We’ve put together this guide on xylitol poisoning in dogs to explain why this ingredient is so toxic for your pup and outline the signs to look out for if they do manage to get their paws on it. What is xylitol? Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that’s often used as a sugar substitute for humans, and is commonly found in sauces, spreads and gum. Xylitol is a type of sugar alcohol that is naturally present in lots of different foods including strawberries, plums, oats, mushrooms and lettuce. But most commercialised xylitol tends to be extracted from corn fibre or birch trees. Why is xylitol so toxic to dogs? Lower calorie and no calorie sweeteners will not necessarily make a food or drink healthy but can be helpful in reducing your sugar intake. High sugar intakes increase the risk of tooth decay. Therefore, the use of no calorie sweeteners in food and drink, as long as the product does not contain any sugars, can help reduce the risk of tooth decay. Whilst the amount of xylitol that any dog would have to consume to be dangerous can vary depending on the amount of xylitol in the product itself and the size of the dog in question, dogs should never be given or allowed to eat anything containing xylitol, and if you know or suspect that your dog has eaten xylitol, you should speak to your vet immediately.

Xylitol ingestion also increases motilin secretion, which may be related to xylitol's ability to cause diarrhea. [21] The less-digestible but fermentable nature of xylitol also contributes to constipation relieving effects. [22] Health effects [ edit ] Dental care [ edit ] Xylitol is a very popular sugar substitute which is prized for its lower calorie content and low glycaemic index, and it’s also thought to be better for human dental health. With that being said, although xylitol is safe for humans to consume, sadly it can be highly poisonous to dogs. The Pet Poison Helpline received 5,846 calls about dogs accidentally ingesting this ingredient in 2020 alone. Evidence from longer term observational studies on weight show conflicting results but this type of research is limited and the findings cannot be directly linked to sweetener intake. Burgos, Karen; Subramaniam, Persis; Arthur, Jennifer (21 November 2016). "Reformulation guide for small to medium sized companies" (PDF). Leatherhead Food Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2020 . Retrieved 28 October 2018– via The Food and Drink Federation.

Why is xylitol toxic to dogs?

A 2018 study suggests that xylitol is safe in cats in doses of up to 1000mg/kg; however, this study was performed on only 6 cats, and should not be considered definitive. [40] See also [ edit ] Clinical tests have shown that consumption of xylitol-sweetened foods between meals significantly cuts formation of new caries, even in those who already practice good oral hygiene. It also inhibits the growth of S. mutans – the primary bacterium associated with dental caries. Cuts plaque formation Xylitol is stable enough to be used in baking, [16] but because xylitol and other polyols are more heat-stable, they do not caramelise as sugars do. When used in foods, they lower the freezing point of the mixture. [17] Food risks [ edit ] Xylitol has about the same sweetness as sucrose, [12] but is sweeter than similar compounds like sorbitol and mannitol. [6] Top Xylitol Toothpaste. Spry Xylitol Toothpaste, Fluoride-Free, Natural Peppermint.Himalaya Botanique Whitening Antiplaque Toothpaste with Xylitol.Epic Xylitol Toothpaste - Sugar Free & Aspartame Free Toothpaste Sweetened w/Xylitol.Spry Xylitol Toothpaste, Fluoride-Free, Natural Spearmint. 2. Is xylitol in toothpaste safe?

Jain, H.; Mulay, S. (March 2014). "A review on different modes and methods for yielding a pentose sugar: Xylitol". International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 65 (2): 135–143. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2013.845651. PMID 24160912. S2CID 39929588. Obviously lip gloss isn’t something that you’d use on your dog (or if it is, feel free to tell us more!) but dogs are notorious for chewing and destroying things when left unsupervised, including makeup – and things that smell or taste sweet will be particularly appealing to your dog, so keep them well out of their reach! Peanut butter Xylitol is a type of artificial sugar substitute that is used in place of natural sugar in a wide variety of different types of products, and which is a very common ingredient in sugar-free goods in the UK. There are a couple of even more surprising products that can contain this ingredient. Parents of pups who love stealing laundry should know that certain brands of athletic clothing have pieces that contain xylitol. And for those with little ones, some pacifier wipes and bottle wipes can also have the ingredient in them. Who knew?!Berkowitz, R.J.; Turner, J.; Hughes, C. (1984). "Microbial characteristics of the human dental caries associated with prolonged bottle-feeding". Archives of Oral Biology. 29 (11): 949–951. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(84)90097-9. ISSN 0003-9969. PMID 6596042. Xylitol may be useful as an alternative to sugar for people with diabetes as it does not raise blood glucose or insulin levels, and has a reduced caloric value (2.4 kcal/g compared to 4.0 for sucrose), which is consistent with the objective of weight control. If you get to the vets early enough then your vet may be able to induce vomiting to get the product out of your dog’s system, greatly reducing the chances of any serious damage. Total Sweet Xylitol promotes healthy teeth: Xylitol is already an ingredient in many chewing gums, toothpastes, mints and mouth washes for its dental benefits. It can help to create an alkaline environment in the mouth, which can help reduce cavities and prevent plaque build-up. It can also help the mouth absorb calcium and other minerals that help your teeth stay strong and healthy. It has a pleasant, sweet taste (the same sweetness and bulk as sucrose) but contains one-third fewer calories – around 2.4 kcal/g.

