Valle Cental Emergency Veterinary Hospital

Now that Valentine's Day has passed and Easter is approaching I thought it would be a good time to talk about a very dangerous toxin we are seeing with increasing frequency.  When given the chance, most dogs will eat things that taste good, whether they are good for them or not.  Most people know that dogs and cats shouldn't eat chocolate but are not as familiar with the sweetener, xylitol. Xylitol is present in many sugar free gum and baking products.  At this time, we do not believe that cats are sensitive to this ingredient.  If your dog eats sugar free gum or products with low sugar and artificial sweeteners, bring them to your vet or an ER right away.  A small amount of this ingredient can cause a severe drop in the blood sugar and ultimately liver failure and death.  If you are concerned and have questions about this you can read about more about xylitol or call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435.