9/8/2011
by:
Sydney Animal Hospitals
A nine-month-old male labrador retriver was presented to the vets after ingestion of a large amount of sugar-free chewing gum.
The gum contained the artificial sweetner xylitol. The patient was collapsed and having seizures. On examination of blood results, the patient was found to be profoundly hypoglycemic (low blood sugar). This was causing the weakness and seizures.
Xylitol has no effect of glucose or insulin levels in humans. In dogs, however, the xylitol stimulates a strong insulin release. This acts to reduce blood sugar levels. If enough of xylitol-containing product is ingested, the patient is at risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia.
In the retriever's case, he was given intravenous glucose in hospital over a 24-hour period and made a full recovery. There are a lot of diet low calorie products on your supermarket shelves that contain xylitol. These should not be given to your pets.
This case was reported by the ASPCA Animal Poisons Center in Illinois in the US.
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