Updated
Small mammal food safety
Can Small Mammals Eat Xylitol Candy?
Unsafe
No. Xylitol candy is unsafe for small mammals. If mints, hard candy, gummies, lozenges, wrappers, or crumbs were eaten or chewed, remove access and call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline.
Xylitol candyCall before guessing
If any small mammal ate or chewed xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers, call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline with the species, weight, product, amount, time, and symptoms.
Guinea pigs
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to guinea pigs. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Syrian and dwarf hamsters
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to Syrian and dwarf hamsters. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Rats
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to rats. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Mice
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to mice. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Gerbils
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to gerbils. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Chinchillas
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to chinchillas. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Ferrets
Call if exposed
Do not feed xylitol candy to ferrets. If xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, lozenges, gummies, crumbs, or wrappers were eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product, amount, time, ingredients, and symptoms.
Ingredient details decide the call
Xylitol, other sugar alcohols, caffeine, chocolate, essential oils, wrappers, and large amounts all matter. Keep the package.
Tiny candies are still exposures
Mints, lozenges, and hard candies can look small to a human but are large relative to a small mammal.
If exposure happened
- Remove candy pieces, mints, gummies, lozenges, crumbs, wrappers, tins, bags, sticky residue, and any contaminated bedding or toys.
- Keep the animal contained and calm while you call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline.
- Save the package or ingredient list and note whether xylitol, other sugar alcohols, caffeine, chocolate, or essential oils are listed.
Avoid
- Xylitol candy, sugar-free mints, hard candies, gummies, lozenges, cough drops, wrappers, tins, bags, sticky residue, and candy hidden in bags or pockets.
- Waiting because the candy was small, dry, or only partly chewed.
- Using mints or lozenges as treats because they look plain.
Helpful food-safety supplies
Optional tools for measuring, storing, serving, and cleaning up small portions safely.
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