A mischievous 2 year-old Shipoo (Shitzu-Poodle) named Cosmo recently got into a pack of Trident gum. But, what is safe and innocuous to humans is toxic and potentially fatal to dogs. Cosmo spent three days in the animal hospital on IV dextrose with blood tests every six hours, and was in danger of developing hypoglycemia, low potassium levels and an idiopathic liver necrosis. Fortunately, this pooch had no lasting ill-effects. It turns out that Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, is toxic to dogs. This is not a well-known problem, and veterinary journals are only beginning to document the serious danger this presents.
Artificial sweeteners have been used for years and over that time many new variations have been developed. Sorbitol is another artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, toothpastes, cough medicines, diet foods, diet drinks and ice cream. Although they are considered to be safe in “normal” doses, excessive use can lead to irritable bowel syndrome in humans. The British Medical Journal recently cited two cases where patients experienced sudden weight loss, bloating, diarrhea and gastrointestinal pain. Both individuals had high sorbitol levels and admitted to chewing 15-20 sticks of gum per day.
The use of sugar-free gum/foods is still an effective way to reduce sugar intake and the incidence of tooth decay, when used or consumed in moderation. Xylitol-containing chewing gums are even showing some promising evidence that they may reduce the incidence of dental cavities. It is urged, however, to refrain from giving pets any products containing xylitol or sorbitol and to store such products out of reach of pets.
Tags: 11570, artificial sweeteners, diabetes, dogs, hypoglycemia, irritable bowel syndrome, pet health, sorbitol, sugarless gum, xylitol