clipped from: wbztv.com

Artificial Sweetner Toxic For Man's Best Friend

(WBZ) BOSTON A popular sweetener, though safe for humans, is causing a toxic and often deadly reaction when consumed by man's best friends.

Julie Strum said she still thinks about what could have happened to Gretta, her energetic lab.

Gretta ate Xylitol, a popular sweetener that's safe for humans but can be lethal if eaten by dogs, something many pet owners don't know about.

"On the floor were bits and pieces of what used to be a pack of gum."

"They love the taste of it."

the toxic reaction is quick.

If a veterinarian doesn't see the dog immediately, again, they can die

It only takes a small amount of Xylitol for a dog to get sick. A 20-pound dog only needs to eat three or four pieces of gum.

Xylitol is a hidden danger because many dog owners never know that their dogs ate the sugar substitute. It's found more and more often in everyday products.

There are no reported cases of cats getting sick from Xylitol.