ANIMALS
Birch sugar is made from plant fibers and is finding its way into kitchens more and more often – especially when baking. Birch sugar is harmless to humans. However, this sugar substitute can be life-threatening for dogs.
08.12.2020 07.30
Online since yesterday, 7.30 a.m.
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Birch sugar or xylitol is an alternative to sugar. Figure-conscious people are using birch sugar more and more often in Christmas bakery because it contains 40 percent fewer calories than conventional sugar.
Even in small quantities, life-threatening
Josef Schöchl, the Salzburg Veterinary Directorate, warns against Christmas baking with birch sugar. Because it is highly toxic for dogs: “The ingestion of birch sugar leads to a massive release of insulin, even though there is no sugar at all,” says the veterinary director and subsequently also to coma and finally to the death of the animal. “
A small dose is enough to cause severe poisoning. Even 0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight is poisonous.
“No direct antidote”
Animal owners repeatedly deliver their dogs poisoned to the veterinary clinic in Seekirchen, says veterinarian Manfred Arnezeder: “In the veterinary clinic Seekirchen dogs with birch sugar poisoning have been rescued just in time.” But the vet warns: “We have no direct antidote. We can only look to support the dog with infusions, for example, that is, to treat it symptomatically. “
Birch sugar is highly toxic to dogs
Veterinarians appeal to dog owners not to feed Christmas biscuits with birch sugar and to keep them so safe that the dog cannot help itself. There are also a variety of treats that are specially produced for dogs. If you want to pamper your dog in particular, you can bake your own dog-friendly cookies – without sugar, especially without birch sugar.
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