Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

While xylitol can be a great alternative to sugar for humans—helping to manage blood glucose levels and maintain dental health—it can have life-threatening effects on our canine companions.

Here we’ll explore what xylitol is, why it’s toxic to dogs, and most importantly, how you can keep your beloved dog safe from xylitol poisoning.

What Is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol produced from hardwoods such as birch and from corncob remnants. It is also naturally present in low amounts in some fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, lettuces, and pumpkin.

Xylitol is commonly used as a sweetener for tea or coffee. It can also be used in granulated form for baking. Due to the many different properties and uses of xylitol, it can also be found in a variety of other products, including:

• Dental products

  • Toothpaste

  • Mouthwash

  • Dental floss

  • Dry-mouth lozenges

• Nasal sprays

• Low- or no-sugar candy, gum, and other foods

• Chewable, liquid, quick-dissolve, and gummy medications and supplements

• Various skin care products

Because xylitol is found in many different products, it’s important to check the ingredient list for products your dog may have access to. Xylitol might also be referred to by other names in ingredient lists, such as birch sugar, birch bark extract, birch sap, and sugar alcohol.

Xylitol is not the only sugar alcohol that can be found in products. Sometimes products will contain additional sugar alcohols, such as maltitol or sorbitol, but these sugar alcohols do not have the same toxic effects on dogs as xylitol.

Why Is Xylitol Toxic to Dogs?

Dogs are extremely sensitive to xylitol. Ingesting even a small amount can cause them to experience a rapid increase in insulin release, leading to a very sudden drop in blood sugar levels. Ingesting larger amounts of xylitol can also cause liver damage or even liver failure in dogs. How this happens is not completely understood.

How Much Xylitol Is Toxic to Dogs?

The amount of xylitol in products varies greatly. Even different varieties of the same brand of gum can have differing amounts. This can make it difficult to determine how much xylitol your dog might have ingested.

Because of this variation, it’s important to know what product your dog ingested and roughly how much your dog may have eaten to determine whether they consumed enough xylitol to cause xylitol poisoning.

Certain human prescriptions and over-the-counter medications may contain xylitol, so if your dog is prescribed one of these medications, such as gabapentin, which is normally intended for human use, it is important to confirm the product does not contain xylitol.

Gabapentin is currently not FDA-approved as a veterinary medication. However, it is readily utilized in the veterinary field, and veterinarians can legally prescribe certain human drugs for use in animals in certain circumstances. This is called extra-label or off-label use because this use isn’t described on the drug label.

Signs of Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

Some common symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs may include:

• Vomiting

• Lethargy

• Unsteadiness while walking

• Inability to walk

• Tremors

• Seizures

What To Do if Your Dog Ingests Xylitol

If your dog has ingested xylitol, stay calm, but act swiftly—every minute counts when it comes to your dog’s health. Contact the Pet Poison Helpline® at 1-855-764-7661 or your veterinarian to determine next steps.

When calling, it’s helpful to know your dog’s weight, when the exposure occurred, what product was eaten, how much your dog ate, and whether your dog is showing any immediate signs of xylitol poisoning.

Treatment of Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

If your dog ate a toxic dose of xylitol, they will need to be seen at a veterinary clinic. The veterinarian might induce vomiting in an effort to decrease xylitol absorption. Never induce vomiting at home, unless directed by your vet.

At the hospital, the vet might monitor certain values in your dog’s blood work, such as blood glucose and liver enzymes. Your dog might need fluid support and medication to help their blood glucose maintain stable levels and to protect their liver.

If liver failure does occur, it can lead to abnormal bleeding, and your dog might need a blood transfusion.

Depending on the amount of xylitol your dog ate, they might need to stay at the veterinary clinic for one or more days. If the amount of xylitol ingested is enough to cause low blood sugar, your dog might need to be treated for longer. If your dog ate enough xylitol to cause liver damage, they will most likely need more intensive care and likely require a longer hospital stay.

If your dog does develop liver failure, they can recover, but it requires intensive treatment. Once your dog goes home, they might need to remain on a liver supplement formulated for dogs for several weeks and continue to have their blood work monitored until the abnormalities have resolved.

Xylitol poisoning can be deadly if not treated. However, if an exposure is caught early and treated aggressively, dogs should recover well.

Prevention of Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

Keep note of any products in your home that contain xylitol. Check the ingredient list for any sugar-free products, dental products, flavored medications, and supplements, and be sure to keep any products containing xylitol in an area well out of reach. If you have a nosy pup, investing in a pet door latch will help to keep prying paws from pantries they shouldn’t be in.

Do not share any food containing xylitol with your dog, and educate any guests in your home so they do not share anything with your dog that might be harmful. By staying informed and vigilant, you can protect your dog from the hidden dangers lurking in everyday products.