Brand guide · Source-based

Which gum and peanut butter brands contain xylitol?

A brand-by-brand guide to the gums and peanut butters that contain xylitol, how much is in each piece, and how to spot it on a label before it ever reaches your dog.

6 min readPublished 2026-05-19Sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026

A small dog sniffing pieces of sugar-free chewing gum on a kitchen counter — a scenario that lands hundreds of dogs in the ER every year. — A single dropped piece of sugar-free gum can be enough to drop a small dog's blood sugar within 10–15 minutes, or it can be delayed up to 12–18 hours with some gums. Keep gum, mints and handbags out of your dog's reach.

Your dog already ate gum or xylitol? Go to the dog-ate-xylitol emergency guide and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now.

TL;DR

One piece of high-xylitol gum (Pur, Ice Breakers Ice Cubes, Spry) can be toxic to a 10–20 lb dog. Call a vet or 24/7 poison-control hotline immediately — do not wait for symptoms.

Check my dog now Dog ate xylitol? What to do now

Peanut butter: which brands contain xylitol?

Most mainstream peanut butters are sweetened with sugar, not xylitol — but a handful of specialty, "keto" and high-protein spreads have used it. Brands that have been named in published xylitol warnings include Go Nuts Co., Krush Nutrition, Nuts 'N More, P28 Foods and Protein Plus PB. Recipes change, so treat any list — including this one — as a starting point, not a guarantee.

How to read the label

Look for xylitol, birch sugar, birch bark extract or E967 in the ingredients.
"Sugar-free", "no sugar added" and "keto" claims are the biggest warning signs.
Check "sugar alcohols" on the nutrition panel — xylitol is often counted there.
Dog-specific peanut butters and plain, single-ingredient peanut butter are the safest choice for treats and pill pockets.

Why gum is different from other "people foods"

In humans, xylitol is processed by the liver with no insulin response. In dogs, the pancreas mistakes it for glucose and dumps a flood of insulin into circulation. Blood sugar crashes within 10–15 minutes, or up to 12–18 hours later with some gums. At higher doses, the same exposure triggers hepatocellular necrosis 12–72 hours later — even in dogs that initially looked fine.

The trap with gum specifically: xylitol content varies five-fold between brands. A pack of Trident and a pack of Pur look identical to an owner and very different to a small dog's pancreas.

Xylitol per piece — by brand

Brand	Xylitol per piece	Notes
Trident (most flavors)	220 mg	—
Orbit	190 mg	—
Stride	220 mg	—
Pur (high-xylitol brand)	1000 mg	Marketed as 100% xylitol-sweetened — single piece is dangerous for small dogs.
Spry	720 mg	Sold in health-food aisles as dental gum.
Ice Breakers Ice Cubes	1000 mg	Among the highest mg-per-piece on shelves.

Values are approximate, based on public manufacturer disclosures and published toxicology data. Always check the actual package — formulations change.

How much xylitol is dangerous, by your dog's weight

Two thresholds matter. Hypoglycemia kicks in at about 0.1 g/kg (100 mg/kg). Liver failure risk starts at about 0.5 g/kg (500 mg/kg).

Dog weight	Hypoglycemia at	Liver-failure risk at
5 lb	227 mg	1,134 mg
10 lb	454 mg	2,268 mg
20 lb	907 mg	4,536 mg
40 lb	1,814 mg	9,072 mg
60 lb	2,722 mg	13,608 mg
80 lb	3,629 mg	18,144 mg

Cross-reference with the per-piece table above. Example: a 10 lb dog hits the hypoglycemia threshold at ~454 mg — about one piece of Ice Breakers Ice Cubes.

Don't trust "they seem fine."

A dog that looks normal at hour 1 can be hypoglycemic at hour 3 and in liver failure at hour 36. Treatment success depends on starting before symptoms.

The source-based 90-second action plan

Find the package. The brand decides everything. Photograph the ingredient panel.
Count what's missing. Include chewed pieces and any in the dog's mouth.
Weigh your dog in lb or kg.
Call your vet or a 24/7 animal poison-control hotline. Do not wait for symptoms.
Do not induce vomiting unless directed — hypoglycemic dogs aspirate easily.

Frequently asked questions

Is gum toxic to dogs?+

Any gum sweetened with xylitol is dangerous, even in small amounts. Xylitol triggers a massive insulin release in dogs (not humans), causing life-threatening hypoglycemia within 10–15 minutes, or up to 12–18 hours later with some gums. Higher doses cause acute liver failure 12–72 hours later. Some poisonings show signs later than this. If in doubt, call your vet.

How much gum is toxic to a dog?+

Hypoglycemia begins at roughly 0.1 g/kg (100 mg/kg) of xylitol. For most gum brands (200–1000 mg xylitol per piece), a single piece can be toxic to a 10–20 lb dog. The hepatic-failure threshold is around 0.5 g/kg.

How long after eating gum will a dog show symptoms?+

Hypoglycemia signs (weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, collapse, seizures) can start within 10–15 minutes or be delayed up to 12–18 hours with some gums (the gum base slows absorption). Liver injury can show 12–72 hours later. Some poisonings show signs later than this. If in doubt, call your vet.

What should I do if my dog ate gum?+

Call a vet or 24/7 animal poison-control hotline immediately, regardless of dog size or how much was eaten. Bring the package — xylitol content varies wildly between brands. Do not wait for symptoms; treatment is dramatically more effective before glucose crashes.

Will my dog be OK if it ate one piece of gum?+

Maybe — depends entirely on the brand and your dog's weight. One piece of Trident in a 60 lb lab is unlikely to cause hypoglycemia. One piece of Pur or Ice Breakers in a 10 lb dog can. Always call to triage with the actual brand.

Should I make my dog throw up if it ate gum?+

Only if a vet or poison-control hotline tells you to. Inducing vomiting on a dog that's already hypoglycemic or seizing is dangerous. Call first.

Is sugar-free gum without xylitol safe for dogs?+

Gums sweetened only with sorbitol, mannitol, or aspartame are not acutely toxic, but can still cause GI upset and intestinal obstruction (the gum base doesn't digest). Read the ingredient label — xylitol may also be listed as 'birch sugar.'

Can xylitol kill a dog?+

Yes. Untreated severe hypoglycemia and acute hepatic failure from high-dose xylitol exposure are fatal. Mortality drops sharply when treatment starts within the first 2–3 hours.

Sources

Dunayer EK. New findings on the effects of xylitol ingestion in dogs. Vet Med. 2006.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — xylitol toxicosis monograph
Pet Poison Helpline — xylitol clinical reference
Merck Veterinary Manual — Toxicology section (11th edition)

Sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. Educational reference, not veterinary advice.