A Scots vet has warned pet owners to keep dogs away from sweets this Halloween after a much-loved Labrador came just 15 minutes away from death.
Two-year-old Oak was almost killed when he snuck into his owner's car while it was being unloaded before Halloween. During the rampage, the pooch tore into several boxes of sweets, ripped open the packaging and wolfed down dozens of peppermints containing 100 per cent xylitol.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used to sweeten sugar-free products and is incredibly toxic to dogs. Oak took a turn for the worse and within minutes, he began suffering from uncontrollable seizures with dangerously low blood glucose levels.
He was rushed to Clyde Vet Group's Small Animal Hospital in Lanark where his owners were advised that just two to three of the sweets would be the toxic dose for his weight.
Vets Jo Veitch and Holly Wark were on standby with several veterinary nurses and the team immediately stabilised Oak, placing an intravenous cannula and administering anti-seizure medication. The poorly pup was treated with shock rate intravenous fluid therapy and given intravenous glucose to reduce the effect the xylitol was having on his blood glucose levels.
He was anaesthetised so his stomach could be flushed to ensure all the sweets were out of his system, and closely monitored. Nurses said that if it wasn't for Oak's caretaker's speedy response, he would have died within just 15 minutes.
Oak had to be kept in after blood test showed his liver enzymes had started to increase – a worrying sign as xylitol ingestion can lead to liver failure in 48 to 72 hours.
Tests the following day showed that his liver parameters had almost returned to normal. Oak was sent home with supplements to help his liver heal, and follow-up blood checks.
He has since made a full recovery and is back home with his owner Alistair Meyerhoff. Alistair’s mum, Glenys Meyerhoff - who had rushed Oak to the hospital and witnessed his seizures during the terrifying incident last year - now wants other owners to be aware of the risks sweets can pose to dogs.
She said: “We knew about the dangers of raisins, grapes, and chocolate and what can upset dogs. Xylitol is deadly. Labradors eat anything they can find. It was one of the most frightening experiences.
"We were told there was a slim, to no chance of survival but that miracles happened. It was tough. You never want to see them in that state. The care was absolutely outstanding.
"The speed at which they worked on him saved his life. Oak is now running around as if nothing has happened.”
It also later emerged three other Labs within the family were also suspected of consuming some of the sweets.
The trio were taken to the same hospital for treatment and monitoring. All of the pooches underwent intravenous fluid therapy, with their blood sugar levels checked over the next 24 hours.
Thankfully, they responded to treatment well and were discharged the next day with a follow-up check-up.
Lisa Ferraioli, one of the veterinary nurses involved at Clyde Vet Group Small Animal Hospital, added: “I haven’t seen anything as severe as Oak’s case before. Thankfully, his owners were on the ball and he was here within ten to 15 minutes otherwise he would have died.
“Due to the owners’ swift reactions on getting the dogs to us, and some fantastic teamwork at Clyde, this ended happily for the dogs and their family. Oak truly is our miracle patient.”
"Xylitol, a sugar alcohol used to sweeten sugar-free products, triggers a rapid insulin release in dogs, causing hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar. It leads to seizures and coma, and can also cause liver failure and blood clotting issues, which can be fatal."
Xylitol triggers a rapid insulin release in dogs, causing hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar. It leads to seizures and coma and can also cause liver failure and blood clotting issues, which can be fatal.
The product is found in items such as chewing gum, peanut butter and baked goods as well as in toothpaste, sunscreen, medication and vitamins. Dogs are the only species known to be affected in this way by xylitol.
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