Toxic Xylitol Now In Peanut Butter
Thousands of dogs each year are poisoned with xylitol.
Xylitol is described as a sugar alcohol used in many products, including sugar-free baked goods, candy, oral hygiene products and chewing gum.
It is the second most common ingredient that is poisoning our dogs – a ‘sugar substitute’. Not only is it found in sugar free gum, it is also in veterinary dog mouthwashes, and now peanut butter.
Xylitol is now also found in several specialty peanut and nut butter brands. Nuts ‘n More, Krush Nutrition and P-28 Foods all make peanut butter and nut-based spreads containing the ingredient.
Effects of Xylitol
1. Hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar)
In the canine body, the pancreas confuses xylitol with real sugar. The result is that blood sugar levels rapidly drop resulting in weakness, disorientation, tremors, and potentially seizures.
It only takes a few sticks of gums. A 10 lb dog could be poisoned by as little as a stick and a half of gum.
Symptoms typically begin within 30 minutes and can last for more than 12 hours. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.
2. Liver Damage ( Hepatic necrosis)
In this case much more gum is ingested (APPROX 10 TIMES the amount to cause hypoglycemia). A 10lb dog would be required to ingest an entire pack of gum.
There is actual destruction of liver tissue.
Signs take longer to show up (typically 8-12 hours) and not all dogs that have liver damage ( hepatic necrosis), will have experienced hypoglycemia first.
In some cases there is only mild signs, while with other dogs, a complete and acute liver failure can result with death following. Internal hemorrhage and inability of blood to clot is commonly involved.
Treatment
The ideal treatment is inducing vomiting after consumption, within 30 minutes. After that time, treatment involves supportive care, IV fluids.
What to Do?
1. Inform other dog owners- many of us use peanut butter in training, to stick into Kong Toys, or in treats. You MUST read the label.
2. Be aware of the signs of xylitol toxicity.
3. AVOID anything which could contain xylitol, including the so called ‘safe’ sugar free dog dental rinses of Aquadent® by Virbac, Breathalyser Plus® from Ceva
4. Let companies KNOW that you disprove of this toxic artificial sweetener- don’t purchase their products, and send them emails.
5. TRY so many of the safer, natural alternatives instead.
This is a GREAT way to start..
http://www.amazon.com/Veterinary-Secrets-Natural-Health-Dogs/dp/1494928140
Best Wishes,
Andrew Jones, DVM
It has become necessary to read every label on every product whether it is for humans or animals. The people in the food industry don’t care if they poison people or animals as long as their products “taste” good. High Fructose Syrup, corn syrup, etc. is in everything. I feed my dog food my son-in-law makes from turkey, chicken, rice, barley, green beans, peas, etc. etc., grinds up the bones. They are chihuahuas and they love it.
I couldn’t agree more about reading labels—it’s one of the best habits we can have! Homemade diets can be a great option too, but it’s important to make sure they’re complete and balanced for long-term feeding. And yes, always double-check that treats like peanut butter are xylitol-free before sharing them with your pup. Your Chihuahuas sound like happy little taste-testers!
My vet gave me a bottle of Virbac to add to my dogs water. I read the ingredients when I got home and already knew the dangers of xylitol. I never used it. Makes me furious that they would make these products for our pets. Most people wouldn’t know.Thanks Dr. Jones for getting the word out!
Thanks for helping spread the word! Reading the label before using any product is always a smart move. Xylitol is toxic to dogs, so it’s important to be aware of where it may be hiding. The good news is there are plenty of safe alternatives to help keep your dog’s teeth and breath healthy.
Yes, we need to read labels. I always have for my dogs and myself. The first 5 ingredients should be legible…usually they’re not. I don’t like peanut butter, never have, nor have I ever given it to my dogs. Stay away from food made in China or bones. I buy ‘Origin dog food’ for my dogs which is made in beautiful British Columbia. Main ingredients consist of:
Whole salmon*, whole herring*, salmon meal, herring meal, Pollock meal, whole flounder*, boneless walleye*, boneless northern pike*, boneless lake whitefish*, salmon oil, herring oil, chickpeas, red lentils, green lentils, green peas, pea fiber, canola oil, sun-cured alfalfa, yams*, pumpkin*, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp*, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium.
*Fresh & Preservative Free
Supplements: Vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, ribo?avin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast.
***We believe that pet lovers want to know where their pet’s food comes from. So we focus on local ingredients raised by people we trust, and delivered to our kitchens fresh each day.
