What is Xylitol and how is it dangerous for your dog? 

Some common foods are completely harmless to most people but dangerous to dogs. These foods include chocolate, grapes, garlic, and onions, which can create life-threatening situations for dogs. Another ordinary substance that is mostly overlooked because it does not affect humans adversely is xylitol but if consumed by your canine friend can cause serious dangers. Xylitol is basically sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute in human foods. Xylitol is extracted from plants to make sugar supplements and medicines. 

Xylitol is a naturally occurring ingredient that is extensively used in sugar-free foods and snacks. It's a sugar alcohol found naturally in lettuce, berries, oats, mushrooms, and some other fruits. Xylitol is commercially extracted from corn fiber, hardwood trees, and some vegetables. Though it’s been used as a sugar substitute for quite some time now, its popularity has surged in a couple of years due to its low caloric value and quality to fight dental problems.

Common sources of Xylitol

Xylitol is found in some very common foods that usually are not expected by a dog owner. So, the gum is not the only product containing xylitol, there are so many other food options with less caloric value than sugar. So sugar substitute is also usually used in sugar-free snacks like chocolate bars, mint ice-creams, nut butter, etc. It is important to look for the ingredients in the products beforehand, so you don’t accidentally feed something to your dog that is not only harmful to him but potentially lethal.  

While in some products and foods like gums, chocolates, mint ice-creams/low caloric ice-creams, candies, mouth wash, and toothpaste, the presence of Xylitol is expected. In other products, it is not so obvious; such as foods like puddings, baked goods, and breakfast syrups. Pre-processed baked goods are at high risk because they mostly use low-caloric sugars for diabetic and special diet following individuals. All the medicines used by humans are off-bound unless recommended by a vet. Some of the common medicines with xylitol include nasal/ear sprays, allergy medicines, laxatives, and anti-depressants. Even gummy vitamins reportedly contain Xylitol.

What Danger Does Xylitol Pose?

Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs mainly because it causes hypoglycemia in dogs which leads to weakness, vomiting, seizures, liver failure, and eventually death if high amounts are taken. When ingested, Xylitol is absorbed in blood instantly and causes an abnormal release of insulin from the pancreas.  This quick release of insulin leads to a rapid and prominent decrease in the blood sugar level or hypoglycemia, and this all happens within 10 to 60 minutes of ingesting xylitol. In the case of non-treatment, or high dose ingestion hypoglycemia can be life-threatening to dogs. The amount of Xylitol ingested also matters quite much, for instance, the amount of Xylitol that is not so harmful to your Golden Retriever can be lethal for a pooch or Chihuahua or any other small dog. It depends on the weight of a dog and his health condition that which dose could be harmful. 

Common Foods and Their Dangers

There are many foods commonly used in daily life that may seem okay but are quite dangerous for a dog’s health. Some are more harmful than others, number one on the list is chocolate which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even heart problems in the long run. Some other common foods which are harmful to dogs include Avocados, Alcohol, Dairy Products, Fresh meat, fruits/vegetables, and processed snacks. 

Recently the use of Avocado has become prevalent, another healthy treat for you but toxic for your canine buddy, it also causes many stomach issues to dogs. Foods made with alcohol and just plain wine might be too harmful to a dog. Although humans are more tolerant to alcohol, it can cause stomach issues along with organ failure in dogs which can lead to death. When it comes to vegetables and fruits, dogs don’t really need to eat them. While some fruits and vegetables are okay for them to eat others can be life-threatening. Fruits like cherries, grapes, tomatoes are harmful to them. And vegetables like Onions, asparagus, mushrooms are very dangerous to a dog’s health and should also be avoided.

When it comes to meat and dairy products, there is a common misconception, people think that milk and fresh meat are okay for dogs because they are canines. The reality is a little different, fresh meat can cause stomach issues and salmonella just like it does in humans. Bones of meat can also cause a choking hazard to dogs. Giving milk to your dog might seem natural but it is not as simple. Fats and other constituents in milk can cause food allergies and diarrhea in dogs and the same is the case with other dairy products. The milk that dogs consume is made differently.

As it is already established that baked goods are a big no for dogs. The same goes for other sugary/savory snacks. It is quite similar to human kids because sugar consumption causes hyperactivity, dental issue, and obesity that leads to heart issues. On top of that, too much salt is also not a piece of good news, it causes stomach problems and other serious health issues.

Dangers of certain Vitamins and Supplements

Your dogs do need certain supplements and vitamins for their better growth and health although it is promised by many food manufacturers that their foods are all your dog needs. But the selection of which supplements to choose from the variety of vitamins options in supermarkets and medical stores can be harrowing. And most of the time the ingredients used in these dog supplements are more harmful to them than they are beneficial. They can cause quite alarming health issues in your dog so be aware. Some of the common ingredients and vitamins in which Iron and Vitamin D are dominating are listed below so you can avoid them the next time you buy supplements for your dog:

• Iron
• Vitamin D
• Citrus Aurantium 
• Fluoride
• Hydroxytryptophan (5 HTP)
• Caffeine (Green and black tea)

Mostly the above-mentioned ingredients are used in dogs' vitamins and supplements. Some of them are downright harmful while others are constringent to the amount used in vitamins. Iron and Vitamin D are known to cause more harm to a dog’s health than other ingredients. Due to the increased use of iron and vitamin D supplements by humans, Iron and vitamin D poisoning are quite common in dogs. It causes abdominal pains, weakness, and diarrhea and can lead to liver and heart failure. 

Other ingredients like Fluoride and Citrus Aurantium cause hyperactivity, gastric and nervous system failure when used in more than recommended amount. Caffeine is also reportedly harmful and a major cause of high blood pressure, sweating and eventual heart failure. 5 HTP induces excessive drooling, vomiting, and hypothermia. The dilemma is that the recommended dose of these ingredients is overlooked by vitamin manufacturers, or accidentally your dog eats more than prescribed, which leads to many diseases and life-threatening health issues.

The best news is All-in-1 Canine Supplement & Multi-Vitamin does not contain any of the harmful ingredients and the number of ingredients is carefully added according to the needs of a dog’s nutrition and diet. 

All-in-1 Canine Supplement & Multi-Vitamin And Its Benefits

As mentioned above, some ingredients used in common dog supplements have larger amounts that a dog’s body cannot handle. On top of that, some ingredients and vitamins are altogether harmful to the health of your dog. The active ingredients present in All-in-1 Canine Supplement & Multi-Vitamin are:

All-in-1 Canine Supplement & Multi-Vitamin uses only organic and purest ingredients to encourage the growth and health of your canine buddy. We also steer clear of all these ingredients that are not compatible with the health of a dog and the amounts of supplements in each dose are also carefully curated for the benefit of your furry buddy.