By Kelly Might

Redstone Review

LONGMONT – What do onions, garlic, tomatoes, avocados, grapes, raisins, chocolate and macadamia nuts all have in common? They can all be toxic to dogs.  Some of these common toxins are all too familiar to some pet owners.  Now you can add another one to the list – xylitol. Xylitol is a common sweetener in sugar-free gums, candy, baked goods, toothpastes and mouthwashes. Xylitol ingestion by dogs can lead to gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms including vomiting, weakness, ataxia, and seizures.  In addition, low blood potassium and low blood glucose may be seen. Most serious, xylitol can lead to liver failure in dogs. Xylitol toxicity in cats has not been established.

What is the toxic dose of xylitol? As little as a half-stick of sugar-free gum per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of your pet’s body weight has been shown to cause low blood glucose. The toxic dose for liver failure is unknown.

How fast is the onset of clinical signs? Clinical signs may occur as quickly as 15 minutes after ingestion; however, changes on blood work may take as long as 12 hours to occur.

What do I do if I think my dog has ingested xylitol? The first step is to call or visit your regular veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital. The veterinarian will evaluate the situation and determine the appropriate route of therapy to follow. Treatment can consist of close monitoring of blood work to make sure there are no changes in blood glucose or potassium levels and to make sure liver values do not elevate. Additionally, if the ingestion was recent, vomiting may be beneficial to help prevent the absorption of any xylitol left in the stomach.  Intravenous fluids, potassium, and glucose supplementation also may be required.

What is the prognosis? As with most toxins, clinical signs are dose related. If there are only mild changes associated with blood work, the prognosis for a full recovery is good. However, if liver disease occurs, the prognosis can become much worse.

During this holiday season when pets may not get the attention they are used to or are in others’ care while you take a much needed vacation, be sure to provide a safe environment and educate pet sitters on the dangers of xylitol. Check the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ web site at www.aspca.org for potential pet toxins, and check out our web site for common diseases that can affect pets at www.AspenMeadowVet.com.

Kelly Might is a veterinarian, D.V.M., at Aspen Meadow Veterinary Specialists in Longmont. AMVS is a 24-hour veterinary facility providing specialty internal medicine, surgery, emergency and critical care, physical rehabilitation, pain management, and blood bank services for pets. They are located in Longmont at 104 S. Main St. For more information, go to www.AspenMeadowVet.com.

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