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No Sweets for Dogs
I have always followed the rule of thumb that dog food is for dogs and people food is for people, though I know that I am in the minority on that one. However, as much as we think of our pups as man's best friends, their digestion is definitely different, and they cannot tolerate a number of "people products," including the sugar-free and low-calorie sweetener xylitol (often found in gums, breath mints, candies, toothpastes and baked goods). In fact, xylitol in dogs can be down right deadly.
When I spoke with Eric K. Dunayer, VMD, veterinary toxicologist at the Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), about the recent report regarding dogs and xylitol, he told me that dogs actually have a sweet tooth and seem especially attracted to xylitol. This sweet tooth can get dogs into serious trouble, even, on occasion, kill them. With their powerful sense of smell, dogs can ferret out xylitol products in seconds and have been known to consume an entire jumbo-sized pack of xylitol sweetened gum lickety split, according to Dr. Dunayer.
DANGERS OF XYLITOL AND DOGS
Two major physiological events might then occur. For reasons unknown, dogs metabolize xylitol differently than humans -- their insulin levels increase which is why their blood glucose levels drop -- which can lead to hypoglycemia. The dog becomes sleepy, weak and unsteady on the feet and may collapse and seize. This cascade can develop rapidly, says Dr. Dunayer, starting within 30 to 60 minutes after xylitol consumption, depending on the size and age of the dog. The second danger, however, is even more insidious -- fatal liver failure and internal bleeding can develop in dogs who did not show hypoglycemia initially. These reactions have occurred in dogs of various breeds, mixes and both genders, says Dr. Dunayer. Consequently, he says, anyone whose pet has ingested the sweetener must call the vet immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless the vet tells you to do so. The reason: The symptoms move quickly and if the dog should collapse, it could choke on its vomit.
So, all you softies who feed your doggies little yum-yums, stick with the ones that are doggie approved and keep the xylitol along with any chocolate (including cocoa), raisins and grapes far from Fido's reach. (If you didn't know, chocolate can cause rapid heartbeat and excitement... and raisins and grapes can trigger kidney failure in dogs.)
Be well,
Carole Jackson
Bottom Line's Daily Health News
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No Sweets for Dogs
Eric K. Dunayer, VMD, DABT, DABVT, veterinary toxicologist, Animal Poison Control Center, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Urbana, Illinois.
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In Reply to: XYLITOL bad for dogs posted by ANN [1003.516] on February 09, 2007 at 12:13:39:
I wonder about what dogs do in the wild when they encounter grapes. Do they eat them because they were're protected by humans?
In Reply to: Re: XYLITOL bad for dogs posted by R. [1213.2854] on February 09, 2007 at 14:11:08:
maybe the birds, bears, and wasps get the grapes first, so the dogs don't get a chance at them. Maybe the dogs go after the mice, rats, rabbits, and raccoons that come to eat the grapes.
When I was a kid, my mother had a big strawberry patch. We had to go out before daybreak every morning to pick the ones that ripened during the night. If we didn't, the birds would take a big bite out of each ripe one. Could be birds just get to the grapes first (plus, the grapes grow on vines that climb, so most would be out of reach, maybe.
In Reply to: Re: XYLITOL bad for dogs posted by ANN [1003.516] on February 09, 2007 at 14:15:43:
So, the "knowledge" animals are said to have is bogus? They also don't know what they are eating?
In Reply to: XYLITOL bad for dogs posted by ANN [1003.516] on February 09, 2007 at 12:13:39:
Thanks, Ann.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: XYLITOL bad for dogs posted by R. [1213.3270] on February 10, 2007 at 00:58:05:
animals might have a sense of a food being an immediate danger. I wouldn't think they could perceive one as a long term danger. When I was first raising veg dogs, I was using a recipe by a vet for the dog food I cooked, but I decided to give it more flavor by adding cabbage and broccoli stems. I also had a dog that would take fresh cabbages out of my grocery bags and chow down on them raw. I also gave the dogs the cooking water from our spinach. They loved all that stuff.
My oldest dog developed a thyroid problem. The vet said he should be on thyroid pills for the rest of his life. I asked what caused the problem, but the vet said he was just a geriatric dog (he was 8). I asked two other vets, and neither was interested in a cause either. There had been some poisonings in our town, so I asked if the dog could be poisoned. They said no.
Around that time, I was reading a book by James Herriot, the Scottish vet. He told of one dog that was getting daily doses of cabbage tonic from its owner . The dog developed a thyroid problem and the vet had been taught in vet school that brassica vegs caused thyroid problems in dogs. Tnose include spinach, cabbage, and broccoli. I stopped giving those to my dogs and the one that had lost a lot of hair and was fatigued and had a prescription for thyroid pills, which didn't seem to be doing him much good. Got better fast. His hair grew back and he turned into a playful puppy. I threw away the pills, and he stayed healthy, just from what we DIDN'T let him eat.
I had inadvertently been poisoning my own dog.
Of course, it's traditional for kids to slip those kinds of veggies to the dog under the dining table.
Dogs are happy to eat them.
Dogs also will eat chocolate, even though it does them long term harm.
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