Dogs are poisoned by chocolate, as most pet owners are aware, but many pet owners are unaware of a poison that is even deadlier. A sugar substitute called xylitol, which is present in sugar-free gum and candies, is particularly harmful to dogs. Each piece of sugar-free gum has enough xylitol in it to fatally poison a small dog. The toxin takes effect immediately and can swiftly lead to convulsions and total liver failure.
Xylitol can make dogs sick in as little as 10 minutes after consumption. Some canines, nevertheless, take a few days or longer to exhibit symptoms of disease. Call your veterinarian right away if you believe your dog may have consumed even a single piece of sugar-free gum. The sooner your pet receives urgent veterinarian care, the better his chances of making a full recovery are. To ensure that your veterinarian is aware of the precise components, bring the container of sugar-free gum with you.
Ingestion of xylitol symptoms:
Vomiting is frequently the initial symptom of xylitol toxicity, which eventually develops into hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. By tricking the dog’s pancreas into secreting more insulin, the xylitol lowers blood sugar levels. Dogs who suffer hypoglycemia may shake, act intoxicated, or have convulsions. Hypoglycemia is a medical emergency that requires prompt attention. Call your veterinarian for immediate advice if you believe your dog may have hypoglycemia as a result of eating sugar-free gum.
Xylitol not only causes hypoglycemia but also abrupt liver failure. The actual cause of liver failure is unknown, although xylitol use can result in the liver entirely ceasing to function 12 to 72 hours after consumption. Although the liver can recover from the poisoning, dogs require close monitoring, extensive care, and even blood transfusions.
The harmful effects of xylitol have no specific treatment. The liver can be supported and hypoglycemia can be avoided by IV fluids. Dogs who have liver failure are actively treated with hepatic support drugs and occasionally transfusions. Larger doses of xylitol in dogs often result in death, but quick medical care enhances the likelihood that your pet will recover.
Make absolutely certain that your dog does not have access to any sugar-free candy or gum if you own a dog. In my experience as a veterinarian in private practice, unintentional consumption accounts for the majority of xylitol toxicity cases. Typically, a dog would have searched through the owner’s purse and discovered a pack of gum. I don’t have any sugar-free sweets or gum because I have pets, and I don’t want them to accidentally eat it. Think about the dangers, store your gum safely, or choose for a non-sugar free alternative.
How much xylitol can cause a dog’s death?
What xylitol dosage is hazardous to dogs? The Pet Poison Helpline states that at least 0.05 grams per pound of body weight are required for poisoning to occur (0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight). Typically, each piece of gum or breath mint contains 0.2 to 1.0 grams of xylitol.
A puppy can be killed by how much xylitol?
#2 Even trace amounts of xylitol can be fatal to dogs. A little dog can really die after consuming 500 mg of xylitol, whereas an average-sized dog can become ill. Additionally, the risk is considerable because a stick of gum with xylitol on average contains roughly 300 mg.
How soon will xylitol put a dog to death?
It can result in seizures within 30 minutes, a dangerous drop in blood sugar within 15 minutes, and severe liver damage within 24 hours. A little dog can be killed by a couple of sticks if immediate medical attention is not provided because irreparable brain damage results in death.
Imagine returning home to see your dog unconscious or experiencing a seizure on the floor. You saw that he chewed some of your sugarless gum. Big deal, you say? When the doctor tells you that a $1 pack of gum will cost you $7,000 in emergency veterinary services, nothing alarming happens.
That is what can happen to pet parents who are unaware of the threat there in that pack of sugarless gum that appears innocent. A dog can die from insulin shock in less than 30 minutes, and if that doesn’t kill him, liver failure will most likely. Some pets can be saved if you’re fortunate enough to get to a doctor in time. However, statistically speaking, the chances are poor. Even if the dog recovers from the poisoning, the liver damage frequently causes a significant reduction in life span.
How much xylitol is poisonous to a dog?
According to reports, the amount of xylitol that might cause hypoglycemia in dogs is between 50 milligrams (mg) per pound of body weight (100 mg per kg). The risk of liver failure increases with increasing dose. The most frequent cause of xylitol toxicity reported to Pet Poison Helpline* is sugar-free gum. A 45 pound (20 kg) dog would require up to 9 pieces of gum to experience severe hypoglycemia, whereas 45 pieces would be required to cause liver failure. Some gum brands contain relatively modest levels of xylitol. Only 2 pieces of other popular brands of gum that carry 1 g per piece would cause severe hypoglycemia, while 10 pieces could cause liver failure. The amount of xylitol in each brand and flavor of gum varies widely, therefore it’s critical to determine whether a dangerous dose was consumed.
What are the symptoms of xylitol poisoning?
After consuming xylitol, symptoms usually appear within 15 to 30 minutes. Any or all of the following are indications of hypoglycemia:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Inability to balance properly or having trouble standing or walking
- depression or sluggishness
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Coma
How is xylitol poisoning treated?
To effectively reverse any toxic consequences and stop the emergence of serious issues, quick and active therapy is necessary.
Your dog will always need to stay in the hospital for blood sugar testing, dextrose delivery, intravenous fluids, liver protectants, and any other necessary supportive care. Although there has been some worry that other non-primate species (such as cats, ferrets, etc.) may react to xylitol in a way similar to dogs, the toxicity of xylitol for cats and other species is still unknown.
How long does it take a dog to exhibit poisoned symptoms?
