Operations News – September 2024
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
This famous Shakespeare quote implies that the name of a thing does not alter its essence. While this is a true statement, it is evident that Shakespeare had not encountered any ingredient or flavoring specialists and witnessed the devious tactics some of them employ. Sadly, attempts to hide ingredients and confuse customers are common practices in the food industry. Let’s talk about one of them.
Xylitol is a fairly common ingredient that is deadly to our hounds and doesn’t take much. Dogs that ingest doses of >0.1 g/kg of Xylitol are at risk for developing hypoglycemia, while dogs that ingest >0.5 g/kg may develop acute liver failure. A single stick of sugar-free gum contains anywhere between 0.22 and 1.0 grams of Xylitol per piece! If one stick of gum is anywhere from 0.22-1 gram, just three sticks of gum could cause a large dog to develop severe complications. Anything above that could lead to liver failure and death.
What’s in a name — Xylitol is labeled as many things. Some common ones are:
Birch Sugar
Birch Bark Extract
Kabocha Extract (made from Kabocha pumpkins)
Pentahydric alcohol
Penta-hydroxy
Pentane
Sucre de Bouleau
Wood Extract
Xilitol
Xylit
Xylite
Xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol
Xylitol may be listed as an ingredient, or it may be listed under “other ingredients,” “inactive ingredients” or “supplement facts.” Check those labels!
Where is it hiding?
Sugar-free foods are often sweetened with Xylitol, so never give them to your hound, even if he needs to lose a pound. Sweetened yogurts may also contain Xylitol, so if you include yogurt in your dog’s diet, make sure it is plain, whole milk and organic. Peanut butter and ice cream often include Xylitol in their recipes. Peanut butter ingredients should say Peanuts only. Check the labels on the vitamins you add to your hound’s diet. Yes, some contain Xylitol. Other sources of this deadly ingredient can be found in toothpaste, mouthwash, nasal sprays, deodorants and makeup products, to name a few. Check personal care items for Xylitol; do not leave them accessible for your pets to grab and chew.
What do I do if my hound accidentally ingested Xylitol?
If you suspect your dog has eaten a Xylitol-containing product, please immediately contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center, at 1-800-213-6680.
Do not induce vomiting or give your dog anything orally unless specifically directed to do so by your veterinarian. It is important to get treatment for your dog as quickly as possible. As some dogs may already be hypoglycemic, inducing vomiting can worsen clinical signs.
What are the signs of Xylitol poisoning?
Initial signs of Xylitol poisoning are typically due to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and can develop within an hour of consumption. Signs of low blood sugar may include any or all of the following:
Vomiting
Weakness
Lack of coordination or difficulty walking or standing
Weakness/sluggishness or lethargy
Tremors
Seizures
Coma
In severe cases, the dog may develop seizures or liver failure. Dogs that develop liver failure from Xylitol poisoning may or may not show signs of hypoglycemia first.
Keep them safe, keep them healthy!
Always moving forward,
Nancy
Nancy Lynberg is Operations Director of Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption and can be reached at nancy@sagreys.org.