Xylitol Sugar Substitute Toxic To Dogs

July 29, 2021

There’s been a lot of talk in the news lately about the unfortunate case of the Beaudin family in Winnipeg who lost their dog. And all because of a bag of sugar-free chewing gum.

The toxic ingredient responsible for the untimely death of the 10-year-old labrador Hiccup is a naturally-occurring sugar substitute called Xylitol. 

What is Xylitol?

According to VCA Canada, Xylitol is found in many fruits and vegetables such as berries, plums, corn, oats, mushrooms and lettuce. It is commercially produced from corn fibre, birch trees, hardwood trees and other vegetable material and is a form of sugar alcohol.

Because of its low glycemic index and antibacterial properties, Xylitol is used in many products besides chewing gum as a low-calorie sweetener. Some of these include sugar-free candies and breath mints, baked goods, pudding snacks, cough syrup, children's chewable or gummy vitamins and supplements, mouthwash and toothpaste. 

You can also find Xylitol in many over-the-counter medications such as nasal sprays, laxatives, digestive aids and allergy medicines. Some prescription drugs contain Xylitol too, such as sleep aids, pain relievers and antipsychotics.

But even humans need to watch their daily intake of Xylitol, as it can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. It is best not to exceed more than 50g a day.

Xylitol and Toxicity in Dogs

For dogs, Xylitol is deadly. Just a small amount is enough to trigger an extreme spike in insulin production, causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Hiccup ate a whole bag of Pür gum, which contains 55 pieces of sugar-free gum containing 1g of Xylitol each. It only takes 30 to 75 milligrams of xylitol per kilogram of bodyweight to trigger extreme hypoglycemia in dogs. 

If your dog ingests Xylitol, you need to act quickly and get them to a vet immediately. Adverse effects happen within an hour of eating any product containing Xylitol and include hypoglycemia, seizures, coma and irreversible and potentially fatal liver damage.

In the meantime, make sure you read product labels and avoid anything containing Xylitol. Best not to take the risk and bring something fatally toxic to your dogs into the house.