My dog

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Can dogs eat it?

Can dogs eat xylitol?

No, toxic No, never. Xylitol, found in sugar-free gum, sweets, some nut butters and medicines, is poisonous to dogs and can crash their blood sugar within 30 minutes.

Why

In dogs, xylitol triggers a rapid release of insulin, and blood sugar can drop dangerously low. It can also cause liver failure (MSD Veterinary Manual). Even a small amount can be dangerous: products vary so much that nobody can tell from the pack how much is too much, and AKC warns that a little sugar-free gum can harm a small dog. Call your vet or an animal poison line straight away. Check labels for xylitol, birch sugar or wood sugar: it turns up in gum, mints, sweets, some peanut butters, baked goods, toothpaste, chewable vitamins and liquid medicines.

Signs to watch for

If your dog ate xylitol (sugar-free gum and sweets)

Treat it as an emergency and go to your vet now, taking the packet. Do not try to make your dog sick at home: MSD and VCA warn that blood sugar may already be falling. Your vet will check blood sugar and liver values, often over a day or more.

If your dog has eaten something toxic

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Take the packet with you.

Australia: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738. Open 24/7. Its own home page says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD. Older pages still call it free: RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) and the helpline's own 2019 launch news, so ask about the fee when you call.
United States: poison advice lines
United Kingdom: poison advice lines
  • Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509 000. Open 24 hours, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. £35 per call 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times including bank holidays, paid by card (Amex not accepted). If your pet shows collapse, seizures or breathing difficulty, it says to contact your vet immediately instead.
Canada: poison advice lines
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Its own site says it is available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, 24/7. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
New Zealand: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 0800 869 738. Open 24/7, the same service as in Australia. New Zealand's National Poisons Centre says it is available to all New Zealand pet owners and that charges do apply; the amount for New Zealand callers is not stated.
  • National Poisons Centre (for people). New Zealand's National Poisons Centre handles human poisonings and says it is not expert in animal poisonings. For a pet, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Puppies, small dogs and dogs with a health condition can react to smaller amounts. Check with your own vet before changing what your dog eats.

Other foods people ask about

Chocolate No, toxic No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most dangerous. Honey Only with care A little honey is safe for most adult dogs, but raw honey is not for puppies, and diabetic dogs should not have it. Marshmallows Only with care Best not. Marshmallows are nearly all sugar, and any made with xylitol are toxic to dogs. Check the label. Popcorn Yes, in moderation Plain, air-popped popcorn is fine in small amounts. Buttered, salted or flavoured popcorn is not, and unpopped kernels can choke. Sweets and sugar Only with care No. Sugary sweets are not poisonous in themselves, but they can trigger pancreatitis, and many hide xylitol, chocolate or raisins.

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Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-29.