I learned something new last week at work that I would like
to share.
We had a dog come in as a toxicity case. It had consumed xylitol.
Xylitol? I had never
heard of it. Which is crazy because it
was first identified in 1891 and has started to make an increasing appearance
in food and oral care products since the 1970s.
Apparently I just haven’t been paying that close attention to some of my
sugar-free foods.
I did some quick research (thanks google!) and found out
that I actually consume xylitol on a near daily basis. Xylitol is a very common sweetener used in
chewing gum (and other sugar-free foods such as mints, chewable vitamins,
oral-care products, and some baked goods).
What is xylitol?
Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener often used
instead of sugar because it has significantly less calories. It is a part of a group of sweeteners called
“sugar alcohols” that also include things like sorbitol, mannitol, glycerol,
etc.
Where is it found in our lives?
Xylitol is increasingly being found in sugar-free snacks and
many dental products due to the discovery that xylitol provides some dental
health benefits. Xylitol is in many
sugar-free gums, including Orbit, Trident, Dentyne, and many “dental”
gums. Xylitol is also available to buy
in a granulated form for baking purposes.
What does it do to dogs?
Studies have shown that xylitol, while being safe and
potentially has health benefits for humans, is toxic to dogs. It causes a release of insulin; the increase
can lead to hypoglycemia (lowered blood sugar levels). Very high doses of xylitol intake can also potentially
lead to liver failure, which can be fatal.
Why does it cause problems in dogs?
Xylitol is absorbed very quickly in dogs; their bodies are
fooled into thinking a bunch of sugar just entered the body, so their body
reacts by releasing insulin, which helps the body absorb sugar from the
blood. As a result, the blood sugar goes
way down—and fast. It is reported that
blood sugars can plummet in only half an hour.
What should you do if you discover your dog ate some
xylitol-containing food?
Take it to the vet right away! Don’t wait for symptoms. There might be time to induce vomiting and
puke up the gum/food. If the problem is
caught early, the dog can be monitored and treated until the problem is
gone.
According to the ASPCA poison control website:
Initial signs of toxicosis include
vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination.
Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can
be seen within a few days.
How much is a toxic dose?
Research suggests that more than 0.1g/kg can lead to
hypoglycemia and more than 0.5g/kg can be much worse and lead to liver failure.
That means, for example, that Leopold (who is 31 kg [69lbs])
would have to consume 3.1g of xylitol to be at risk of hypoglycemia, and would
have to consume 15.5g of xylitol to be at risk for liver failure.
In terms of chewing gum (the most likely source in the
average home), one source recommends that if your dog ate gum with xylitol
listed as the first sugar alcohol ingredient, then base the dose on the total
amount of sugar alcohols; this will result in an over-estimation (but better
safe than sorry, right?)
If your dog ate gum with xylitol not listed as the first
sugar alcohol ingredient, then assume 0.3g of xylitol per piece of gum. Also, I cup of powdered xylitol = about 190g.
I chew gum on a regular basis, so I'm glad I learned of this
information. I plan on making sure to keep all gum and other xylitol-containing
goods well away from my dogs.
References:
Dunayer, Erik
K. (December 2006). "New
findings on the effects of xylitol ingestion in dogs". Veterinary
Medicine 101 (12): 791–797.
Retrieved August 20, 2012.
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