Another Dog Dies From Xylitol Poisoning

Please sign and share the petition to demand our government food and drug agencies require manufacturers to CLEARLY LABEL any of their products containing Xylitol as TOXIC TO DOGS

With over 700+ products containing Xylitol, the toxic dangers to dogs, cats and other non-primates can result in their slow painful death.

FDA warns pet owners of the dangers of Xylitol to dogs.

Family Dog In The USA Dies After Ingesting Gum with Xylitol

Canadian Family Devastated After Dog Dies Two Days After Eating Gum With Xylitol

Dog In UK Dies From Ingesting Xylitol

Snopes Confirms Xylitol Is Poisonous To Dogs

“Xylitol ingestion causes a rapid (usually within 30 min but it can take up to 12-18 hours) and severe increase in blood insulin with resulting hypoglycemia eventually shutting down your dog’s liver. This occurs because xylitol stimulates a stronger insulin release than glucose resulting in very low blood sugar and clinical signs of vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, ataxia, tremors and possibly seizures.” (https://www.atdove.org/article/xylitol-update)

Xylitol is also known as ‘sugar alcohol’. One piece of gum containing Xylitol can kill a 15 lbs dog.

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What other names is Xylitol known by? Birch Sugar, E967, Meso-Xylitol, Méso-Xylitol, Sucre de Bouleau, Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite, Xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol.

When non-primate species (i.e. a dog) eats something containing xylitol, the xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas.  This rapid release of insulin results in a rapid and profound decrease in the dog blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), an effect that occurs within 10-60 minutes of eating the xylitol. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can be life-threatening.

Just three grams of sweetener xylitol can kill a 65-pound dog. Because the amount of sweetener used in sugar-free gum varies by manufacturer and product, the number of sticks of gum that would prove fatal to a pooch of that size can’t be stated with precision. As a general rule of thumb, between eight and ten pieces of gum might be deadly to a 65-pound canine, but a smaller dog could easily die after the ingestion of far less (perhaps as few as two sticks of gum).

According to a 2015 article published by https://www.preventivevet.com/xylitol-products-toxic-for-dogs  there are over 700+ products containing Xylitol. Being 2019, it’s likely there are even more products containing Xylitol.

Signs of Xylitol poisoning (contact your vet IMMEDIATELY if you suspect your dog has ingested Xylitol):

Seizures
Death
Vomiting
Lethargy
Loss of coordination
Depression
Seizures
Weakness
Difficulty walking or standing (walking like drunk)
Tremors
Coma
Abnormal pulse
Yellow gums
Black and/or tarry stool
Diarrhea
Bruising
Jaundiced gums
Abnormal mentation (abnormal mental activity)
Clotting problems


READ. READ. READ THE LABEL: Products that MAY contain Xylitol:

Chocolate
Peanut butter
Nut butters
Breath mints
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Whitening products
Nasal Sprays
Cough syrup
Children’s and adult chewable vitamins
Chewing gum
Sugar-free candy
Sugar free breath mints
Protein bars and powders
Flavored Waters & Drink Powders 
Medicines
Vitamins
Supplements
Over-The-Counter medications and sleep aids
Prescription sedatives
Antacids
Stool softeners
Smoking cessation gums
Fruit drinks
Jellies and jams
Cereals
Baked goods
Sugar-free puddings and Jello
Over the counter vitamin supplements

If in doubt, don’t buy it.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol found in most plant material, including many fruits and vegetables. It is extracted from birch wood to make medicine. Xylitol is widely used as a sugar substitute and in “sugar-free” chewing gums, mints, and other candies.

It may say xylitol (on the label) but it may also be listed as a sugar alcohols. Unless (the ingredients) tells us which sugar alcohol it is we have to assume it is xylitol. The other sugar alcohols are sorbitol and maltitol.

