Why is it risky?
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used in sugar-free gum, mints, candy, toothpaste, baked goods, some peanut butter brands, and certain medications. In dogs it causes life-threatening hypoglycemia and acute liver failure via insulin release stimulation. Feline-specific mechanistic data is less complete, but xylitol toxicity in cats is documented and most veterinary toxicologists recommend treating any feline xylitol exposure as a high-priority emergency pending further definitive research.
Affected Systems
Digestive · Liver
Symptoms
Lethargy, vomiting, loss of coordination, tremors, seizures from hypoglycemia, liver failure in severe cases.
What To Do
Emergency vet. Specify xylitol ingestion explicitly. Blood glucose monitoring, IV dextrose if hypoglycemic, liver enzyme monitoring.
Notes
Xylitol appears on labels as: xylitol, E967, birch sugar, or "natural sweetener" in some formulations. Always check ingredients on: sugar-free gum (even 1–2 sticks of some brands are dangerous for dogs, assume similar precaution for cats), "natural" peanut butter (some brands substitute xylitol for sugar), sugar-free liquid medications, chewable children's vitamins, melatonin supplements (some brands use xylitol as a filler), and dental products.
Sources
→ ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — aspca.org
→ Merck Veterinary Manual — merckvetmanual.com
→ Pet Poison Helpline — petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/xylitol/