Xylitol is one of those ingredients in food that is completely harmless for humans but represents a potentially fatal hazard for dogs. In the following you will find out exactly what xylitol is and why your dog should not eat it under any circumstances.
Xylitol is a so-called sugar substitute. The sweetener is found in numerous foods. It is primarily extracted from scraps of vegetables such as corn on the cob. In addition, xylitol can be obtained from deciduous trees such as birch trees. Therefore the sugar substitute is also known as birch sugar.
Xylitol has the great advantage that it is just as sweet as normal sugar, but at the same time is significantly lower in calories. For this reason, the sweetener is particularly valued by health-conscious people. Additionally, some research suggests that birch sugar can help remove plaque. This property makes xylitol an interesting ingredient for various dental care products.
As you probably know, consuming sugar causes your blood sugar levels to rise and the body to release insulin. The insulin produced in the pancreas ensures that the glucose in the blood is transported to the cells and the blood sugar level drops again. It is no different with your four-legged friend, because even in dogs, insulin regulates the blood sugar level.
If food contains xylitol instead of sugar, this has no effect on the release of insulin in humans. However, it is different with dogs. If the animals consume xylitol, large amounts of insulin are released immediately. As a result, the dog's blood sugar level drops sharply within a very short time and the animal suffers from hypoglycaemia. It often takes just one hour for dogs to develop hypoglycaemia after ingesting birch sugar. If left untreated, it can lead to severe liver damage and even fatal liver failure.
The lethal dose in dogs is usually between three and four grams of xylitol per kilogram of body weight. Occasionally, however, significantly lower doses of birch sugar can be life-threatening and cause hypoglycaemia in dogs.
Regardless of this, of course, the more xylitol a dog consumes in relation to its weight, the greater the likelihood of life-threatening poisoning and permanent damage.
Xylitol poisoning is very dangerous for dogs and can be fatal in the worst case. As the owner, you should therefore make absolutely sure that your four-legged friend has no access to products that contain birch sugar.
By doing without the corresponding products yourself and therefore not having them in your house, you are on the safe side. If you do not want to refrain from birch sugar, at least make sure that there are no xylitol-containing foods within reach of the dog, so that it cannot eat them in an unobserved moment.
Apart from that, you should not give your dog anything to eat if you are unsure about the ingredients or their safety for your four-legged friend.
Apart from that, xylitol is also available on its own as a figure-friendly alternative to sugar to sweeten dishes.
After a dog consumes birch sugar, it takes between half an hour and half a day before the hypoglycaemia that is triggered becomes apparent and the first symptoms of xylitol-poisoning appear.
Typical signs of hypoglycaemia include impaired coordination, vomiting, seizures and tremors, as well as lethargy and loss of consciousness.
Xylitol poisoning or more precisely hypoglycaemia is always an emergency in dogs that requires professional treatment by a veterinarian. Under no circumstances should you try to get your four-legged friend back on their feet yourself with first aid measures and instead go straight to the vet when your dog has consumed xylitol. It is best to inform them before you arrive so that your dog will be treated as soon as possible.
Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the time that has passed since the birch sugar was consumed, the vet may induce vomiting in your dog, so that no more birch sugar can get into its system. If your dog has not consumed too much birch sugar and it has not been consumed more than an hour ago, hypoglycaemia can often still be prevented in this way.
However, if your dog has consumed a large amount of xylitol or it was a long time ago, you have to assume that an inpatient admission of the four-legged friend is necessary. Your dog will be given a solution containing glucose to help stabilize blood sugar levels. It will also receive antioxidants and a liver-protecting agent to prevent damage to the liver.
As you now know, the supposedly harmless birch sugar actually represents a serious health risk for dogs. Therefore, even small amounts of xylitol have no place in the food bowl. It is best to completely avoid buying foods that contain the sugar substitute or at least make sure to store them in such a way that your four-legged friend cannot reach them.
If your dog accidentally ingests xylitol, an immediate visit to the vet will help to get the associated consequences under control and to counteract the hypoglycaemia.
