I'm a registered dietitian and received this in an e-mail from Today's Dietitian, thought I'd pass it on here to you.
Sugar Substitute May Be Dangerous to Dogs
While veterinarians have suspected that the sugar substitute xylitol can make dogs sick, there is now further clinical evidence of an association between the product and possible liver failure in dogs.
A clinical report that appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association discusses the sometimes-fatal conditions developed by dogs that have ingested xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener found in many sugar-free products.
"The potential for severe illness is very high," says veterinary toxicologist Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, who along with veterinarian Eric K. Dunayer, coauthored the report.
In the report, Dunayer and Gwaltney-Brant of the Animal Poison Control enter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Urbana, Ill., gathered information on eight dogs treated between 2003 and 2005 after eating products containing xylitol. Each dog became ill, and while three of the dogs survived, five of the pets either died or had to be euthanized because of liver failure.
Gwaltney-Brant says three additional dogs that ingested xylitol after the study was conducted either died or had to be euthanized after becoming ill due to liver failure.
The number of xylitol-related pet exposures is rising. Reported xylitol exposures climbed from 70 in 2004 to 170 in 2005. As of August, the Poison Control Center reported 114 cases of xylitol exposure in 2006.
Further studies need to be conducted to establish a direct link between xylitol ingestion by dogs and liver damage.
— Source: American Veterinary Medical Association
Sugar Substitute May Be Dangerous to Dogs
While veterinarians have suspected that the sugar substitute xylitol can make dogs sick, there is now further clinical evidence of an association between the product and possible liver failure in dogs.
A clinical report that appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association discusses the sometimes-fatal conditions developed by dogs that have ingested xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener found in many sugar-free products.
"The potential for severe illness is very high," says veterinary toxicologist Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, who along with veterinarian Eric K. Dunayer, coauthored the report.
In the report, Dunayer and Gwaltney-Brant of the Animal Poison Control enter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Urbana, Ill., gathered information on eight dogs treated between 2003 and 2005 after eating products containing xylitol. Each dog became ill, and while three of the dogs survived, five of the pets either died or had to be euthanized because of liver failure.
Gwaltney-Brant says three additional dogs that ingested xylitol after the study was conducted either died or had to be euthanized after becoming ill due to liver failure.
The number of xylitol-related pet exposures is rising. Reported xylitol exposures climbed from 70 in 2004 to 170 in 2005. As of August, the Poison Control Center reported 114 cases of xylitol exposure in 2006.
Further studies need to be conducted to establish a direct link between xylitol ingestion by dogs and liver damage.
— Source: American Veterinary Medical Association
