PLEASE READ - XYLITOL HAS CAUSED LIVER FAILURE IN MY PUPPY

PLEASE READ - I just want to make clear that I am in no way saying don't eat xylitol.. the cakes in this post were one's I'd made because I'm on a low carb diet. Sadly they've caused liver failure in my puppy. You can imagine the guilt I'm feeling

I'm not really one for group announcements, but it's something important that needs to be said... No doubt I'll think I sound like a complete tit moments after pressing "post" but sod it. This is for Riff.

Not many of you know but for the past 10 months, my sister Kate has been "mummy" to our guide dog puppy Riff. On Monday, he did what every good Labrador does, stood on his back legs and ate a bunch of cakes from the kitchen counter. I came downstairs to find him looking guilty with the last shred of baking paper hanging out of his mouth... Yes, he tried to eat that too! An hour or so later, he started being sick. We just thought it was a case of him eating yet ANOTHER thing that wasn't agreeing with him. The next day, he was sick 6 times and started to stagger around like he'd spent the night in the pub. We googled the ingredients of the offending cakes and found that the sugar substitute in them, XYLITOL, was poisonous to dogs. The vets said it was an emergency and 10 minutes later, we were heading there in a taxi.

It hasn't looked good since. One of the main side effects of XYLITOL on dogs is hypoglycaemia. Luckily Riff seems to have been relatively okay on that front. He wasn't so lucky with his liver which, by the blood tests, although slightly improved from day one, indicate that his liver is failing. Even though he greeted us with a wagging tail this afternoon it's still touch and go whether he'll make it. It's hard not to start hoping when he starts nuzzling your hands wanting a tickle.

I'm writing this because I didn't know that XYLITOL was poisonous. My family didn't know that XYLITOL was poisonous. No one that knows about Riff, knew that XYLITOL was poisonous, even the chemistry experts at my mums work. The veterinary nurses didn't know XYLITOL was poisonous. Most of the vets at the veterinary practice didn't know XYLITOL was poisonous. I'm hoping that if you've read this, you'll know that XYLITOL is poisonous and you can stop your dog or another dog ending up like Riff.

XYLITOL is in most sweets, chewing gum, toothpastes, low carb recipes such as the cakes and most people don't know it's poisonous. The company which produces it is apparently fighting to be able to put the warning on their packaging - God knows who's stopping them. Currently all you get is a very small "not suitable for pets" at the bottom.

And I don't care if I sounds like the complete tit I thought I'd sound like when I started writing this because if we'd known immediately after he ate the cakes, Riff might be doing better now and the idea of him coming home wouldn't be such a tenuous one.

Get better Riff xx

Praying for Riff. I'm so sorry and I hope he gets better. And I have 2 dogs and a cat so thank you for the information on xylitol!

And people wonder why I refuse to eat artificial sweeteners.

So sorry to hear about Riff, hope he gets better and thanks for the information. I don't use any artificial sweeteners but I'm going to make sure the friend who watches my dogs doesn't have any around either.

Thank you for all your support. I'm just trying to get as many people as possible to read this so they know and can protect their dogs.

I'm SO sorry about Riff. I do hope he is doing better. I did some extensive research some months back when I was thinking of buying an alternative sweetener for baking and did find this info about xylitol. HOWEVER it's far from common knowledge I agree. I only have a cat now but even so. There isn't any research I've found concerning xylitol toxicity and other pets. Most probably as dogs are more prone to eat people food than other pets and they often like sweets. Best wishes! ~Butterfly hugs, Ruby

I am a huge dog lover and groomer, I hope Riff is doing a lot better

Hey,

Thank you again for your continued support. Just a quick update on Riff. He's doing a little better and is definitely brighter. He even seems to be getting a little bored being made to lie in a cage all day! They're going to redo his bloods today and continue to wean him from IV to oral medication so we can look after him at home. The vets have said that they won't know if his liver is viable for about a month, at which point they may decide to put him down. Every victory with him seeming better is still bittersweet at the moment

Hey ThinPetal, I hope it is all good news with Riff and that his liver ends up functioning just fine. Keep us updated!

Oh my, I'm so sorry to hear about Riff, but I'm very glad you let us know because I have two dogs of my own--boxers. Boxers have a tendency to get into things also and I will have to make sure to keep a better eye on where I put things so the same thing doesn't happen. I had no idea it was so poisonous for dogs. Don't beat yourself up so much. You didn't know about the danger either. We dog lovers would never do anything on purpose to hurt our babies. Julie

I hope that Riff is able to beat this, and come home come safe and sound!
Thank you for your information. also I applaud you for your honesty in this situation, a lot of others would have just put it as information without the personal history behind it.
Sending healing wishes to you and your family, and the strongests ones to RIFF!!!