vetaquadent

Developed by vets, is a refreshing and palatable solution, containing chlorhexidine (anti-plaque agent) and xylitol (limits dental plaque and tartar formation) to help fight your pet's bad breath. Just simply added to your pets drinking water.

Directions: for dogs and cats more than 6 months old: 1/2 cap (6ml) of Vet Aquadent to every 250ml of water. Replace drinking water every 24 hours, even if not finished, using fresh diluted solution, as directed above.

Keep out of reach of children. Formulated for cats and dogs. Store at room temperature. Ingredients Purified water, chlorhexidine digluconate at 0.049%, xylitol, glycerin, hydroxymethylcellulose gum, polysorbate 20, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, extract of barley malt.

Available in 250ml & 500ml bottles

purchase here www.vetuk.co.uk

reprinted with kind permission from Customer Services
Vet UK Ltd

Due to recent publicity surrounding Xylitol poisoning in dogs, I am writing to reassure your readers about our drinking water additive Vet Aquadent which contains Xylitol.

We fully understand reader's concerns and welcome this opportunity to view these reports in context.

Xylitol is used for its proven oral health benefits, but poisoning occurs when high doses are ingested over a short period of time. To swallow a toxic level of Xylitol from Vet Aquadent, a dog would have to drink its own bodyweight in solution diluted to recommended levels (one litre solution per kg bodyweight), within an hour.

Xylitol has been reported to have two potential toxic effects in dogs, depending on the dose ingested. Both these doses are relatively high: low blood sugar can occur if a dog consumes a dose of 100-150mg of Xylitol for every kilogram he weighs. Primary liver toxicity can occur at doses in excess of 500mg of Xylitol per kg of bodyweight. These doses would also have to be swallowed within less than an hour.

One of the most common causes of Xylitol poisoning occurs when a dog eats chewing gum as it contains between 170-1000mg of Xylitol per stick or tablet. Vet Aquadent contains 5mg Xylitol per ml of concentrated liquid or 0.1mg/ml of diluted solution.

Although only recently introduced in the Uk, the Vet Aquadent formulation has been available in the USA and Canada for a few years and I am not aware of any reports of Xylitol poisoning associated with this product.

Callum Blair BVMS MRCVS
Senior Veterinary Advisor
Virbac Limited

source: Your Dog Magazine September 2008