Dog Xylitol Toxicity Calculator
Work out the xylitol dose in mg/kg for your dog and compare it with the veterinary thresholds. If you do not know the amount, call now.
Your dog ate something? Call now. Do not wait for signs.
Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away, or a poison control center. Call even if your dog seems fine: some poisons take hours to show. Do not make your dog vomit unless a professional tells you to.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
- UK: Animal PoisonLine (UK, run by VPIS): 01202 509 000
- Elsewhere: call your own vet or the nearest out-of-hours emergency vet immediately.
All three hotlines are open 24 hours and charge a consultation fee. The US numbers are not free calls from the UK. The numbers were checked on the publishers' sites on November 8, 2026.
Enter the weight, how many pieces and the xylitol per piece. If you cannot find the xylitol amount, call a vet now.
Not veterinary advice. The thresholds are veterinary reference points, not safe doses. Products vary, and small dogs reach the thresholds with very little. Call a vet or poison hotline in every case. Read the full disclaimer.
The thresholds by dog weight
Total xylitol that reaches 100 mg/kg (hypoglycemia) and 500 mg/kg (liver injury), from the Merck Veterinary Manual:
| Dog weight | 100 mg/kg | 500 mg/kg |
|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 227 mg | 1,134 mg |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 454 mg | 2,268 mg |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 907 mg | 4,536 mg |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 1,814 mg | 9,072 mg |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 3,175 mg | 15,876 mg |
A gram is 1,000 mg. A product that holds a few hundred milligrams per piece can put a small dog over the first line with a single stick or a handful of mints.
Frequently asked questions
Dog ate something with xylitol: what do I do?
Call your vet, an emergency clinic or a poison hotline now: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Pet Poison Helpline says xylitol can cause life-threatening low blood sugar within 10 to 15 minutes, so do not wait for signs.
How much xylitol is toxic to dogs?
The Merck Veterinary Manual says doses above about 100 mg/kg (45 mg/lb) have been associated with hypoglycemia, and some dogs given more than 500 mg/kg (227 mg/lb) develop severe liver injury or failure. Because many products list no amount, treat any ingestion as an emergency.
Which products contain xylitol?
Merck lists gums, candies, mints, peanut butter and baked goods, plus sunscreens, medications, toothpaste and oral products, chewable vitamins and supplements, cosmetics, deodorants and hair care products, and sugar-free medicine syrups. Pet Poison Helpline adds that the amount varies widely, even between flavors of one gum brand.
How soon do signs start?
Merck says low blood sugar signs can begin within 30 minutes, or be delayed up to 12 to 18 hours if the xylitol is in something that slows absorption. Signs include vomiting, weakness, lethargy, seizures and coma.
Is xylitol dangerous to cats?
Merck says dogs are the only domestic species in which xylitol poisoning has been reported, and that cats are not at risk of hypoglycemia or liver injury from it. Call your vet if your cat ate any unknown product.
Why does the calculator ask me for the xylitol per piece?
Because the amount differs from product to product and the label often does not list it. If you cannot find it, use the maker's customer service line, or skip the arithmetic and call a poison hotline with the product name.
Sources
- Xylitol Toxicosis in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual. Read 2026-11-08. Used for: Doses above about 100 mg/kg are linked to low blood sugar; above 500 mg/kg to liver failure. Cats are not at risk from xylitol.
Facts last checked against their sources on November 8, 2026. Read how the numbers are built on the sources and method page.