Protect Your Pup! Beware of Artificial Sweeteners

We often love sharing our treats with our four legged friends, but not all human treats are Fido friendly. In fact many foods labeled sugar free can be deadly for dogs.  Xylitol is an ingredient found in many sugarless foods such as candy, breath mints and gum.  In fact, one stick of sugarless gum containing Xylitol can sicken an 80-pound dog within minutes and could be fatal for a smaller dog.

 

In 2008, there were more than 4,000 cases of dogs poisoned by Xylitol.  While Xylitol might not affect the blood sugar levels in humans, it causes liver failure and a sudden drop in blood sugar levels in dogs, and without immediate medical attention Xylitol poisoning is almost always fatal to pets.

 

When asked about the dangers of artificial sweeteners, Dr. Ashley Hughes DVM, of Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington DC said, “We frequently have a dog come in that vomits up an entire pack of gum with wrappers still on each piece.  Xylitol toxicity usually requires hospitalization so we can closely monitor the blood glucose and liver values.   If any changes are noted we can then address them with fluids and medications.” Friendship Hospital for animals estimates that it sees at least a couple cases of Xylitol poisoning each month.

 

The best way to keep your pet healthy and happy is to keep him on a steady diet of dog food, accompanied by exercise and lots of love.  If you believe your pet may have ingested a product containing Xylitol, you should not wait until they show signs of illness; you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

 

The Washington Humane Society is committed to protecting animals in every way possible. If you would like to help us continue to be on the front line of animal care and protection please donate today.

Comments

[Mike]

Ah, thank you for this information.

[table pads]

Even i myself take a serious care about this matter for my loved pet.We should always make sure that what food we feed our pet should be very much helpful and nutritious for them and most important it should be harmful. These days e do have some stuffs available in the market which we can feed them according to our pets requirement, which again helps our pets growth and development.