ingestion of xylitol, a sugar alcohol - KILLS DOGS

I was alarmed by this so thought it deserved its own heading in our
group.
Sorry jbuch


Deke wrote:
Sherry, I have been reading that xylitol kills dogs. Causes liver
failure I believe.
================================

Clinical Relevance—Although xylitol causes hypoglycemia in dogs, hepatic failure after ingestion has not previously been reported.
Note that there is no statement of how much Xylitol was ingested per
dog. So, the deadliness of this stuff remains unknown.


Abstract
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
October 1, 2006, Vol. 229, No. 7, Pages 1113-1117
doi: 10.2460/javma.229.7.1113

Acute hepatic failure and coagulopathy associated with xylitol
ingestion
in eight dogs

Eric K. Dunayer, MS, VMD; Sharon M. Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal
Poison
Control Center, 1717 S Philo Rd, Ste 36, Urbana, IL 61802-6044.
(Dunayer, Gwaltney-Brant)
Address correspondence to Dr. Dunayer.

Case Description—8 adult dogs were evaluated for treatment of lethargy
and vomiting after ingestion of xylitol, a sugar alcohol used as a
sweetener in various products.

Clinical Findings—In addition to vomiting and lethargy, 5 of the dogs
had widespread petechial, ecchymotic, or gastrointestinal tract
hemorrhages. Common clinicopathologic findings included moderately to
severely high serum activities of liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia,
hypoglycemia, hyperphosphatemia, prolonged clotting times, and
thrombocytopenia. Necropsies were performed on 3 dogs and severe
hepatic
necrosis was found in 2. In the third dog, histologic examination
revealed severe hepatocyte loss or atrophy with lobular collapse.

Treatment and Outcome—Treatments varied among dogs and included IV
administration of fluids; plasma transfusions; and, if indicated,
administration of dextrose. Three dogs were euthanatized, 2 dogs died,
2
dogs made a complete recovery, and 1 dog was recovering but was lost
to
follow-up.

Clinical Relevance—Although xylitol causes hypoglycemia in dogs,
hepatic
failure after ingestion has not previously been reported. Because an
increasing number of consumer products contain xylitol, clinicians
should be aware that ingestion of xylitol can have serious,
life-threatening effects.

deke wrote:
|| I was alarmed by this so thought it deserved its own heading
|| in our
|| group.
|| Sorry jbuch
||
||
|| Deke wrote:
||| Sherry, I have been reading that xylitol kills dogs.
||| Causes liver
||| failure I believe.

The consumption of chocolate can kill dogs. Different
metabolizism.

--
--
"We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of
ordinary Americans ..." -- President Bill Clinton, 'USA Today'
March 11, 1993: Page 2A

Glory, glory the world is saved by the Democrats. They promise
to be just as honest and bipartisan as they were before the 1994
elections.

BlueBrooke .@. writes:

I'm still wondering what people are feeding their dogs that they
discovered this problem in the first place?

When I took my dog for a walk the other day, right there on the stairs
of my building was an honest-to-God Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie (or
something very like one), my favorite kind. I hurried her past it so
she wouldn't snag it, and then a block down the street, we came to a
full bag of Doritos just lying there on the sidewalk. I started to
think maybe God was testing my dietary commitment; but if so, I
passed.

Not that I would ordinarily eat food off the ground, but the chips
were still in the bag....




--
Aaron -- 285/235/200 -- http://aaron.baugher.biz/

"If you hear hoofbeats, you just go ahead and think horsies, not
zebras."

BlueBrooke wrote:
On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:07:42 GMT, "BJ in Texas"
wrote:


deke wrote:
|| I was alarmed by this so thought it deserved its own heading
|| in our
|| group.
|| Sorry jbuch
||
||
|| Deke wrote:
||| Sherry, I have been reading that xylitol kills dogs.
||| Causes liver
||| failure I believe.

The consumption of chocolate can kill dogs. Different
metabolizism.


I'm still wondering what people are feeding their dogs that they
discovered this problem in the first place?

Mine eat dog food -- shrug


Maybe the title should be PEOPLE KILL DOGS WITH JUNK TREATS.

It is as much people that kill dogs with improper foods as it is
improper foods kill dogs.

But, hey, it is an attention drawing headline to throw out there to get
people to read. Truth doesn't matter in a headline.

If you want truth, go read a medical journal.... I'm gagging as I say
that one.

Looks better, and may do more good.

Or except for a guest throwing something tempting in a waste basket, or a
purse or pocket with mints being left within a dog's reach, or a nasty
neighbor tossing things in your yard, etc.

BlueBrooke wrote:
|
| And is more accurate, I think --
|
| Except, of course, as far as Aaron's problem with people leaving food
| on the streets.
|
| My grandmother cooks for her dogs. Can't blame her, really, since
| she's all alone and she likes it, the dogs like it -- the problem is
| the dogs are wider than they are tall, and they aren't supposed to be
| that way (I think these are Yorkies). She's always had dogs and
| they've always been fat. Since they eat with her, I guess it could be
| chalked up to the "Standard American Diet."

I've given my dog low carb ice cream.


"BlueBrooke" .@. wrote in message
news
On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:07:42 GMT, "BJ in Texas"
wrote:

deke wrote:
|| I was alarmed by this so thought it deserved its own heading
|| in our
|| group.
|| Sorry jbuch
||
||
|| Deke wrote:
||| Sherry, I have been reading that xylitol kills dogs.
||| Causes liver
||| failure I believe.

The consumption of chocolate can kill dogs. Different
metabolizism.

I'm still wondering what people are feeding their dogs that they
discovered this problem in the first place?

Mine eat dog food -- shrug
--
BlueBrooke
254/236/135 -- 01 Jan 2007

Cubit wrote:
I've given my dog low carb ice cream.


Is he dead yet? Or just an extra cold nose, but still breathing?




"BlueBrooke" .@. wrote in message
news
On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:07:42 GMT, "BJ in Texas"
wrote:


deke wrote:
|| I was alarmed by this so thought it deserved its own heading
|| in our
|| group.
|| Sorry jbuch
||
||
|| Deke wrote:
||| Sherry, I have been reading that xylitol kills dogs.
||| Causes liver
||| failure I believe.

The consumption of chocolate can kill dogs. Different
metabolizism.

I'm still wondering what people are feeding their dogs that they
discovered this problem in the first place?

Mine eat dog food -- shrug
--
BlueBrooke
254/236/135 -- 01 Jan 2007