it’s not poisonous. No need to worry, as long as you’re positive there’s no xylitol!

I'm glad Mom's doing her best to stay informed and keep me safe. I want to be with her for a long time! 



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