It is a natural alcohol that we found in plants ( fruits and vegetables). It is used as a substituent for sugar in "sugar-free" products like mints, chewing gums, and candies. According to the web webmd.com..." People use xylitol to prevent cavities...to prevent tooth plaque and ear infection".
We can find Xylitol in "peanut butter", which is delicious for dogs, baked goods, drink powders, candy, pudding, ketchup, barbecue sauces, and pancake syrup.
According to Vcacanada.com..." the xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This rapid release of insulin causes a profound drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), an effect that can occur as quickly as 10-60 minutes after ingestion. If untreated, hypoglycemia can be life-threatening."
There is no exact dosage that dogs need to ingest in order to be dangerous, lower doses of Xylitol may cause hypoglycemia but higher doses may cause liver failure.
The symptoms of Xylitol intoxication are vomiting, weakness, lack of coordination or difficulty walking or standing, weakness or lethargy, tremors, seizures, liver failure, or coma.
In case of intoxication, owners should not induce any vomiting and the dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, so it can be treated. The prognosis is good when the dog is treated before clinical signs appear.
In order to prevent intoxication to your dog, we strongly suggest keeping those products safe and away from your dogs, and follow always the dosage prescribed by the Veterinarian when using Gabapentin or mouthwashes for your dogs.
Sources:
XYLITOL: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews. (s. f.). WebMD. Recuperado 30 de octubre de 2021, de https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-996/xylitol
Southtowns Animal Hospital. (2018, 24 enero). Be Aware of Xylitol in Common Products. Recuperado 30 de octubre de 2021, de https://southtownsanimalhospital.com/uncategorized/aware-xylitol-common-products/
VCA CANADA. (s. f.). Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs. Vca_canada_corporate. Recuperado 30 de octubre de 2021, de https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/xylitol-toxicity-in-dogs