The toxin will determine how long it takes for a dog to exhibit symptoms of poisoning. Some poisons result in immediate reactions, while others can produce symptoms hours or days later.
As an illustration, the initial signs of antifreeze poisoning can show up in as little as 30 minutes, whereas the signs of chocolate poisoning take between 6 and 12 hours to manifest. Despite the strength of anticoagulant rat poisons, dogs may not exhibit symptoms for 3–5 days after consumption.
How do you flush poison out of a dog’s system?
Unfortunately, owners can’t do much to treat pet poisoning at home. However, there are a few techniques that vets can employ to remove the toxin from a dog’s body. Veterinarians will take the following variables into account when developing a treatment plan for their patient:
- Which kind of poison was consumed?
- How much poison was consumed
- Size, breed, age, and medical history of the dog
- The dog’s level of hydration
- How long has it been since the dog ingested the poison?
The veterinarian will implement one or more of the following treatment methods after determining the type of toxin and the severity of the situation.
Fortunately, there are remedies for some of the more popular canine poisons, including ethylene glycol and anticoagulant rat poison (a toxic ingredient in some types of antifreeze).
A veterinarian may inject fomepizole, an intravenous antidote that prevents the breakdown of ethylene glycol and lowers the risk of organ damage, if it is determined that a dog has ingested a harmful amount of antifreeze. The bad news is that in addition to the antidote, the dog might also need hemodialysis as part of this expensive treatment. It’s also vital to note that this medication is less effective if taken more than 12 hours after consuming antifreeze.
A veterinarian will administer vitamin K1 to a dog if they think it may have swallowed an anticoagulant rodenticide since it will help the dog’s platelets function again. The majority of veterinarians will maintain vitamin K1 medication for several weeks because ACR rodenticides have a very long half-life.
The vets might be able to cause the dog to vomit in order to get the toxins out of its stomach if the dog is brought in quickly away. To be effective, vomiting must be induced between two and four hours after consumption, and even then, there is no assurance that the dog will be able to vomit up all the poisons.
Unfortunately, most poisoning cases are not discovered until the dog starts to exhibit symptoms. Inducing vomiting may also be ineffective by the time canines arrive at the veterinarian because symptoms may not appear for hours or even days.
In the same way, veterinarians won’t try to make a dog vomit up a caustic chemical (like bleach or drain cleaner) because doing so could further harm the dog’s esophagus.
Another first line of defense against canine poisoning is activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is administered orally by veterinarians, where it binds with the poison and stops hazardous metabolites from entering the bloodstream. Dogs can safely consume activated charcoal, which will generally pass through their systems.
Another method used by vets to remove hazardous material from a dog’s stomach is gastric lavage, often known as stomach pumping. When forced vomiting is inefficient or counterproductive because of the substance consumed, veterinarians frequently use this method.
In order to eliminate as much of the stomach contents as possible, the veterinarian will continuously drain the stomach and rinse it with water during a gastric lavage treatment. This surgery is carried out while sedated. Activated charcoal is typically administered by veterinarians before the treatment is finished.
Severe gastrointestinal symptoms are a common sign of poisoning. Some dogs will need a bland food while they’re recovering to avoid putting too much stress on their digestive systems.
body receives filtered blood. Sadly, this treatment is expensive and not readily accessible.
Can dogs survive being poisoned?
Yes! Dogs can undoubtedly survive poisoning, but the likelihood of survival is highly influenced by the type of toxin, the amount the dog consumed, and how quickly the dog receives medical attention.
In general, dogs who receive treatment immediately and don’t consume a lot of a hazardous chemical have a better chance of surviving. Dogs may require weeks or months to recover from different types of poisoning, and even then, some dogs may have irreversible organ damage.
What should I do if I think my dog has been poisoned?
When it comes to poisoning, time is of the utmost, therefore it is advisable to be on the safe side and act fast rather than waiting it out. If you see your dog taking in a known toxin, get medical advice. Consult a veterinarian right once if your dog is unresponsive or displaying poisoning signs.
If you think your dog may have ingested something harmful, take the following actions:
To find out if you need to bring your dog in, get in touch with your vet or an emergency clinic right away.
To avoid other animals from ingesting the toxin, put a tiny bit of it in a jar and take it to the vet with you. The rest should be carefully disposed of. Bring any ingredient lists or identification labels that are present.
If the vet advises at-home monitoring, be careful to keep a close eye on your pet and bring them in if they exhibit any worrying symptoms like collapse, difficulty walking, discolored gums, or excessive vomiting.
Unless specifically told to do so by a veterinary professional, never attempt to induce vomiting or give milk or activated charcoal to a pet because this could make the situation worse.
What are the symptoms of canine xylitol poisoning?
Display this flyer (PDF 1.3 MB) in local animal shelters, pet stores, and veterinary offices to help protect dogs.
The first sign of xylitol poisoning in dogs is vomiting, which is followed by signs of your dog’s blood sugar dropping suddenly, including decreased activity, weakness, stumbling, lack of coordination, collapse, and seizures.
Hartogensis suggests that you take your dog to your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away if you suspect that he has consumed xylitol. Your dog might need to be hospitalized for medical supervision since hypoglycemia and other significant adverse effects could take up to 12 to 24 hours to manifest in some situations.
What makes xylitol fatal to canines but not to people?
However, the possibility for toxicity has increased as xylitol started to replace sugar in grocery shops recently. Xylitol is completely safe for humans, but because dogs and cats have different metabolisms, it can be lethal.
