It’s been long known that regular chocolate can be poisonous to dogs but now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that an artificial sweetener could potentially kill dogs.
Xylitol, which is found in many foods and products from toothpaste and peanut butter to sugar-free chewing gum, has found to have devastating consequences if ingested by dogs.
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has encountered an increase in dogs being poisoned by the sweetener – even resulting in death. They issued a warning this week to the public urging people to keep products out of reach of their pets.
Although completely safe for humans, when ingested by a dog they experience a sudden rush of insulin which causes their blood sugar levels to become dangerously low. Symptoms could include vomiting and seizures that manifest within 24 hours.
“In people, xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas,” the FDA statement says. “However, it’s different in canines: When dogs eat something containing xylitol, the xylitol is more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, and may result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas.”
The FDA advise to check any food labels for Xylitol before feeding your dog anything other than dog food to lessen the chance of an incident.
“If you’re concerned about your dog eating a food or product with xylitol in it, check the label of ingredients,” Martine Hartogensis, a veterinarian at FDA, said. “If it does, indeed, say that it contains xylitol, make sure your pet can’t get to it.”