VeterUSA · Emergency triage
Did your dog eat xylitol?
Found in sugar-free gum, mints, peanut butter, baked goods, and oral-care products. Enter what you know and get a risk level and what to do next.
This moves faster than chocolate. Blood sugar can crash in as little as 30–60 minutes. Don't wait to see symptoms before calling.
Rough reference (always check the label first)
- Sugar-free gum, 1 piece0.3–1.0 g
- Sugar-free mint, 1 piece0.05–0.3 g
- Xylitol peanut/nut butter, 1 tbsp0–13 g
- Baking xylitol, 1 tsp~4 g
Peanut butter brands range from zero xylitol to dangerous amounts — never guess on this one, check the jar.
Both helplines are staffed 24/7 by veterinary toxicologists. A consultation fee may apply. If your dog is seizing, collapsing, or can't be roused, skip the calculator and go to the nearest ER now.
How xylitol poisoning in dogs works
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that's harmless to people but dangerous to dogs. In dogs, it triggers a sudden, large release of insulin from the pancreas — far more than the same amount of sugar would — which drives blood glucose down fast. That's different from chocolate, which acts as a slow-building stimulant over hours. Xylitol can drop a dog's blood sugar within 30 to 60 minutes of eating it.
When to worry
Veterinary references put dogs at risk of hypoglycemia above roughly 100 mg of xylitol per kg of body weight, and at risk of liver failure above roughly 500 mg/kg. Early signs include vomiting, weakness, wobbliness, and collapse. Liver injury can follow within a day or two, even in dogs who seemed to recover from the initial low-blood-sugar episode — which is why a vet check matters even after symptoms settle down.
Why "sugar-free" doesn't tell you the dose
Manufacturers aren't required to list exact xylitol content, and amounts vary enormously between brands of the same product — a sugar-free peanut butter might contain none, or a lot. If you have the packaging, check the label or ingredient list; if you don't, treat the amount as unknown and call a poison helpline, who can often identify the product by name.
Is the calculator a substitute for a vet?
No. It gives a fast estimate using established veterinary dosing thresholds so you can judge how urgently to act. Because xylitol content varies so much by brand, the number you enter is only as accurate as your estimate. When in doubt, call a veterinarian or an animal poison control line rather than wait.