06/25/2021
Good morning, friends. I have some sad news today. The dog in this photo, Chewy, died a week ago Wednesday due to liver failure. Why? Because he accidentally ingested xylitol.
Chewy's human wanted me to share this important message with you all, because xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Most of you may know this already, but just in case anyone doesn't, it's worth repeating if it will save a life.
Xylitol is in a class of sweetener known as sugar alcohols. If you're diabetic, or if you're currently on a keto, paleo, or low carb diet, you may have some of these products in your home and not realize it. Madame is one of those people. She had no idea sugar alcohol and xylitol were the same thing until she started working on this post. How scary is that? So the life Chewy's owner may have saved, may well have been (gulp) mine.
Xylitol is most often found in sugar-free gum and mints. If you think your dog may have eaten a product containing xylitol, call your vet, emergency clinic, or animal poison control center right away. There is literally no time to spare.
Foods possibly containing xylitol:
* gum
* breath mints
* baked goods
* cough syrup and cough drops
* children’s and adult chewable vitamins
* mouthwash and toothpaste
* some peanut and nut butters
* over-the-counter medicines
* dietary supplements
* sugar-free desserts, including "skinny" ice cream
* sugar-free candy
* yogurt
* sweetners
* facial cleansers
* sugar-free jams, sugars, and other condiments
* protein bars and powders
* flavored water and drink powders
* sugar-free chocolate (a double whammy, since chocolate is also toxic)
Other names for xylitol include: Birch Sugar, E967, Meso-Xylitol, Méso-Xylitol, Sucre de Bouleau, Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite, Xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol.
So, why is this chemical okay for people and not dogs?
Well, according to information found on the FDA website, the level of blood sugar in both humans and dogs is controlled by insulin being released from the pancreas. In people, xylitol doesn't make the pancreas release insulin. However, when dogs eat something containing xylitol, it's absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream. This may cause a huge release of insulin from the pancreas, which may result in a rapid decrease in blood sugar (hypoglycemia)—an effect that can occur within 10 to 60 minutes of eating. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can quickly become life-threatening.
What if you're worried your canine companion may have ingested xylitol?
Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, followed by symptoms associated with the sudden lowering of your dog’s blood sugar (decreased activity, weakness, staggering, incoordination, collapse and seizures).
If you think your dog has eaten xylitol, take him to your vet or an emergency animal hospital IMMEDIATELY. Your dog may need to be hospitalized for medical monitoring.
According to Chewy's owner, "We are devastated by the loss of Chewy but don’t want another dog or family to go through what we have been through. He was full of puppy kisses and tail wags—even up to the very end. Getting the word out is the least I can do in his memory."
So check your pantry, people. Read the labels. And keep poor Chewy and his owner in your thoughts and prayers. This didn't have to happen, but maybe knowing about how Chewy died will help another dog survive.
xoxo
Capone
