Sugar-free gum (xylitol) — Food safety facts
Do not feed · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page
Xylitol is a true emergency for dogs — hypoglycaemia within 30 min, liver failure possible. Cats are far less sensitive.
Dogs are rated “Do not feed” and cats “Feed with care”. If both share the house, go by the stricter of the two when you decide what to hand over.
Sugar-free gum (xylitol) should not be given to dogs at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.
Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.
Why these cautions matter
Even a gram or two of xylitol can trigger a sharp drop in a dog's blood sugar, and larger exposures go on to damage the liver.
Added sugar brings empty calories, and over months that means weight gain and dental disease — both far harder to undo than to avoid.
Sugar-free gum (xylitol) has no place in everyday feeding: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged after this and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Sugar-free gum (xylitol) food facts page.