Why does xylitol cause hypoglycemia in dogs?

The dose of xylitol that can cause hypoglycemia in the dog has been reported between 50 milligrams (mg) of xylitol per pound of body weight (100 mg per kg). The higher the dose ingested, the more the risk of liver failure. read more

First off, insulin is both released in the pancreases of humans and dogs, thus controlling the amount of blood sugar present in the body. In human beings, xylitol is fairly harmless, mainly because the bloodstream doesn't absorb it quickly - contrary to dogs and other non-primate animals. read more

In both humans and dogs, the level of blood sugar is controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. read more