What is aspartame?
Aspartame is a chemical compound made from the two amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid. It was discovered by chance in 1965 and has been approved as a food additive since 1981. Aspartame has a very high sweetening power: it is around 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is therefore often used in small quantities to save calories.
How does aspartame affect dogs?
Aspartame is broken down in the body to phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. These substances can normally be processed by humans without any problems. However, various side effects can occur in dogs.
Disadvantages of aspartame for dogs
Aspartame can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting or flatulence in dogs. In addition, allergic reactions such as skin rashes or itching can occur in sensitive animals.
Another risk of aspartame for dogs is phenylketonuria (PKU). This is a rare hereditary disease in which the body is unable to break down phenylalanine. This leads to an accumulation of phenylalanine in the blood and brain, which can cause severe damage. PKU mainly occurs in certain breeds of dog such as Irish Setters or Border Collies. If your dog has PKU or you are not sure, you should not give him aspartame.
Benefits of aspartame for dogs
In contrast to other sugar substitutes such as xylitol or erythritol, aspartame has one advantage for dogs: it does not trigger a strong insulin release or hypoglycemia. This means that it has no effect on blood sugar levels and therefore poses no risk of diabetes.
In addition, aspartame has no effect on the liver function of dogs. This distinguishes it from xylitol, which can lead to acute liver failure above a certain dose.
