The No. 2 Most Common Pet Poison — Is It in Your Home?

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Xylitol poisoning in pets increased an astounding 108% from 2015 to 2020
• In 2020, xylitol earned the dubious title of second most common pet poison, right behind chocolate
• If your dog ingests xylitol, a sharp drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur, triggering loss of consciousness and seizures; larger doses can also cause liver failure and death with hours or days of ingestion
• Xylitol is found in hundreds of everyday products, including food, candy, gum, mints and over-the-counter and prescription medications
• It’s possible for a small dog to become severely ill from ingesting just one piece of xylitol-containing gum or mint, so keep all products with xylitol out of reach of your pets