Dog xylitol toxicity calculator
Your dog ate gum, peanut butter, or another xylitol product? Estimate the risk level from the amount of xylitol and your dog's weight. This is a guide only, not a substitute for calling your vet.
If your dog has eaten xylitol, call for help now.
Do not wait for symptoms. Call your vet, or an animal poison control line:
Low dose, call your vet
This is below the typical hypoglycemia threshold, but xylitol content is often unknown and dogs vary. Call your vet or a poison control line to confirm this is safe to monitor at home.
Estimated dose: 0.067 g/kg of xylitol
How the xylitol toxicity calculator works
Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters, baked goods, and chewable vitamins. In dogs, it triggers a sudden release of insulin that causes blood sugar to crash, and at higher doses it can damage the liver. Cats and people are not affected the same way, which is why it slips into products without a warning label aimed at pet owners.
This tool divides the amount of xylitol eaten by your dog's body weight to estimate the dose in grams per kilogram. Published veterinary sources place the hypoglycemia threshold around 0.1 g per kg, with acute liver injury reported from about 0.5 g per kg upward. Because the exact xylitol content of most products is not printed on the label, this estimate is only as accurate as the amount you enter.
Treat any known or suspected xylitol exposure as urgent. If you do not know the exact amount, assume the worst and call your veterinarian or a poison control line straight away rather than waiting for symptoms to appear. Read more in our guide on xylitol and dogs, check the glossary entry, or use our chocolate toxicity calculator if chocolate was involved instead.
Frequently asked questions
My dog just ate something with xylitol, what should I do?
Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line right away, even if this calculator shows a low dose. Xylitol content in gum and other products is often not listed on the label, and dogs can react to smaller amounts than expected. Do not wait for symptoms, and do not try to induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.
How much xylitol is toxic to dogs?
Hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar) has been reported from doses as low as about 0.1 grams of xylitol per kilogram of body weight. Acute liver injury has been reported at about 0.5 grams per kilogram or higher. Because the exact xylitol content of a product is rarely printed, treat any known exposure as an emergency.
How much xylitol is in a stick of gum?
It varies widely by brand and is usually not disclosed on the label, but published estimates put it at roughly 0.2 to 1 gram of xylitol per stick. A small dog chewing just one or two sticks of a high-xylitol gum can reach a dangerous dose.
How long after eating xylitol do symptoms appear?
Signs of hypoglycemia, including vomiting, weakness, loss of coordination, and seizures, can start within 30 minutes to an hour. A second, delayed stage of acute liver injury can follow 12 to 48 hours later, even in dogs that seemed to recover from the initial low blood sugar. Early veterinary care changes the outcome.
Is xylitol dangerous for cats too?
Cats do not appear to be affected by xylitol the way dogs are, and rarely encounter it since they avoid sweetened products. This calculator is built around dog physiology and dosing, so for a cat always call your veterinarian directly about any ingestion.
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Scan your first label freeThis calculator gives general guidance only, not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian for medical decisions about your pet.