Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Xylitol toxicosis in dogs.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Murphy, Lisa A & Coleman, Adrienne E
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathobiology · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Xylitol is a sweetener found in many products like gum, candy, and baked goods, but it can be very dangerous for dogs. When dogs eat xylitol, it can cause their bodies to release too much insulin, which can lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels. This can sometimes result in serious liver problems and issues with blood clotting. If a dog experiences low blood sugar without any other complications, the chances of recovery are usually good if they receive quick and thorough veterinary treatment.
Abstract
The sugar alcohol xylitol is a popular sweetener used in gums, candies, and baked goods. While xylitol has a wide margin of safety in people and most mammalian species, when ingested by dogs it is believed to stimulate excessive insulin secretion leading to severe hypoglycemia, potentially followed by acute hepatic failure and coagulopathies. Additional clinical findings may include thrombocytopenia, hypokalemia, and hyperphosphatemia. The prognosis for recovery in dogs that develop uncomplicated hypoglycemia is generally good with prompt and aggressive veterinary care.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22381181/