Xylitol is a sweetener that is used in many foods, including peanut butter. It is a safe and popular sugar substitute that can be beneficial for diabetics or those on low carbohydrate diets.
Several nut butter brands have started to use xylitol as an ingredient in their products. These include Nuts ‘n More, Krush Nutrition and P-28 Foods.
Contents
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sweetener that’s used in many human foods and products. It has a low glycemic index and is safe for people with diabetes.
It’s also been found to reduce the risk of dental cavities and inflammatory gum diseases like gingivitis. Because the bacteria responsible for plaque feed on glucose from food, xylitol starves them.
However, it can be dangerous for dogs if they eat too much. They may experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and liver failure.
The best way to protect your dog from xylitol is to keep it away from them. Xylitol is commonly added to many human foods, including toothpaste, chewing gum and some types of peanut butter.
While it’s not a major concern for most peanut butter brands, it’s important to watch out for any that contain xylitol. Be sure to read the label carefully and don’t feed your dog any of them if you see they contain xylitol.
Jif Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great way to satisfy your cravings and add nutrients to your diet. It contains a high amount of protein and is also packed with fiber and vitamins.
If you’re looking to stay healthy, it’s important to choose peanut butter that has a clean ingredient list and is free of artificial flavors and colors. Jif Peanut Butter is a good option, as it has no sugar, oil or salt added and is non-GMO.
It’s a good choice for dogs as well, as it does not contain xylitol. This means it is safe for dogs to eat and may help prevent tooth decay in puppies.
Some flavors of Jif Peanut Butter have palm oil, which is highly processed and can be high in saturated fat. However, other flavors do not have palm oil. Some Jif products also contain a mixture of fully hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are not the healthiest and are calorically dense.
Symptoms
Xylitol, a sugar substitute, has been increasingly used in peanut butter and other foods to reduce the amount of sugar in diets. However, this ingredient is toxic to dogs and should be avoided if possible.
Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and even death. Because of this, it is critical to take your dog to the vet immediately if you think they may have eaten something containing xylitol.
Ingesting xylitol can cause your dog to experience hypoglycemia within 30 minutes and the condition can persist for 12 hours or longer. Depending on the type of product your dog ingested, they may need to be hospitalized for observation and serial bloodwork checked to monitor their liver values.
Brands such as Nuts n’ More, Krush Nutrition and P-28 Foods all contain xylitol in their peanut butter. Pet Poison Helpline recommends checking the ingredients to make sure a dog-safe version is available.
Treatment
Peanut butter is a popular treat for dogs and humans alike, but some brands contain xylitol, a sweetener that can be extremely toxic to dogs. Vets are warning owners to be aware of this sugar substitute in gum, candy, mints, vitamins, chewable and gummy vitamins, ice creams, oral care products and many other foods.
Xylitol is extracted from birch wood, and is used as a natural sugar substitute. It is widely available in a variety of foods and has become more prevalent in recent years.
Pet Poison Helpline says xylitol can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and liver damage in dogs, especially small breeds. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, weakness, lethargy, incoordination, collapse and seizures.
Treatment depends on the severity of toxicity, but in general involves hospitalization with blood glucose monitoring, dextrose administration, intravenous fluids and liver protectants. In addition, patients often need repeat blood work to determine whether xylitol has damaged the liver. If liver failure develops, it may be fatal.
