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Xylitol Fatal to Dogs


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This stuff is everwhere now and becoming more and more popular. It is what we believe killed Vivien with liver failure last month when she got into her mom's vitamin D cream. It is very lethal to dogs. PLEASE be careful!


Most dog owners know the sugar substitute xylitol is toxic to their pet.

But many people are unaware of the ever-expanding list of consumable products that contain xylitol. This sweetener is now being added to human vitamins and prescription drugs, including pediatric elixirs once considered safe for dogs.

According to Patty Khuly, DVM, the increasing use of xylitol presents a risk that veterinarians, pharmacists and pet owners must be made aware of.

“I used to recommend Flintstones vitamins for my patients,” says Khuly. "Now I have to caution my clients to stick to pet-only brands and to be very diligent about reading labels."

Dr. Becker's Comments:

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol extracted from corn and corn fiber, birch, raspberries and plums. It is used to sweeten many products, including:
•Sugar-free gum, mints and other candy
•Nicotine gum
•Chewable vitamins
•Certain prescription drugs
•Dental hygiene products
•Baked goods

Xylitol can also be purchased in granulated form as a sugar replacement to sweeten beverages, cereals and other foods.

The Number of Products Containing Xylitol is Diverse and Growing

The use of xylitol is increasing because it is as sweet as sucrose, but with only two-thirds the calories of sugar. It’s less expensive than other sugar substitutes, tastes better, and causes little if any insulin release in humans.

Just a few years ago, xylitol could be found in less than a hundred products in the U.S., primarily limited to sugar-free gums, candy and foods. Today it can be found in a wide range of health and beauty products, food products, over-the-counter drugs and supplements, and prescription medications.

A fairly comprehensive list of families of products as well as some specific products containing xylitol can be found at Wikia.com.

Response to Xylitol is Species-Specific

While xylitol appears safe for human consumption, the same can’t be said for pets. In fact, the FDA recently released a consumer alert on the dangers of xylitol ingestion in certain animals.

The sweetener’s effect seems to vary by species. In people, rhesus monkeys, rats and horses, intravenous (IV) xylitol causes little to no insulin release. However, it has the opposite effect on baboons, cows, goats, rabbits, dogs, and ferrets. Its effect on cats is unknown.

Humans absorb xylitol slowly, and the sweetener ingested orally is absorbed at from about 50 to 95 percent.

In dogs, xylitol is rapidly and completely absorbed within about 30 minutes. Just a small amount of xylitol can cause a dangerous insulin surge and a rapid drop in blood sugar. Symptoms of xylitol intoxication include:
•Vomiting
•Weakness
•Lethargy
•Loss of coordination
•Collapse
•Seizures

If you suspect your pet has eaten a product containing xylitol and is experiencing any of these symptoms, immediate veterinary care is needed to save your dog’s life.

Xylitol and Liver Failure in Dogs

A more recent discovery than the connection between xylitol and hypoglycemia is the incidence of acute liver failure in dogs that have ingested the sweetener.

According to a 2006 case report of xylitol-related liver failure in eight dogs, five of the eight died or were euthanized despite treatments that included IV administration of fluids, blood transfusions, and administration of dextrose.

Six of the eight dogs with liver failure did not develop hypoglycemia first, and no symptoms were present for from 12 to 24 hours after they ingested the xylitol. So it isn’t safe to assume, if you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol that signs of toxicity will show up quickly. Your pet could appear fine for up to a day after getting into some xylitol, only to then develop liver failure.

The cause of xylitol-related liver failure in dogs is not well understood, but scientists suspect it has to do with the fact that xylitol and its metabolites deplete adenosine triphosphate stores in the liver. Adenosine triphosphate is a chemical substance that gives cells energy. Without a sufficient amount of this chemical, the cells in the liver die off.

Interestingly, neither other sugar alcohols (mannitol, sorbitol) nor artificial sweeteners like saccharin are known to cause illness in canine companions.

How Much Xylitol Does It Take to Make a Dog Sick?

Generally speaking, dogs ingesting over 0.1 g/kg of xylitol are considered at risk for hypoglycemia. Amounts above .5 g/kg can poison the liver.

Since it is almost impossible to figure out how much xylitol is contained in a particular product, I strongly recommend that dog owners avoid anything containing xylitol.

I urge you to inspect the labels on any sugar-free gum, candy or processed food you have on hand, as well as oral hygiene products (toothpaste, mouth rinse, teeth whiteners, etc.).

