Incidents of accidental dog poisoning are rising in the United States, and the culprit - a sweetener called xylitol - is very toxic and can even lead to a dog's death.
Veterinary toxicologist Dr. Ahna Brutlag from the Pet Poison Helpline reported that there were more than 2,800 calls to their center this year concerning cases of canines that accidentally ingested sweeteners. The number is a dramatic increase from only 300 calls back in 2009.
"There are still a lot of dog owners who have never heard of xylitol, nor do they understand that something this benign, an ordinary sweetener, could be toxic to pets," said Brutlag.
Xylitol is a substance that is deemed safe for humans but very dangerous for dogs. In fact, the substance is 100 times more toxic than milk chocolate, according to experts.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, one such case of accidental dog poisoning occurred to Tonia Cox's pet labradoodle last year. Cox recalled coming home one day and discovering that her dog knocked over her son's Ice Breaker gums and ingested about 20 pieces of them.
Her dog, Murphy Jo, started to vomit and became lethargic. Murphy Jo was diagnosed with liver failure at a local hospital. Cox said that after three blood-plasma tranfusions, Murphy Jo was saved. Their hospital bills amounted to more than $5,000.
Pet owners Sam Caress and Jordan Pellett experienced the same situation, but their dog Luna did not survive. Two-year-old Luna also ingested gum with the sugar substitute. When she started to vomit, they rushed her to the vet, but it was already too late.
"They gave us a phone call saying her kidney tests weren't good, and that they were shutting down, and that we didn't really have any other choice but to put her down," said Caress.
Now, Caress and Pellet check all the products they buy like peanut butter, gum and candy. If the product has xylitol, they don't buy it.
With the upsurge in cases, animal welfare groups are urging for companies to put warning labels on products with xylitol.
Dr. Ashley Gallagher from the Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington D.C. said that dog owners should be vigilant and cautious, especially because dogs are nosy creatures and they are always looking for a treat. She said that any product containing xylitol should be placed somewhere out of reach of dogs, like on top of cabinets.
There are still no comprehensive data on how many dogs have died due to xylitol poisoning. The substance is used in products such as gummy vitamins, toothpaste, mints, melatonin sleep aids and specialty peanut butter. The sugar substitute is safe for people with diabetes, experts said.
Photo: Thomas & Dianne Jones | Flickr
