Extremely toxic to dogs, Xylitol ( sugar substitute) isn’t just about chewing gum anymore. It’s about hundreds of new products, some of which are commonly prescribed for dogs, such as cough syrup.
Yes, Xylitol is still killing dogs…..more dogs than ever before. How menacing? A few sugar-free fresheners, a pack of gum, a spilled tin of mints. A sugar-free dessert cup. It takes only a little of this toxin to send a dog into hypoglycemia-induced seizures, and just a little bit more to bring on liver failure. And what’s worse is not so much its extreme toxicity…..but its insidiousness.
Xylitol is a great product. It’s a natural extract from the birch tree, and it takes only a little bit of this to sweeten a whole lot. All of which consumer products manufacturers have been slowly and quietly replacing other sweeteners with Xyliltol…in everything, not just products that are labeled sugar-free. And that’s the trouble.
Over 3-4 years ago the number of products containing Xylitol numbered less than one hundred and were largely restricted to the arena of sugar-free gums and foods. Fast-forward to today and the list is way longer and much diverse. You can find Xylitol in everything from Flintstones vitamins to commonly prescribed drugs.
Got a little dog who needs hypoderm syrup for a cough, or the bronchodilator theophylline for breathing? Even if you’ve been getting a drug for months or years as an elixir from the same exact pharmacy, beware. Preparations of these drugs may soon change to reflect the widening market for Xylitol as a sweetener.
This article is for educational purpose only and was written by a Veterinarian. If you dog turns ill, please contact your vet or call PET POISON HELPLINE 1-800-213-6690
Submitted by Maralyn Fink