Xylitol Toxicity: A Warning to All Dog Owners
Xylitol is a 5 carbon sugar alcohol derived from birch, raspberries, and corn. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used in sugar-free products such as gum and candy, as well as for baking. It is also used in the production of certain low-carbohydrate, sugar-free, and diabetic products now on the market.
As early as the 1960's, experiments indicated a link between the ingestion of Xylitol and hypoglycemia in dogs. However, it has only been recently that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has begun to receive reports of Xylitol toxicosis in dogs. It is believed that this recent rise is likely due to the increased use of products containing Xylitol in the United States.
Effects of Xylitol Ingestion
In both humans and dogs, the levels of blood sugar are controlled by the body's release of insulin from the pancreas. In humans, Xylitol ingestion does not cause any significant changes in insulin levels or, therefore, blood glucose. However, in dogs, Xylitol causes a fast release of insulin, which results in a rapid decrease in blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
While it was previously thought that only large concentrations of Xylitol could result in problems, this appears to no longer be the case. The concern used to be mainly with products that contain Xylitol as one of the first ingredients. However, problems have been developing from ingestions of products with lesser amounts of this sweetener. With smaller concentrations of Xylitol, the onset of clinical signs could be delayed as much as 12 hours after ingestion.
Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that even if your pet does not develop signs right away, it does not mean that problems won’t develop later on.
Clinical Signs
Clinical signs of Xylitol toxicity can develop in as few as 30 minutes after ingestion. Clinical signs may include one or more of the following:
* Vomiting
* Weakness
* Ataxia (uncoordinated movements)
* Depression
* Hypokalemia (decreased potassium)
* Seizures
* Coma
* Liver dysfunction and/or failure
Treatment
The lethal dose to a dog is 1 stick of Xylitol sweetened gum per 14 pounds of body weight. So the bottom line is seek immediate treatment for your dog even if you think that only one piece was ingested.
After ingesting a Xylitol-containing product a dog may receive one of more of the following treatments, depending on the amount of time that has lapsed since the ingestion occurred. The induction of vomiting is recommended if done very soon after ingestion of the Xylitol-containing product but before clinical signs develop. Frequent small meals or an oral sugar supplement may be used to manage dogs that have not yet shown clinical signs. Following the appearance of clinical signs intravenous dextrose can be used to control hypoglycemia. It may also be necessary to treat the patient for low potassium levels (hypokalemia), if indicated. Treatment should be continued until the blood glucose levels return to normal levels.
For more information on this and other poison control questions the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at 888-426-4435 or on the web at
www.apcc.aspca.org