Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs

Payton is a one year old German Shorthaired Pointer with a sweet tooth that got her in trouble over the Thanksgiving holiday. While visiting her dad’s home she got onto the kitchen counter and binged on a batch of cookies made with a cup of the sugar substitute Xylitol. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sweetener in gums and candies, may also be used as a granulated powder sugar substitute for homemade baked goods in homes with diabetics or low-carbohydrate dieters. Normally safe in low quantities, it can be extremely toxic when ingested in large volumes.

As most dog owners know, dogs don’t always know when to say ‘enough already’ when it comes to people food, especially when it is being pilfered form the kitchen counter. In this case Payton ate the entire couple dozen or so cookies all at one time. In large quantities, Xylitol is toxic and causes lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea. When Payton’s dad, Bob Marsh, got home and saw the cookies missing he didn’t suspect a problem until 7 hours later when Payton began vomiting. The vomiting continued and with Payton becoming lethargic, it was time to visit the local veterinary emergency hospital. The emergency staff was well aware of the potential for Xylitol toxicity as they had seen cases before where dogs got into multiple packs of chewing gum or baked goods sweetened with Xylitol. Payton’s blood was tested, as ironically Xylitol overdose can result in severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). More importantly Xylitol can also result in severe liver toxicity with the potential to cause irreversible liver failure. [As a side note: studies of long-term and short-term Xylitol administration in rats did not reveal substantial liver pathology] In Payton’s case, blood serum liver values were extremely high and she was hospitalized for fluid therapy and medicines to help the liver heal. She responded well to treatment and was sent home 24 hours later with follow-up medication.

Luckily the liver has a great capacity to heal itself after such an insult, and in Payton’s case the liver values began to come down when reevaluated 5 days later after returning to Virginia. Payton is lucky! The dose she ingested was not high enough to cause permanent liver necrosis and she is on the mend. We wanted all our clients to be aware of this emerging toxicity as the use of Xylitol as a substitute sweetener increases