As dog parents, we all want to keep our pets safe in our homes. Some household dangers are more obvious than others. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby warns about xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in everything from a piece of gum to peanut butter, which can be extremely harmful to dogs if ingested.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, cases of xylitol poisoning in dogs have more than doubled in the last five years. More products are now being produced with xylitol, and many pet parents are unaware of the danger it poses to dogs. Keeping an eye on the ingredients in the products you buy could help keep your dog safe.
While xylitol has been around since 1891, it’s a fairly new health concern for dogs. Xylitol is a sugar substitute. It is a sugar alcohol found naturally in various plants and fruits.
Discovered by a German chemist, it was used during World War II because sugar was unavailable. As an alternative, they pulled xylitol out of hardwoods like birch trees to use as a sweetener.
The first xylitol gum (and gum is certainly the most common culprit I see with xylitol poisoning in dogs) was launched in Finland and the United States in 1975. Now a myriad of products for human consumption include xylitol as an ingredient.
Xylitol is sometimes listed on packaging as birch sugar. This can be deceiving and dangerous if you are scanning a label looking for the word “xylitol” and don’t know that “birch sugar” is the same thing.
If you walk down the grocery store aisle and read the labels, I think you’ll be stunned at how often you see xylitol on the ingredient list. It’s in everything from toothpaste and mouthwash to pudding and peanut butter.
Can I give my dog melatonin for anxiety?
Melatonin tablets can be administered to your dog like any other pill: wrap in a favorite soft treat, crush and sprinkle over food, or give directly by mouth. If possible, give the tablet(s) to your dog half an hour before you anticipate them to grow anxious for maximum benefit.
Peanut & Nut Butters Product List
Hanks Protein Plus (August 7, 2017)Hanks has removed xylitol from their products!!Read update here. Hanks Protein Plus – Almond Butter Hanks Protein Plus – Banana Hanks Protein Plus – Caramel Pretzel Hanks Protein Plus – Chocolate Chip Hanks Protein Plus – Coconut Hanks Protein Plus – Honey Maple Hanks Protein Plus – Plain Hanks Protein Plus – SnickerdoodleNo Cow® (formerly D’s Naturals) (April 13, 2018) Brownie Batter Almond Fluffbutter Chocolate S’Mores Peanut Fluffbutter Salted Caramel Sundae Peanut Fluffbutter Vanilla Maple Frosting Almond Fluffbutter
Go Nuts, Co. (July 28, 2015) Almond Butter Almond Butter – Chocolate Almond Butter Peanut Butter – Dark Chocolate Mint Peanut Butter – Natural Chocolate Flavor Peanut Butter – Natural Flavor Peanut Butter – Organic Maple Flavor
Krush Nutrition (July 28, 2015) Nutty By Nature Peanut Butter Brownie Batter Nutty By Nature Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Nutty By Nature Peanut Butter Snickerdoodle Cookie Nutty By Nature Peanut Butter Thick & Creamy
Nuts N More® (July 28, 2015) Almond Spread – Almond Butter High Protein + Almond Spread – Almond Butter High Protein + Almond Spread – Chocolate Almond High Protein + Almond Spread – Cinnamon Raisin High Protein + Peanut Spread – Chocolate Peanut High Protein + Peanut Spread – Peanut Butter Flavor High Protein + Peanut Spread – Pumpkin Spice High Protein + Peanut Spread – Toffee Crunch Peanut & Protein Spread – Sesame Cranbutter Peanut Spread – Peanut Butter Flavor Peanut Spread – Toffee Crunch
P28 Foods (July 28, 2015) High Protein Spread – Almond Butter High Protein Spread – Banana Raisin High Protein Spread – Peanut Spread High Protein Spread – Signature Blend
Why is xylitol bad for dogs?
Xylitol causes two problems for a dog’s system: hypoglycemia and liver disease in dogs. Let’s take a look at each problem to answer the questions, “what does xylitol do to dogs” and “why is xylitol toxic to dogs.”
Xylitol, a sugar substitute, “tricks” the dog’s body into thinking it has consumed sugar. When the body consumes sugar, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin.
This is the same process in our own bodies after we eat a meal or a sweet snack. Sugars and carbohydrates in food raise blood sugar levels, and insulin keeps those levels from getting too high. It’s this delicate body balance that the brain maintains.
But herein lies the problem. The dog really hasn’t consumed sugar. There’s not a high blood sugar problem that needs to be counteracted. So, because the insulin drives blood sugar into the cells and out of the bloodstream, the dog ends up with hypoglycemia (i.e. low blood sugar).
If the blood sugar gets too low, seizures in dogs and even death may occur. In some cases, the drop in blood sugar happens fast. It can occur within 10 to 15 minutes after ingestion. In other cases, the symptoms may not appear for up to 12 hours after ingestion.
Damage to the liver, which can be very extensive and even fatal, is the second problem. Although the exact mechanism isn’t know yet, xylitol causes liver cells to die in some dogs.
Researchers theorize that xylitol may decrease cellular energy (i.e. ATP) stores in the liver cells and/or that it may cause oxidative injury to liver cells. Whatever the exact process is, the end result is acute liver failure.
On top of this, some xylitol-containing products act as a slow-release toxin. Chewing gum containing xylitol is an example. Sitting in the gastrointestinal tract, the gum slowly releases xylitol, which continually drives the dog’s blood sugar down.
If a dog has consumed xylitol-containing gum, his or her blood sugar may continue to drop until the gum is removed from the gastrointestinal tract. Gum doesn’t show up on X-rays, so unless an owner knows their dog got into gum, managing the dropping blood sugar may become a medical mystery for a veterinarian. The gum can sit in the stomach for hours. Unless the vet induces vomiting, the slow-release toxin in the gum may have devastating effects.
FAQ
Is Spring Valley melatonin safe for dogs?
Does melatonin contain xylitol?
Melatonin in the fruit-flavored, rapid-dissolve tablets and the gummy version are likely to contain xylitol.
How much xylitol is in a 5mg melatonin?
What would happen if I give my dog melatonin?