Of particular note Gabapentin liquid (300mg xylitol/ml) given at the standard dose can be toxic to dogs at doses of Gabapentin > 10mg/kg

Chewing Gum containing Xylitol (grams per piece):

Pur Gum 1g
Dr. John’s Fruit Gum 9g
BioGenesis Fruit Gum 0.77g
Xponent 0.72g
Epic Xylitol Gum 1.06g
Impact Xylitol Gum 1.06g
ElimiTaste Zapp 1g
Xyloburst Gum 1g
Branam Xylitol Gum 1g
Xyla Gum 1g
Zellies 1g
Xlear Spry Gum 0.72g

If you discover your pet has ingested a product with xylitol in it, immediately call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline. Xylitol can cause signs within 10 minutes of when it is ingested.  Initial signs of toxicity include weakness, lethargy, ataxia (incoordination), seizures, vomiting, and an increased respiratory rate.  Untreated cases can progress to liver failure over the following one to two days if a high enough dose was ingested. There are treatments and preventatives available for your pet.  Preventatives may include inducing vomiting (after a blood glucose level has been checked) and starting the dog on medications to help protect the liver.  Treatments include dextrose (a sugar) given with IV fluids, medications to control seizures, anti-vomiting medications, and plasma and vitamin K1 (in case of liver failure).  Other medications or treatments may also be provided, depending on the individual pet’s signs.  If pets are treated promptly and appropriately they typically recover well.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Keep human products up high or in a secured area so pets cannot access them.  When you leave the house, make sure your pet is in pet-proofed, secure area to minimize the chances of Fido having himself a smorgasbord of “goodies” while you are gone (not that he would ever do that…).

Toxic doses and treatment recommendations:

The toxicity of xylitol is dose dependent. The dose necessary to cause hypoglycemia in dogs is approximately 0.1 grams/kg, while the amount needed to cause hepatic necrosis is approximately 0.5 grams/kg. Rarely, hepatic necrosis can be seen without prior hypoglycemia. Most chewing gums and breath mints typically contain 0.22-1.0 gram of xylitol per piece of gum or per mint.Therefore, only one piece of gum may result in hypoglycemia in a 10 pound (4.5 kg) dog.

Hypoglycemia is typically evident within 1-2 hours of xylitol ingestion but, in rare cases, has been delayed as much as 12 hours. Prompt and appropriate gastric decontamination in asymptomatic patients is essential to prevent poisoning. Activated charcoal does not bind well to xylitol and is not recommended. Should hypoglycemia develop, supplementation with intravenous dextrose is needed until the dog can self-regulate its blood glucose concentrations (typically 12-48 hours). For dogs exposed to hepatotoxic doses of xylitol, preemptive administration of dextrose (prior to the onset of hypoglycemia) may be helpful. Additionally, close monitoring of hepatic enzymes is warranted as evidence of necrosis may be seen in 1-2 days following exposure.  Should hepatic necrosis develop, IV fluids, dextrose, hepatoprotectants and monitoring of coagulation profiles are needed. The prognosis following xylitol exposures is excellent when the ingestion is caught early, decontamination is performed, and blood glucose is monitored frequently. The prognosis becomes guarded if the dog has already begun to develop hepatic failure.

Please sign and share this petition.

Our registered nonprofit Arf Arf Bark Bark Rescue Foundation has successfully advocated for the welfare of dogs and cats with our first petition gathering over 103,000 signatures and the direct involvement of the Honorable Member of Parliament Ken Hardie.

Hon. Ken Hardie will be presenting our first petition to the House of Commons in December 2019:
https://www.change.org/p/make-it-illegal-to-eat-dogs-and-cats-in-canada

Reading another horrifying death of another innocent dog ingesting Xylitol (PUR brand chewing gum)…it’s time to push our Food and Drug agencies to require manufacturers clearly label their product containing Xylitol.

Thank you,

James Tsai, founder
Arf Arf Bark Bark Rescue Foundation

Photo source:
https://dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/2018/10/26/killed-by-xylitol-remembering-ruby/

The information in this petition about Xylitol has been gathered from multiple sources:
http://48qbc13dv397vzass1iql2a1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2016-Conference-Handout-Xylitol-Pet-Poison-Helpline.pdf
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/theres-xylitol/
https://www.preventivevet.com/xylitol-products-toxic-for-dogs
https://simplewag.com/xylitol-dogs/
https://www.atdove.org/article/xylitol-update/
https://iheartdogs.com/11-surprising-products-that-contain-xylitol/
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-toxins-poisons/xylitol-poisoning-dogs-a-deadly-sugar-substitue/
https://www.xylitolpreventscavities.com/products/xylitol-chewing-gums.html
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-toxins-poisons/popular-xylitol-products-can-poison-your-dog
https://www.hillspet.ca/en-ca/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/is-xylitol-harmful-to-dogs
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-996/xylitol
https://www.thedodo.com/ingrediant-could-be-deadly-dog-1449364385.html