Why Does Xylitol Have a Cooling Sensation, but It is Poison to Dogs?

Xylitol, pentapentane, is an alcohol compound. It is a normal intermediate product of xylose metabolism. It is widely found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, mushrooms, wood, straw and corn cobs, so it is extracted from plant raw materials. A natural sweetener comes out, its sweetness can reach 1.2 times that of sucrose, and xylitol sugar is a common sugar substitute.

1. The characteristics of xylitol

Solid xylitol is easily soluble in water and is the one with the largest endothermic value among all sugar alcohol sweeteners. Therefore, xylitol is often accompanied by a slight cooling sensation after it is taken in.

In vitamin beverages prepared with xylitol (China), maltitol (maltitol powder/maltitol liquid), granulated sugar and fructose as compound sweeteners, xylitol is mainly used to improve the sweetness of the beverage and to give it a cool feeling.

2. Xylitol is banned for dogs

Although xylitol is not a sugar, it provides the same calories as glucose. Each gram of xylitol contains 2.4 calories, which is 40% less calories than most other carbohydrates, but eating more is the same. In addition, overeating xylitol can cause blood triglycerides to rise, causing coronary atherosclerosis.

The metabolism of sugar alcohol in the human body does not require insulin to participate, and will not increase the blood sugar level. However, when dogs eat xylitol, it is quickly absorbed into the blood and can stimulate the effective release of insulin in the pancreas, which can cause a rapid and significant decrease in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) within 10 to 60 minutes after consumption, which can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of dogs may include weakness, loss of coordination, and even seizures.