That’s why we focus on ingredients that are sustainably raised within our region by people we know and trust, approved “fit for human consumption,” and then delivered to our kitchens authentically fresh each day. NO OTHER DOG FOOD can match Orijen’s fresh local ingredients
Copied above straight from their label…
Thanks for sharing! Reading labels is one of the best things you can do for your pets. Orijen uses high-quality ingredients and has been a popular choice for many pet owners. The most important thing is choosing a diet that is complete and balanced, works well for your individual dog, and checking every label for ingredients you want to avoid—especially hidden xylitol in treats and other products. Give your pups a pat from me!
When it first became known (about 15 years ago!) that some manufacturers were adding melamine to baby food and animal food I decided that the safest way to feed my family, including the pets, was to make the food myself. I prepare food very similar to what Betty Lou described above but I also add Ultimate Canine and Ultimate Feline supplements to their food to make sure they get the proper nutrients. One of the meals I make for my dog uses lean hamburger and my granddaughter loves this recipe, all fresh veggies, rice and meat and no reason why she cannot eat it too! 🙂
All I can say is read your labels … so many contents are not good for any living creature!
I love your approach! Fresh, wholesome ingredients are a great foundation, and adding a complete supplement can help ensure homemade diets are nutritionally balanced for dogs and cats. And you’re absolutely right—reading labels is one of the simplest ways to help keep our furry family members safe. Give everyone, including your granddaughter, a high-five from me!
As a mother of a child with severe allergies I got used to reading and decoding (yes decoding, it’s still an allergen even if it’s called another name or given a number) ingredient labels, it became a habit that continues to this day, long after that child has left to rear her own family.
I choose not to feed my companions anything that I wouldn’t eat, so I continue to cook for them just as I did for my human family. I even check products given at the veterinary clinic to which I take my companions…there are quite a lot of ingredients that aren’t healthy for dogs in everything, even high priced dog food. The only way one can be sure that it’s not added is to cook everything from scratch, not even using ‘handy’ prepared bases or sauces.
What a wonderful habit you’ve developed. Reading labels really is one of the best ways to protect both our families and our pets. Home-prepared meals can be an excellent choice too—just be sure they’re complete and balanced for your dog’s or cat’s nutritional needs. Thanks for sharing your experience, and give your furry family a hug from me!
is xylitol safe for other animals -squirrels, raccoons, birds – i see people often feed PB to these animals esp. in winter…thanks !
Great question! The biggest concern with xylitol is dogs, where it can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar and, in some cases, liver failure. For wildlife like squirrels, raccoons, and birds, there isn’t enough research to know that it’s safe. My advice is simple: don’t offer any peanut butter or food containing xylitol to any animal. It’s always best to choose plain, xylitol-free peanut butter if you’re feeding wildlife or making treats.
Thanks for posting this information, Dr. Jones! I have linked to it on my sister’s website, http://www.flickennel.com. We are always looking for articles like this to educate our customers and other interested readers. I find it astounding how many pet products contain xylitol, tea tree oil and permethrin, toxic to either dogs or cats, or both. Thank you for helping us educate and help other pet lovers!
Thanks so much for sharing the article and helping spread the word! The more pet parents know about hidden toxins like xylitol, the safer our furry friends will be. Education really is one of the best forms of prevention. Thanks for being an advocate for pets!
I wrote to Virbac when I wrote GSD Breed Notes for Dog World and asked if they knew how dangerous Xylitol is to dogs and cats. Their reply stunned me. The amount they use is minimal so would be of no cause for concern. REALLY????
Thanks for sharing. Even small amounts of xylitol can be dangerous for some dogs, depending on their size and how much is ingested. That’s why I always recommend playing it safe, if a product contains xylitol, I avoid it for dogs altogether. When in doubt, choose a xylitol-free alternative.
The reality is that Virbac conducted internal studies on this product with an animal facility in Australia under a staff toxicologist. The study showed that the product is not at all effective but also can be toxic to dogs and cats. Virbac, I guess ignored those studies and may have even destroyed the study!!
Thanks for sharing your concerns. I haven’t seen credible, publicly available evidence confirming those claims. My advice is always to rely on published evidence and the known risks. What we do know is that xylitol is toxic to dogs, so I recommend avoiding products that contain it and choosing safer alternatives whenever possible. Keeping our pets safe is always the goal.