COMMUNITY ALERT
September 5, 2017
Contact:
Sarah Henry, City of Alameda, (510) 747-4714
John L. Lipp, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter, (510) 337-8560
Products Containing the Sugar Substitute Xylitol Can Lead to Serious Illness and Death in Dogs
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), when dogs eat something that contains xylitol, it gets absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream, and may result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas, which can be life threatening.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can be found in products including gum, chocolate, mints, baked goods, cough syrup, vitamins, mouthwash, toothpaste, and more.
Yesterday Benny, a 2-year-old dog that lives here in Alameda, ate a cupcake out of the compost that contained xylitol and passed away. While heartbroken, Benny’s family wants to make sure that other dog owners are aware of this poison.
“Keep a close eye on ingredient lists of household products! The sugar substitute xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs and being added to a longer and longer list of products including chewing gum, breath mints, peanut butter, and even nasal sprays. It's best to avoid xylitol completely and use other sugar substitutes. If you cannot avoid using products containing xylitol, then make absolutely sure they are stored safely out of reach of your pets,” stated Dr. Michael Miller at Providence Veterinary Hospital & Clinic in Alameda.
According to the FDA, symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, followed by symptoms associated with the sudden lowering of your dog’s blood sugar, such as decreased activity, weakness, staggering, incoordination, collapse and seizures. If you think your dog has eaten xylitol, take him to your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
For more information about xylitol and other pet poisons, please visit the Pet Poison Helpline:
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/theres-xylitol/
For a list of products that contain xylitol, please download this poster from the ASPCA:
http://aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/xylitol%20poster.pdf
The ASPCA has additional information on pet poisons here:
http://www.aspcapro.org/resource/hiding-places-pet-dangers-xylitol
“Benny”
Photo Credit: Zac Bowling
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm499988.htm
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