Dogs Don’t Need Sweetening Up

Have you ever heard of Xylitol? It’s an artificial sweetener, brand names Xylosweet and PolySweet to name just a few. People use it instead of sugar in a weight loss program, and it can be found also in diet candy, sugarless gum and jellies.  Interestingly enough, xylitol is derived from plants - birch trees, corn, beets and some berries.  If it’s plant derived, and therefore “natural”, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe! 

One could be forgiven for thinking that if it’s okay for people, it’s okay for dogs too. For some reason, dogs absorb much more xylitol from their gastrointestinal tract than people do, and it causes a sudden and dramatic drop in blood sugar, usually within half an hour. Your dog will show weakness and lethargy, leading to collapse and seizures. This is an emergency; without veterinary care your dog is at risk of brain damage and death.

There are also some suggestions that xylitol can cause fatal liver failure within 24 hours, but more research needs to be done in this area.

The take home lesson? Keep your diet foods away from your dog. It may save his life.