title: Xylitol toxicosis in dogs.
abstract: The sugar alcohol xylitol is a popular sweetener used in gums, candies, and baked goods. While xylitol has a wide margin of safety in people and most mammalian species, when ingested by dogs it is believed to stimulate excessive insulin secretion leading to severe hypoglycemia, potentially followed by acute hepatic failure and coagulopathies. Additional clinical findings may include thrombocytopenia, hypokalemia, and hyperphosphatemia. The prognosis for recovery in dogs that develop uncomplicated hypoglycemia is generally good with prompt and aggressive veterinary care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center Toxicology Laboratory, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. murphylp@vet.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Adrienne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004285:Dogs; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007329:Insulin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014993:Xylitol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007329:Insulin Antagonists; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014993:Xylitol