Something TOXIC Is Happening To Our Dogs' Peanut Butter: Check Your Labels

Something is happening with the peanut butter our dogs have loved for so long. For many years, we have shared our peanut butter with our dogs, stuffing it in kongs or giving them the jar when it’s empty so they can lick the sides out.

For many dogs, this is the ultimate treat but something has quietly been happening to peanut butter over in recent years. It’s not just peanut butter anymore. Many companies are adding something that isn’t just bad for dogs – it’s highly toxic. It’s xylitol. As food in America seems to somehow become more and more processed and the use of sugar substitutes becomes more common, companies are looking for ways to sweeten their products without sugar and many are turning to xylitol.

Peanut butter doesn’t really need sweetening in my opinion anyway, but that’s a whole other conversation. Xylitol can be found in toothpaste, candies, breath mints, baked goods, cough syrup, children’s chewable vitamins, mouthwash, and sugar-free gum. In recent years it has become much more popular and common. So much so that it has now also made its way into peanut butter too which means the peanut butter we have become so used to sharing with our furry friends – even the brands we have been buying for years – could now contain something that is highly toxic for dogs.

What issues does xylitol cause?

According to VCA Animal Hospitals, “Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure or even death in dogs.”

They go on to say, “In the past 5 years, Pet Poison Helpline, an animal poison control based out of Minneapolis, MN, has had over 1500 calls for xylitol poisoning, due to the growing awareness of this common kitchen toxin. In both humans and dogs, the level of blood sugar is controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. Xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas in humans. However, when non-primate species (e.g., a dog) eat something containing xylitol, the xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This rapid release of insulin results in a rapid and profound decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia), an effect that occurs within 10-60 minutes of eating the xylitol. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can be life-threatening.”

But how much does it take to be poisonous?

VCA Animal Hospitals says, “The dose of xylitol that can cause hypoglycemia in the dog has been reported between 50 milligrams (mg) of xylitol per pound of body weight (100 mg per kg). The higher the dose ingested, the more the risk of liver failure. The most common source of xylitol poisoning that Pet Poison Helpline gets called about comes from sugar-free gum. With certain brands of gum, only 9 pieces of gum can result in severe hypoglycemia in a 45 pound dog, while 45 pieces would need to be ingested to result in liver failure. With other common brands of gum (which contain 1 g/piece of gum), only 2 pieces would result in severe hypoglycemia, while 10 pieces can result in liver failure. As there is a large range of xylitol in each different brand and flavor of gum, it is important to identify whether a toxic amount has been ingested.

Intake of very high doses of xylitol (225mg/lb or 500 mg/kg body weight) has been implicated in liver failure in dogs.”

What to do if your dog eats xylitol

VCA Animal Hospitals caution pet parents to take immediate action if you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol. They advise, “If you suspect that your pet has eaten a xylitol-containing product, please contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) immediately.

Do not induce vomiting or give anything orally to your dog unless specifically directed to do so by your veterinarian. It is important to get treatment for your dog as quickly as possible. As some dogs may already be hypoglycemic, inducing vomiting can make them worse!”

Symptoms

VCA Animal Hosptials advises pet parents to watch out for a variety of symptoms. They say, “Symptoms of xylitol toxicity develop rapidly, usually within 15-30 minutes of consumption. Signs of hypoglycemia may include any or all of the following:

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Incoordination or difficulty walking or standing (walking like drunk)
• Depression or lethargy
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Coma

In severe cases, the dog may develop seizures or liver failure. Dogs that develop liver failure from xylitol poisoning often show signs of hypoglycemia.”

Prevention

The best thing you can do is prevent your fur kid from eating xylitol in the first place. Keep toothpaste, candies, breath mints, baked goods, cough syrup, children’s chewable vitamins, mouthwash, and sugar-free gum out of reach from your dog and stored securely. Before giving them peanut butter or any other human food, read the label carefully to make sure xylitol is not included as an ingredient.

In peanut butter, your best bet is a more natural variety with little to nothing else added to the peanuts. According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, “The toxicity of xylitol for cats and other species is not documented at this time, although there has been some concern that other non-primate species (e.g., cats, ferrets, etc.) may react to xylitol in a similar manner as dogs.”

Keep your fur kid safe and spread the word so our dogs can continue to enjoy peanut butter safely!

Feature Image Source: Flickr