OT...Pets.... Xylitol Poisoning ... lethal in dogs... WARNING

[Guest guest]

Thought y'all should know about this ... there was a big piece on our local news

about this. Most all sugar free gum and candies can and or will contain this

substance. The news review was saying as little as 2 pieces of trident or any

candy or gum with this in it can cause liver failure and death in a large breed

dog.

PLEASE check anything you have that is sugar free and be alert to this hazard.

The higher the amount the closer to the top of the list of ingredients it will

be.

 

Also here is a link for other bad or lethal foods that can harm your pet.

 

http://mooreshaven.com/pets/dogs/safety/badfoodslist.html

 

HTH

Vicki

 

Dog owners should be aware that products sweetened with the sugar substitute

xylitol might be harmful or fatal to your pet!

 

What is xylitol?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that has recently become popular in the United

States for use by diabetics and in low-carb diets.

 

Where is it found?

 

Xylitol is commonly found in low-carb or sugar-free baked goods and

desserts (muffins, cookies, candy), sugar-free gum, toothpaste and

other oral care products, and as a granulated powder for baking.

 

What happens if my dog ingests a product containing xylitol?

 

In humans, xylitol has little or no increase on insulin secretion,

however in dogs, xylitol ingestion can cause a rapid increase in blood

insulin levels, which leads to severe, life-threatening hypoglycemia

(low blood sugar) and severe hypokalemia (low potassium level).

 

What are signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs?

 

Dogs that develop hypoglycemia and hypokalemia may exhibit

vomiting, weakness, ataxia (incoordination), depression and seizures.

These signs may develop rapidly within 30-60 minutes of ingestion or be

delayed for up to 12 hours.

 

In addition to the life-threatening hypoglycemia and hypokalemia,

the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has recently begun to receive

reports of dogs developing severe hepatic necrosis (liver failure) and

coagulation system problems after xylitol ingestion.

 

How much xylitol does my dog have to eat to be affected?

 

Not much! Just a few pieces of sugar-free gum, a couple of low-carb

cookies or a muffin may have enough xylitol to cause a problem.

 

What should I do if my dog eats something containing xylitol?

 

Due to the severe and potentially fatal effects of xylitol

ingestion in dogs, you must treat this as a medical emergency! Don't

wait to see if your dog gets sick before taking it to a veterinarian.

 

If it's only been a few minutes since the ingestion and the dog

isn't showing any clinical signs, you could induce vomiting by

administering hydrogen peroxide by mouth (call your veterinarian first

for instructions). Do not give activated charcoal, as it does not bind

to xylitol very well.

 

Can xylitol toxicity be treated?

 

Yes, the dog should be hospitalized and treated aggressively. Blood

glucose levels should be monitored every one to two hours. Liver

enzymes should also be measured upon admission and repeated in 12-24

hours. There is no antidote for xylitol poisoning. However, giving IV

fluids with dextrose and potassium counteracts the hypoglycemia and low

potassium levels and helps to minimize the effects of the xylitol.

 

Also, supplementing with liver protectants and antioxidants such as

SAM-E, milk thistle, and vitamin E may be useful in preventing liver

failure from developing.

 

With treatment, the prognosis for uncomplicated toxicity is good,

while dogs that develop liver problems have a very guarded prognosis.

 

How can I prevent xylitol poisoning in my dog?

 

First of all, identify any xylitol containing low-carb or

sugar-free products that you have in your house including chewing gum,

nicotine gum, cakes, candy, cookies, muffins, and oral care items such

as toothpaste.

 

Obviously, never feed your pet any of these items, even in small

amounts. More importantly make sure these items are kept out of your

pets reach. Don't leave these items on tables or counter tops where

your dog could jump up and get them, as many poisonings reported to the

APCC involve dogs scarfing down large amounts of these products while

the owner is not present.

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Great Post,

thank you.

Not to mention the detritus effects to the effects of humans, especially

when consumed in quantities such as those taken by sports folk/athletes who

use these aspartame and such on their health drinks.

