Xylitol Toxicity Calculator
Your dog ate something sugar-free? Xylitol can crash a dog’s blood sugar within minutes — check the dose now.
Not sure how much xylitol was in it? Treat the amount as the high end — labels rarely state the exact content, and guessing low is the dangerous direction. Xylitol (also listed as birch sugar or E967) hides in peanut butter, sugar-free candy and baked goods, nicotine gum, and some liquid medicines such as gabapentin solutions.
Sources — the dose bands on this page were checked against all three:
How to use
- Enter your dog’s weight in kg.
- Choose pieces of gum or mints (with a per-piece strength) or grams of xylitol from the label.
- Read the dose estimate — then call your vet regardless.
About this tool
Xylitol (also labelled birch sugar or E967) is a sweetener found in sugar-free gum, mints, peanut butter and some liquid medicines. Dogs are uniquely sensitive to it: xylitol triggers a rapid insulin spike that can crash blood sugar, and at higher doses it can destroy liver cells.
This calculator divides the estimated xylitol amount by your dog’s weight and compares it with the dose bands published by Pet Poison Helpline, the Merck Veterinary Manual and a peer-reviewed case review in Clinician’s Brief: hypoglycemia from ~0.1 g/kg, severe liver injury above ~0.5 g/kg.
All calculations happen in your browser. No data is sent or stored anywhere.
FAQ
How much xylitol is toxic to a dog?
Poisoning is reported from about 0.1 g of xylitol per kg of body weight (low blood sugar). Above ~0.5 g/kg, dogs can develop acute liver failure. A single piece of sugar-free gum or one mint typically contains 0.22–1.0 g of xylitol — so one piece can poison a small dog.
How fast do signs appear?
Low blood sugar can start within 10–30 minutes, though with gum it can be delayed 12–18 hours. Liver injury is slower: signs may not show for 24–48 hours, and it can develop even if blood sugar stayed normal.
My dog ate xylitol peanut butter and seems fine?
“Seems fine” means nothing yet — the dangerous effects are delayed. Call your vet or poison control now and tell them the brand and roughly how much was eaten.
Should I make my dog vomit?
Only if your vet instructs you to. Vomiting a dog whose blood sugar is crashing can be dangerous — get advice first.
What about cats?
Xylitol toxicosis has only been reported in dogs — the Merck Veterinary Manual states cats are not at risk of the blood-sugar crash or liver injury from xylitol. This calculator is for dogs.
