Can dogs eat xylitol?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
No. Never share xylitol with dogs; call your vet or a poison line if some is eaten. Source: Merck Veterinary Manual. Xylitol is a sweetener used in sugar-free products. In dogs it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and, with enough eaten, liver failure.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Why
Xylitol is a sweetener used in sugar-free products. In dogs it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and, with enough eaten, liver failure. Pet Poison Helpline says to call a vet or the helpline right away if you think a dog ate some, and the ASPCA says to call even if the dog seems normal.
Good to know
Dogs are the main worry: the Merck Veterinary Manual says dogs are the only domestic species with reported xylitol poisoning, while it says cats are not at risk for low blood sugar or liver injury from it.
Watch for: Xylitol hides in sugar-free gum, candy, mints, baked goods, some peanut butters, toothpaste, chewable vitamins and some medicines, so read labels for xylitol or birch sugar.
Already ate it?
Call now, even if your pet seems fine. Say what was eaten, how much and when, and have your pet's weight ready.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Xylitol can make dogs very sick. Never share this food, and tell a grown-up right away if a pet gets some."
A job: Be the label reader. Before a grown-up shares any food with the dog, check this page, and ask a grown-up if the food is not on it.
A fridge sheet
Never give dogs xylitol.
If dogs eat some, don't wait. Call right away, even if they seem fine.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, 24 hours. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-ups included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Your own vet knows your dog. Dogs differ.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Xylitol Toxicosis in Dogs (checked October 29, 2026)
- ASPCA: Xylitol: The Sweetener That Is Not So Sweet for Pets (checked October 29, 2026)
- FDA: Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs (checked October 29, 2026)