Xylitol is a sugar alcohol sweetener used in sugar-free gum, mints, candy, baked goods, toothpaste, mouthwash, chewable vitamins, and some peanut butters. It may also appear on labels as birch sugar, wood sugar, or sugar alcohol blends. The ingredient tastes sweet but behaves very differently in pet metabolism.
In susceptible pets, xylitol may trigger a rapid insulin release that causes severe hypoglycemia within a short time. Larger exposures may also cause liver injury. Because products vary widely in concentration, even small pieces of gum or a spoonful of sweetened spread may be dangerous.
For pets, treat any suspected xylitol ingestion as an emergency. Do not wait for symptoms before calling a veterinarian or poison hotline. Store all sugar-free products in closed cabinets and check labels before sharing human foods.
