Can dogs eat xylitol (birch sugar)?
A veterinary emergency. Xylitol causes a dog's pancreas to dump insulin, and blood sugar can crash within 10–30 minutes. Phone a vet before you read anything else on this page.
Call now
- +1 (888) 426-4435ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center · US · 24/7. A consultation fee applies.
- +1 (855) 764-7661Pet Poison Helpline · US · 24/7. A consultation fee applies.
- 01202 509000Animal PoisonLine · UK · 24/7. Lower cost than a direct vet call.
- 1300 869 738Animal Poisons Centre · AU · 24/7, free for the public.
Do not wait for symptoms and do not try to make your dog sick unless a vet has told you to — some substances cause more damage coming back up. Have your dog's weight, what was eaten, roughly how much, and when, ready before you call.
What to do
Call a vet or a poison line immediately and say the word xylitol. Do not wait for signs — by the time a dog is staggering, blood glucose is already dangerously low. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to. If the dog is conscious and the vet agrees, rubbing a little honey or syrup on the gums can buy time on the way in.
Signs to watch for
- vomiting
- weakness and staggering
- collapse
- tremors
- seizures
- jaundice (later, with liver injury)
When: 10–30 minutes for hypoglycaemia, though extended-release gum bases can delay it up to 12 hours. Liver injury typically appears at 24–72 hours.
What makes it harmful
Xylitol, a five-carbon sugar alcohol
In dogs — but not in humans — xylitol is a powerful stimulus for insulin release from the pancreas. The resulting insulin surge strips glucose from the blood and causes profound hypoglycaemia. At higher doses it also causes acute hepatic necrosis by a mechanism that is still not fully understood.
How much matters
Also check for
- peanut butter
- gum
- toothpaste
- sugar-free baked goods
- protein bars
- mints
- some liquid medications
How confident is this
established
Well established in the veterinary literature and consistent across sources.
- Dunayer EK, Gwaltney-Brant SM. Acute hepatic failure and coagulopathy associated with xylitol ingestion in eight dogs. JAVMA 2006;229(7):1113-7.
- Murphy LA, Coleman AE. Xylitol toxicosis in dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2012;42(2):307-12.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Further reading
Check another food
Informational only, and not a substitute for veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and this page cannot account for your dog's age, size, health conditions or medication. If you are worried, phone a vet — that call is always the right call.