As part of the evaluation process, the government sets an acceptable daily intake (ADI), which is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day over the course of your lifetime. This means that most of those sweet coatings on pills, and also one of the ingredients in many chewy vitamins is an artificial sugar substitute, and this is often xylitol.Forssten, Sofia D.; Björklund, Marika; Ouwehand, Arthur C. (2 March 2010). " Streptococcus mutans, caries, and simulation models". Nutrients. 2 (3): 290–298. doi: 10.3390/nu2030290. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 3257652. PMID 22254021. When ingested at high doses, xylitol and other polyols may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, including flatulence, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (see Metabolism above); some people experience the adverse effects at lower doses. [18] [35] Xylitol has a lower laxation threshold than some sugar alcohols but is more easily tolerated than mannitol and sorbitol. [36] You can cook with Total Sweet Xylitol: replace sugar ‘one for one’ in your baking for less calorific cakes, biscuits and other treats. Xylitol has 2.4 kilocalories of food energy per gram of xylitol (10 kilojoules per gram) according to U.S. and E.U. food-labeling regulations. [19] [3] The real value can vary, depending on metabolic factors. [20] a b Burt, Brian A. (February 2006). "The use of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum in caries control". The Journal of the American Dental Association. 137 (2): 190–196. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2006.0144. ISSN 0002-8177. PMID 16521385.

a b Assev, Synnöve; Rölla, Gunnar (15 August 2009). "Further Studies on the Growth Inhibition of Streptococcus Mutans OMZ 176 by Xylitol". Acta Pathologica et Microbiologica Scandinavica, Section B. 94B (1–6): 97–102. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1986.tb03026.x. PMID 3728029. No serious health risk exists in most humans for normal levels of consumption. The European Food Safety Authority has not set a limit on daily intake of xylitol. Due to the adverse laxative effect that all polyols have on the digestive system in high doses, xylitol is banned from soft drinks in the European Union. Similarly due to a 1985 report, by the E.U. Scientific Committee on Food, stating that "ingesting 50g a day of xylitol can cause diarrhea", tabletop sweeteners, as well as other products containing xylitol are required to display the warning: "Excessive consumption may induce laxative effects". [18] Metabolism [ edit ] In 2011 EFSA "concluded that there was not enough evidence to support" the claim that xylitol-sweetened gum could prevent middle-ear infections with a fast onset, which is also known as acute otitis media (AOM). [18] [29] A 2016 review indicated that xylitol in chewing gum or a syrup may have a moderate effect in preventing AOM in healthy children. [30] It may be an alternative to conventional therapies (such as antibiotics) to lower risk of earache in healthy children– reducing risk of occurrence by 25% [31]– although there is no definitive proof that it could be used as a therapy for earache. [30] Diabetes [ edit ] Foster-Powell, K.; Holt, S.H.; Brand-Miller, J.C. (July 2002). "International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2002". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 76 (1): 5–56. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/76.1.5. PMID 12081815. Xylitol is a white odourless crystalline powder that has been used as a sweetening agent in food for over 40 years.Signs of poisoning can be rapid or delayed, but you should never wait for symptoms to appear before seeking veterinary help. This could put your dog’s life at risk. In most cases, symptoms will start to appear within 30 minutes but can take up to 12 hours to develop in some cases. What are the symptoms of xylitol poisoning? The reason xylitol poisoning in dogs is so serious is because it can cause low blood sugar levels, also known as hypoglycaemia, which can be fatal. This is due to the fact that the canine pancreas confuses it with real sugar, causing this organ to release more insulin, which then removes the real sugar from the body, meaning blood sugar levels will plummet. Xylitol can also cause liver failure, but veterinary experts are currently unsure as to exactly why this happens. How much xylitol is poisonous to dogs? Marom, Tal; Marchisio, Paola; Tamir, Sharon Ovnat; Torretta, Sara; Gavriel, Haim; Esposito, Susanna (12 February 2016). "Complementary and alternative medicine treatment options for otitis media". Medicine. 95 (6): e2695. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002695. ISSN 0025-7974. PMC 4753897. PMID 26871802. Things like lip gloss and other forms of makeup that have a sweet or fruity taste or scent usually contain an artificial sweetener too. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol containing 5carbon-polyol, is metabolized via the phospho-enolpyruvate-phospho-transferase pathway in S.mutans, which produces xylitol-5-phosphate as a product. [25] Xylitol-5-phosphate competes with phosphofructokinase and therefore results in inhibition of glycolysis via accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate. [25] Over long periods of xylitol use, S.mutans alters its enzymatic activity. [26]