Most dog owners know that chocolate, onions, grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, but there’s an ingredient in many foods we eat daily that are safe for humans but extremely toxic to dogs–Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is found in sugarless gums, mints, snacks such as pudding & yogurt, toothpaste, vitamins, deodorant and peanut butter–a staple in most households with dogs.
Toxicity is variable depending on the size of the dog and the amount of Xylitol ingested. Signs can include:
- weakness
- lethargy
- collapse
- vomiting
- tremoring
- seizures
- jaundice
- black-tarry stool
- coma
- death
If you suspect that your pet has ingested any products containing xylitol, you need to seek emergency care immediately. Detrimental effects can occur in as little as 10-15 minutes after ingestion. Treatment may include hospitalization, IV fluids, bloodwork and frequent blood sugar checks.
How do you know if a food has xylitol in it?
Look for phrases such as:
- sugar alcohol
- sugar free
- no sugar added
- sweetened naturally
- natural sweetener
- xylitol
For the safety of your pets, please make yourself aware of changing manufacturing processes in the foods and products you use on a daily basis.