Leslie

-

" Vicki P " <sun613moon

" Vicki J. Peters " <sun613moon

Monday, February 19, 2007 2:56 PM

OT...Pets.... Xylitol Poisoning ... lethal in

dogs... WARNING

 

 

> Thought y'all should know about this ... there was a big piece on our

> local news about this. Most all sugar free gum and candies can and or will

> contain this substance. The news review was saying as little as 2 pieces

> of trident or any candy or gum with this in it can cause liver failure and

> death in a large breed dog.

> PLEASE check anything you have that is sugar free and be alert to this

> hazard. The higher the amount the closer to the top of the list of

> ingredients it will be.

>

> Also here is a link for other bad or lethal foods that can harm your pet.

>

> http://mooreshaven.com/pets/dogs/safety/badfoodslist.html

>

> HTH

> Vicki

>

> Dog owners should be aware that products sweetened with the sugar

> substitute xylitol might be harmful or fatal to your pet!

>

> What is xylitol?

> Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that has recently become popular in the

> United States for use by diabetics and in low-carb diets.

>

> Where is it found?

>

> Xylitol is commonly found in low-carb or sugar-free baked goods and

> desserts (muffins, cookies, candy), sugar-free gum, toothpaste and

> other oral care products, and as a granulated powder for baking.

>

> What happens if my dog ingests a product containing xylitol?

>

> In humans, xylitol has little or no increase on insulin secretion,

> however in dogs, xylitol ingestion can cause a rapid increase in blood

> insulin levels, which leads to severe, life-threatening hypoglycemia

> (low blood sugar) and severe hypokalemia (low potassium level).

>

> What are signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs?

>

> Dogs that develop hypoglycemia and hypokalemia may exhibit

> vomiting, weakness, ataxia (incoordination), depression and seizures.

> These signs may develop rapidly within 30-60 minutes of ingestion or be

> delayed for up to 12 hours.

>

> In addition to the life-threatening hypoglycemia and hypokalemia,

> the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has recently begun to receive

> reports of dogs developing severe hepatic necrosis (liver failure) and

> coagulation system problems after xylitol ingestion.

>

> How much xylitol does my dog have to eat to be affected?

>

> Not much! Just a few pieces of sugar-free gum, a couple of low-carb

> cookies or a muffin may have enough xylitol to cause a problem.

>

> What should I do if my dog eats something containing xylitol?

>

> Due to the severe and potentially fatal effects of xylitol

> ingestion in dogs, you must treat this as a medical emergency! Don't

> wait to see if your dog gets sick before taking it to a veterinarian.

>

> If it's only been a few minutes since the ingestion and the dog

> isn't showing any clinical signs, you could induce vomiting by

> administering hydrogen peroxide by mouth (call your veterinarian first

> for instructions). Do not give activated charcoal, as it does not bind

> to xylitol very well.

>

> Can xylitol toxicity be treated?

>

> Yes, the dog should be hospitalized and treated aggressively. Blood

> glucose levels should be monitored every one to two hours. Liver

> enzymes should also be measured upon admission and repeated in 12-24

> hours. There is no antidote for xylitol poisoning. However, giving IV

> fluids with dextrose and potassium counteracts the hypoglycemia and low

> potassium levels and helps to minimize the effects of the xylitol.

>

> Also, supplementing with liver protectants and antioxidants such as

> SAM-E, milk thistle, and vitamin E may be useful in preventing liver

> failure from developing.

>

> With treatment, the prognosis for uncomplicated toxicity is good,

> while dogs that develop liver problems have a very guarded prognosis.

>

> How can I prevent xylitol poisoning in my dog?

>

> First of all, identify any xylitol containing low-carb or

> sugar-free products that you have in your house including chewing gum,

> nicotine gum, cakes, candy, cookies, muffins, and oral care items such

> as toothpaste.

>

> Obviously, never feed your pet any of these items, even in small

> amounts. More importantly make sure these items are kept out of your

> pets reach. Don't leave these items on tables or counter tops where

> your dog could jump up and get them, as many poisonings reported to the

> APCC involve dogs scarfing down large amounts of these products while

> the owner is not present.

>

>

>

>