Artificial sweetener toxic to dogs

Posted 8th September 2010

Further warnings have been published in UK veterinary journals that an artificial sweetener called XYLITOL is very dangerous to dogs, cats and rabbits. Xylitol is used in some sweets and chewing gum rather than sugar. It is also sold as a sweetener for use in baking.

It has been found that as little as one gram for a 10kg dog can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels. This can look the same as a diabetic coma. The substance also goes on to cause liver failure.

Our advice is not to give gum, sweets and sweetened bakery products to dogs, cats or rabbits. Better still, also avoid having human products that contain xylitol in your house, as that way, accidental ingestion and poisoning is made very unlikely.

This is the latest in a line of substances- dark chocolate, grapes and raisins which are toxic to dogs and cats yet fine for us humans to eat.

Should your pet eat xylitol, please contact us urgently.

Note: Xylitol is used in very small amounts in some pet dental hygiene products, where the amounts are very safe as they are so small.

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