Can dogs eat xylitol?
Toxic
No. Xylitol is toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. If your dog has eaten anything containing it, call your vet or a poison helpline straight away.
Also searched as: birch sugar, wood sugar, birch bark extract, sugar-free gum
If your dog ate xylitol
Call your vet or an animal poison helpline now, even if your dog seems well. Do not wait for symptoms.
Signs of low blood sugar can start within 30 minutes, or be delayed if the xylitol is in something absorbed slowly, such as gum. Liver signs may not show for 1 to 2 days, so do not wait for symptoms before calling.
- Anguilla Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Antigua & Barbuda Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Australia Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 Consultations from AUD 75. Open 24 hours a day.
- Bahamas Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Barbados Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- British Virgin Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Canada Pet Poison Helpline +1 855 764 7661 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day.
- Cayman Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Dominica Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Grenada Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Jamaica Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Montserrat Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- New Zealand Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 Open 24 hours a day. Fee not confirmed for New Zealand callers.
- Puerto Rico Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- St Kitts & Nevis Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- St Lucia Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- St Vincent & the Grenadines Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Trinidad & Tobago Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- Turks & Caicos Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- US Virgin Islands Pet Poison Helpline (Caribbean toll-free) +1 877 416 7319 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day. If the toll-free number does not connect from your island, try (011) 1 952 853 1716.
- United Kingdom Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 Charged per call: £35 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times. Open 24 hours a day.
- United States ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center +1 888 426 4435 A consultation fee may apply. Open 24 hours a day, every day.
- United States Pet Poison Helpline +1 855 764 7661 US$89 per incident fee applies. Open 24 hours a day.
We do not list a poison helpline for your country yet. Contact your own vet or the nearest emergency vet straight away.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Depression or unusual quietness
- Seizures
- Collapse or coma
- Yellow skin or eyes (a sign of liver injury)
Why it is dangerous
Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in sugar-free gum, sweets, baked goods and some peanut and nut butters. In dogs it can cause a rapid, severe drop in blood sugar and, at higher amounts, liver injury or failure. It can also appear in products you would not expect, so check labels.
Sources
-
Pet Poison Helpline: Xylitol
checked 8 October 2026
If enough xylitol is ingested it can cause life-threatening low blood sugar (even within 10-15 minutes of ingestion) and acute liver failure.
-
American Kennel Club: Artificial sweetener safety for dogs
checked 8 October 2026
Even in small doses, xylitol can cause seizures, liver failure, and death in dogs.
-
Merck Veterinary Manual: Food hazards
checked 8 October 2026
Signs of hypoglycemia include vomiting, weakness, incoordination, depression, seizures, and coma.
Last reviewed . How we check foods
This is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog ate something concerning, contact your vet or a poison helpline immediately.