Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care

Q: Are artificial sweeteners safe for pets?A: Absolutely not! For many people, sharing food with pets is a daily routine, despite the numerous pleas from veterinarians to limit "people food.” We know that giving a pet table scraps encourages begging, can make her obese, and may make her a finicky eater. However, new research being released now shows that certain "sugar free" human foods can actually cause liver failure in your dog, and perhaps even kill him. The most dangerous of the artificial sweeteners may be Xylitol. First used in the 1960s in Europe as a substitute for sucrose when sugar was scarce, Xylitol is now found in many countries across the world. For many Americans and Europeans, the sugar substitute, Xylitol, has been an amazing development in the fight against tooth decay and in helping diabetics gain better control over their disease. Most Xylitol is developed from processing corn cobs, wood chips (especially birch), or other plant material. Although it tastes just as sweet as sucrose, it has about 40% less food energy, making it ideal for "low carb" dieters and for diabetics who need to monitor their intake of carbohydrates. Most often, Xylitol is found in gums and toothpastes, although many other food items, such as breads and desserts may also contain this sugar substitute. Documented claims of reducing dental cavities and helping to minimize the severity of ear infections are just some of the positive attributes of Xylitol. Even the US Military has added sugar free gum containing Xylitol into their Meals Ready to Eat (MREs). Why wouldn't we want to share this with our pets? For years, veterinarians have suspected that Xylitol could make dogs sick, but a recent article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) has actually documented the illness in eight dogs. 5 of the 8 dogs died or were euthanized due to complications stemming from Xylitol ingestion. Additionally, the ASPCA Poison Control Center has documented an increase in the number of Xylitol-related pet exposures. It appears that dogs who ingest a large amount of the sugar substitute develop a profound hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, within 30 minutes of consumption. This decrease in blood sugar is due to a rapid increase in the production of insulin in the dog's body. But small amounts of Xylitol do not appear to be any safer. The JAVMA report states that a 22 lb dog who consumes just 1 gram of Xylitol can generate the rapid insulin production and the associated drop in blood sugar levels. As a comparison, the popular gum, Trident contains almost 0.20 grams of Xylitol in each stick. Other “people food,” such as raspberries and mushrooms can contain up to 1 gram of Xylitol in a single cup. The JAVMA report continues, stating that it appears the smaller doses can indeed cause liver failure in dogs. Dogs who consume Xylitol will most often appear to be weak and uncoordinated, due to the sudden decrease in blood sugar levels. The pet may also start to seizure as potassium levels in the blood start to drop as well. Due to the severity and quick mechanism of action, anyone who suspects that their pet may have ingested a Xylitol containing product should seek veterinary advice immediately. Q: My cat is squinting and pawing at her eye. I think she has pink eye. Would Visine help her?A: Any squinting or eye pain in a pet should be treated as an urgent and potentially serious medical matter. You should bring your cat to your veterinarian as soon as possible. Sometimes scratches on the eye, foreign bodies, or corneal ulcers can progress to permanent eye damage. Successful treatment depends upon prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Eye conditions are more serious and painful than most pet owners appreciate. Your cat deserves prompt relief.

	Office Hours: 7:00am – 7:00pm Monday through Thursday 7:00am – 5:30pm Friday 8:30am – 12:00pm Saturday Doctor’s Hours: by appointment please	Online store
		Resource List
		Contact Us