Also check all your OTC medications and supplements, for example, chewable vitamins, as well as your prescriptions – especially any drug in liquid form.

Stick only with veterinary drugs and supplements for your pet, and if your veterinarian prescribes a new medication, make sure he or she can confirm for you the preparation is xylitol-free. You can also consult your local pharmacist about new prescriptions as well as any drugs you, your pet, or other family members are currently taking.

How Sick Can My Dog Get?

If your pet is treated promptly by a veterinarian, an uncomplicated blood sugar drop brought on by ingestion of a relatively small amount of xylitol can be reversed.

A minor increase in liver enzymes, meaning the sweetener is affecting your pet’s liver, should also resolve in a few days with proper veterinary care.

However, if dramatic elevation of liver enzymes occurs, as well as increased levels of bilirubin and lack of blood clotting activity, your dog is in serious trouble.

Hyperphosphatemia, which is an abnormally high level of phosphate in the blood, is also an indicator of a very poor prognosis for dogs that have ingested a significant amount of xylitol.

Because xylitol intoxication can create a dangerous downward spiral in your dog’s body very quickly -- and because it has such deadly potential -- if you suspect your dog has ingested even a very small amount of this sweetener, you should seek immediate veterinary care.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/03/24/dangers-of-xylitol-for-pet-dogs.aspx

 

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Glad you checked! I know it's also common in toothpaste and sugar free candy and gum.

 

Over the years people have raised such a stink over sugar and avoiding it so "they" manufactured artificial sweeteners. If I have to pick my poison I think I'd rather stick with sugar over who knows what. I noticed an ad that said either Coke or Pepsi was now starting to use real sugar instead of the artificial stuff. Guess sooner or later the 'chickens will come home to roost.'

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Well....Fritos are just corn, corn oil, and SALT. But Koa has begged and received ONE curl upon occasion. From DH. She sits and begs in front of him..... He notices her antics and complains that she's making him look bad.

 

:008Laughing: YA THINK?

 

She doesn't sit in front of me like that. Usually, her treats are a few kibbles from a sample package of a dog food that isn't her normal brand. She believes they are treats so why should we tell her to beg for expensive Milk Bones? She also likes the skins of sweet taters....or dehydrated slices of them. She is partial to rice and chicken/turkey cuz of how Darlene and I fed the poor sick pups when I went to pick her up. She STILL thinks it's hers whenever we cook rice.

 

 

MtRider :grinning-smiley-044:

Edited by Mt_Rider
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Well, not much cuz Frito is so salty. But he pretty much shares a bit of a LOT of things with his Koa buddy.

 

Yeah....that's a face, for sure.

 

You know he spoiled dd2's guinea pig so much that it would hear and discern HIS CAR over all the other street noise on Maui. Then the lil' pig would shriek: TREAT! TREAT! TREAT! And hop around the cage until DH would make it up to the house. I am not kidding.

 

MtRider :rolleyes: Really....the sound it made sounded like 'treat'!

Edited by Mt_Rider
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You should see a guinea pig "on" watermelon! Sheeesh....like a hyperactive kid on red Koolaid. He loved it but then he'd get to zipping around on hyperspeed. We weren't sure what watermelon was doing to him. Sugar content?

 

Guess we really don't know what some things ordinary to us will do to our furry companions.

 

MtRider :shrug:

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We keep our bathroom door shut to Abby-girl. Even if we're in there brushing our teeth (with the door open) she knows she's not allowed. Bless her four white paws she's never been a counter or table surfer and has never chewed something that belong to us. We'll be sure to keep a really close watch though because we have a big bag of Xylitol (for making toothpaste)...but...it's securely behind closed cabinetry. As for "treats"? That's a word that will usually bring her running from nearly anywhere (thanks to Darlene's advice on recall difficulties!) and we buy those big horse treats of carrots or apples. ONE at bedtime...from her human Mommy. When I get up to put pj's on...she gets up, stretches and heads for the kitchen and looks on top of the frig where the container is! LOL

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It's so hard keeping their fuzzy butts safe. Some of the problem is we don't always know what is dangerous now until it's too late. Kids especially don't understand the dangers. If it's safe for us it should be safe for our pets...right? WRONG!

Here is a pretty good 'safe' or 'toxic' list I keep bookmarked: http://hounddogsdrule.com/k9-classroom/dangerous-foods-toxic-substances/

Awww, they LOOK so innocent. But I've see them in action. :grinning-smiley-044:

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