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| More Articles from The Vet's Office |
Xylitol - Sweet for You, but Toxic for Your Pup How important is it that you not feed your dog from the table? It has always been best not to let any animal eat from the table, but it is getting more important. We have known for a long time that does that are fed from the table are fatter than dogs dot given table scraps as treats. Many pets that get used to being fed from the table develop a taste for a certain food to the extent they will not eat other food. This causes nutrient imbalances and sickness and even death in the pet.
Xylitol has been show to increase bone strength in rats. It is available in granules to be substituted for sugar in home cooking as well as being used in sugarless gum and other purchased products. Xylitol is absorbed rapidly by dogs and causes an increase in insulin, thereby causing low blood sugar. It also causes damage to the liver. Signs of poisoning can sometimes be detected as soon as thirty minutes after the dog consumes it. In a recent report of xylitol intoxication, five of eight dogs either died or had to be euthanized. In a standard poodle (about the size of a border collie) intoxication was caused by as little as five or six cookies. If your dog does ingest a product containing xylitol, it needs to be made to vomit immediately, then watched by a professional and treated for damage done to other organs as they develop. This requires strict observation. Xylitol has not been proved to be toxic to cats or other pets, but neither has it been proven that it does not cause problems. Until research into the toxicity to other species is done, it is wise not to allow them to consume xylitol. Be careful what your animal eats. Foods that are good for humans are not necessarily good for them.
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article has been provided courtesy of Howard County Veterinary Service.
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