Most pet owners know that chocolate is a no-no for dogs, that warning seems to go over well but recently despite being deadlier, I’m finding that not enough people know about Xylitol.<\/p>\n
Before I did research on the chemical, I assumed it was a human created conundrum. While it is manufactured as a sugar substitute from corn, trees, and some fruits, it does occur naturally. Corn, many fruits like berries and some trees have it naturally occurring, but not in the concentrated amount we’d find in sugarfree gum, peanut butter or the worst, chocolate.<\/p>\n
Xylitol is essentially sugar alcohol, so while it provides the sweetness of our splendid friend, it also has a low glycemic index and the ability to fight dental plaque, so it seems to be much better than sugar – quite the opposite in fact.<\/p>\n
No, you won’t get drunk on it, in fact, you’ll find it as sweet as sugar but with 60% less of the calories. It also has plaque fighting capabilities and simulates saliva.<\/p>\n
You can imagine why this sweet substance has become so popular in a sugar-addicted society. Not only will you find it in candies, gum, baked goods and peanut butter, but this sweet delight has been added to many over the counter drugs, particularly children’s gummy vitamins, allergy meds, cough syrups and nasal sprays.<\/p>\n
So when you have your dog on Benedryl or give that pill in peanut butter, you better check if either contains xylitol and here is why.<\/p>\n
Unlike in humans, xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream of dogs and results in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas trying to play catch up from the massive sugar dump it just got. Normally, sugar stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin but xylitol causes such a rapid release of insulin that a HUGE decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia) happens. This can occur within 10-60 minutes of eating the xylitol. Left untreated or unnoticed, this hypoglycemia can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n
The xylitol-induced hypoglycemia can lead to seizures, liver failure and eventually death if not treated. It’s serious, more so than if they ingest chocolate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some of the signs and symptoms are essentially the signs of hypoglycemia, which may include any or all of the following:<\/p>\n This can all happen very quickly after a dog is suspected of eating it, usually within 15-30 minutes of consumption.<\/p>\n We have to be a little like Sherlock Holmes when it comes to the safety for our pets and sadly it’s with products that are becoming super popular. Products that are actually beneficial to us like xylitol and grapes, but can be deadly to our pets.<\/p>\n Pay attention to what you are bringing in and especially anyone you welcome into your home. Educate your friends and family members about dangers such as xylitol, and if you have a pet, you know you should take a pet first aid course<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhat Are the Signs of Xylitol Poisoning?<\/h3>\n
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What Should I Do If I Suspect My Dog Ate Xylitol?<\/h3>\n
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