[Rhapsody]

Dog Owners Warned Over Sugar-Free Items

Keep those sugarless treats out of Fido's reach. Veterinarians warned on Friday that a commonly used sweetener might cause liver failure in dogs, and perhaps even kill them.

Researchers said for dogs, ingesting even a small amount of xylitol, found in many sugar-free foods, can trigger significant insulin release, which drops their blood sugar and can be fatal.

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Sept 30, 2006
The report in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association appears to strengthen the suspected link between the sugar substitute xylitol, thought to make dogs sick, and possible liver failure.
Xylitol, a naturally occurring product, is found in many sugar-free chewing gums, candies, baked goods and toothpastes.

Researchers Sharon Gwaltney-Brant and Eric Dunayer with staff at a poison unit of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Urbana, Illinois, gathered information on eight dogs treated between 2003 and 2005 after eating products containing xylitol.

Each dog became ill, and five died or had to be put down because of liver failure, possibly from ingesting xylitol.

One dog who had to be euthanized had eaten four large, chocolate-frosted muffins containing about 1 pound of xylitol.

"People don't think sugar-free gum can kill their dog. I didn't before I got into this. But this is something people should be aware of," Gwaltney-Brant, who co-authored the study with Dunayer, said in a statement.

Gwaltney-Brant said for dogs, ingesting even a small amount of xylitol can trigger significant insulin release, which drops their blood sugar and can be fatal.

"A 22-pound dog who consumes one gram of xylitol should be treated," she said, adding that further studies were needed to definitely establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

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[(JD)]

WOW. Thanks for this. I bought xylitol for the first time last month, but it isn't a sweetness I can taste. I hadn't planned on buying it again. I did notice a problem with the dog one night (seizure) and tried to figure out what foodstuff might have caused it (he is on a limited 3 item? menu) but it might have been something with the xylitol... sprinkled on the floor and he licked it up? SIGH. No more of that in the house.

[JustAPixie]

Thanks for the warning... Now I wonder about my own liver...

[darkeyes]

Thanks for sharing this with all of us. Also, I'd like to add, if anyone uses nicotine gum or patches, be most careful what kind of trash pail you dispose of them in your home, especially if you have a dog like mine, she loves to go in thbathrooms and do that nasty trash retrieval, my younger dog is a good girl she doesn't do that gross stuff.
My vet and I surmised that was why my old dog got sick for a few days, she had signs of stoking out.
Now I stress to my son and hubby keep bathroom doors closed, and I, only trash that nicorette gum in the snap closed lid on my metal kitchen pail.
We seem to need to worry about our pets like little children. After all, they are our 4 legged kids.
Rhapsody good post, and thanks again for sharing this to all of us.
Take care,
DE

[(JD)]

Slightly off topic but--- using self closing trash cans are a good thing when you have pets, imo. My dog doesn't do the trash thing, I just couldn't handle that too! rofl

Might as well mention the chocolate warning too... not only can it cause the scoots in a dog, but can cause a heart attack.

[Sarah116]

Thanks for the notice, that is a serious must know!