Health for Dogs: Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in some fruits. It is also found in corn and is extracted primarily from corn for commercial use. What makes it different from other sweeteners is that it is a sugar alcohol, most easily figured out by its -ol suffix. Other sugars will have the typical -ose suffix. Welcome to the world of organic chemistry. People can most commonly find it in sugar-free gum like Orbit.

I'll admit I enjoy a piece of gum now and then. Actually, I quit chewing since the chewing action tightened my TMJ which triggered headaches. Since going gluten-free though I've been able to chew lightly (and occasionally heavily while coaching) and have not gotten headaches. Unfortunately my dog Pumpkin also enjoys Orbit and enough so to eat an entire pack of it. Uh oh.

There are two levels of xylitol poisoning in dogs. The lower level kicks in at 100mg/kg and shows hypoglycemia (a rapid drop in blood sugar) sometimes resulting in death. The second level kicks in around 500mg/kg and results in liver failure. So once realized that Punky (that's what I call her) ingested this gum, Papa Doc and I needed to induce vomiting. How did we do this? With hydrogen peroxide. Two and a half table spoons later she let 'em rip in about seven different spots on the floor.

Now for safe measures we took her to the emergency clinic overnight but there are a couple morals to learn from this story.

1) If you own a pet, know what foods are bad for them: There are many for dogs including chocolate and grapes.

2) Induce vomiting when needed: This can be used in many situations including alcohol poisoning in humans. Though I wouldn't recommend ingesting hydrogen peroxide. They do sell ipecac for this purpose. Remember, it's better to clean up vomit than lose a life.

3) If you have a dog, watch what you leave out: See above. Also see Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card and torn to shreds in about 1992.

I am happy to report that Punky was ok. Also, her picture was taken since the hospital wanted it for the website.



Pumpkin (left) and Daisy (right). Call them Punky and Doo Bug for short.