Category: Xylitol

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The Popular Sugar Substitute Xylitol Is Deadly Poison for Your Pets

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and is found in many food items, including sugar-free candies, puddings and even in some peanut butters. It is also used in mouthwash and toothpaste. Recently, the FDA reported that Xylitol is dangerous for dogs to ingest.

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Although xylitol is totally safe for humans, it causes a massive insulin dump from the pancreas into the bloodstream for dogs. This can cause them to have dangerously low blood sugar levels and other symptoms such as weakness, trembling and seizures.

This could happen if, for instance, your pup eats a packet of sugar-free gum.

If you think your dog has eaten a product containing xylitol, call your veterinarian or animal poison control center immediately.

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Gum is the most common source of xylitol poisoning in dogs, followed by “skinny” ice-cream. Poisonings can also occur when dog owners give their pets treats or medicine with a bit of peanut butter, so make sure to check the label on the jar before doing this.

To be clear: Xylitol does not have the same effect for people. People with diabetes often have it in bulk amounts at home to bake and sweeten with. Many homes contain store-bought products sweetened with xylitol, so, again, if you have a dog, be sure to check labels – especially if the product is branded as sugar-free or low-sugar.

Photo Credit: FDA

You don’t really have to worry about your cat because they aren’t big on sweet stuff. But your big, floppy doggo is always surfing for your gum, flavored toothpaste or box of “skinny” cookies. Put the yummies safely away – maybe with the chocolate – and, one more time, check labels before doling out the treats or meds.

The post The Popular Sugar Substitute Xylitol Is Deadly Poison for Your Pets appeared first on UberFacts.

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Grieving Dog Owner Warns Pet Parents About Toxic Sugar Substitute That Killed Her Best Friend

On most days, I love my job because of all the fun things I get to write about. Every now and then, however, are those stories that must be told, despite how heartbreaking they are. This is one such story, and while it brings me no pleasure to report it, it’s definitely the kind of thing that everyone needs to be made aware of.

A woman named Kate Chacksfield is trying to warn other pet owners out there that the sweetener xylitol can be fatal to pets. She found out in the worst possible way – her beloved dog Ruby passed away after eating brownies that contained xylitol.

Chacksfield said that Ruby had gotten into brownies before and the chocolate did not make the dog sick. But when Ruby ate two brownies containing xylitol she was extremely sick within 36 hours. Chacksfield said she would have taken Ruby to the vet much sooner if she knew xylitol was harmful to dogs.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that people use to try to lose weight. Chacksfield used it in her brownies because it has much fewer calories than sugar. She had no idea that xylitol can cause liver failure, seizures, and in some cases death for dogs that consume it.

After Chacksfield rushed Ruby to the vet, the poor dog’s condition quickly worsened. Eight days later, Ruby died. Chacksfield said, “I had no idea how serious eating natural sweeteners was for dogs, the photos of her on life support still make me cry.”

All you dog owners out there, take note. Keep xylitol and other harmful things away from your pets at all times. And if you notice something is wrong, take them to the vet immediately instead of waiting around a day or two to see if they improve.

The post Grieving Dog Owner Warns Pet Parents About Toxic Sugar Substitute That Killed Her Best Friend appeared first on UberFacts.