Dog has eaten xylitol (sugar-free sweetener)
Xylitol causes life-threatening low blood sugar within minutes and liver failure within 24–72 hours — phone the vet immediately, even for tiny amounts.
Recognise the signs
- Witnessed eating, or evidence (chewed packaging, missing gum)
- Within 30 minutes: vomiting, weakness, wobbliness, trembling
- Collapse, seizures from low blood sugar
- 12–72 hours: jaundice, vomiting, lethargy from liver failure
- Black tarry stools (liver-related bleeding) in severe cases
First aid steps
- Phone the vet or Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 immediately.
- Note the product, brand, xylitol content if listed, and approximate amount.
- Note the time of ingestion.
- If the dog is wobbly, seizing, or collapsing, smear honey or golden syrup on the gums (not down the throat) — see dog-low-blood-sugar.
- Drive to the vet without delay.
- Bring the packaging.
Do NOT
- Do not wait to see if symptoms develop — xylitol is fast and a tiny amount can be fatal.
- Do not pour syrup down the throat of an unconscious dog.
- Do not give chocolate as a sugar boost — chocolate is itself toxic.
- Do not assume sugar-free peanut butter is safe — increasingly contains xylitol.
- Do not try to estimate dose at home and self-treat — vet input is essential.
While transporting to the vet
- Bring packaging or label.
- Phone ahead — emesis, IV glucose, and liver protection drugs will be prepared.
- Reapply gum sugar every 5–10 minutes if the dog remains weak.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Any known or suspected xylitol ingestion regardless of amount
- Wobbliness, weakness, vomiting
- Seizures or collapse
- Jaundice in the days after ingestion
Common causes
- Sugar-free chewing gum (commonest cause — gum contains very high xylitol)
- Sugar-free sweets, mints, and breath fresheners
- Sugar-free peanut butter (always check labels — increasingly common)
- Sugar-free baked goods, protein bars, and 'keto' products
- Some toothpastes, mouthwashes, and nasal sprays
- Sugar-free vitamins and gummies
- Some prescription medications (check with pharmacist)
What the vet will need to know
- Product name and brand
- Xylitol content listed on the label if available
- Approximate amount eaten
- Time of ingestion
- Dog's weight
- Current symptoms
- Any sugar already given on the gums
Aftercare
- Hospitalisation typically 24–72 hours minimum.
- IV glucose to maintain blood sugar.
- Liver protection drugs (S-adenosylmethionine, silymarin) and bloods.
- Repeat liver and clotting tests at 48–72 hours.
- Most dogs survive with prompt treatment; some develop persistent liver issues.
Prevention
- Read every product label — xylitol now appears in many surprising places.
- No sugar-free gum, sweets, or peanut butter accessible to dogs anywhere.
- Brief children and visitors — bag of gum left out is a common cause.
- Check toothpaste labels; never give human toothpaste to dogs.
- Use only dog-specific peanut butter for treats and Kongs.
Breed-specific notes
- Small dogs at highest relative risk by weight — a couple of pieces of gum can kill a 5kg dog.
- Older dogs with pre-existing liver disease at higher risk of severe hepatic effects.
Frequently asked questions
How much xylitol is dangerous?
Very small amounts. Hypoglycaemia can occur from roughly 0.1g per kg of dog (a single piece of gum can contain 1g of xylitol or more). Liver failure threshold is roughly 0.5g per kg. A pack of sugar-free gum contains enough xylitol to kill a small dog. Treat all known ingestion as emergency.
Is xylitol in all sugar-free products?
No, but increasingly many. Other sugar-free sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, stevia, erythritol) are not toxic in the same way, but xylitol is widely used and labels can be ambiguous. When in doubt, treat as xylitol exposure and phone the vet.
What if my dog ate sugar-free peanut butter from a Kong?
Read the label. If xylitol is listed, treat as emergency immediately, regardless of how much was in the Kong. Many popular peanut butter brands have introduced sugar-free versions; always check before buying for dogs and keep a 'dog jar' clearly labelled.