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My Pet World: Artificial sweetener can be toxic for dogs

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Q: You’ve mentioned many times in your column that dog owners can keep their pets occupied by stuffing peanut butter into toys. Recently, I read that some peanut butter contains Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that you’ve reported is harmful to dogs. How dangerous is it? — L.D., Buffalo Grove, Ill.

A: It’s true that some newer peanut butter products contain Xylitol. Dr. Justine Lee, an emergency veterinarian and critical care specialist as well as a toxicologist in St. Paul, Minn., concurs that Xylitol is toxic to pets.

Some sugar-free gum, mints, mouthwash and toothpaste also contain the sugar substitute. Some cookie recipes call for Xylitol. As far as anyone knows, Xylitol is not dangerous to people, but in dogs it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemic shock) and even liver failure.

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While the dosage and the pet’s size will determine if a dog becomes ill, Lee says it’s best to keep products containing Xylitol out of the house all together, since some dogs are keen to sample strange items like toothpaste.

Most dogs love peanut butter, and working to extract this treat from inside a toy offers a kind of occupational therapy, especially for dogs who are home alone or easily bored.

Krush Nutrition peanut butters contain Xylitol, and the company responsibly offers a warning to dog owners on its website. Nuts ‘n more peanut butter spread also contains Xylitol. However, most peanut butter products don’t contain Xylitol. Still, it’s a good idea to check the ingredient list before you buy.

Q: Years ago, I heard that Febreze was dangerous to pets. I heard nothing more until a few weeks ago, when I began reading online warnings to avoid using Febreze. Can it harm pets? — B.C., Minneapolis

A: “You can safely use Febreze around pets,” says Lee. “What you read is an Internet urban myth. It’s simply not true.”

Years ago, shortly after Febreze, a household odor eliminator, hit the market, it was implicated as the cause of illness and death in some pets. This claim was never substantiated, however, and Proctor and Gamble teamed up with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center to determine that Fabreze was safe. Nothing has changed.

Q: Can cats get the dog flu? — N.B., via cyberspace

A: The form of dog flu originally identified in Florida in 2004 has caused periodic outbreaks across the country for years. This strain, which mutated from an equine influenza virus, is known as H3N8. Cats cannot get sick from H3N8, nor can people.

This spring, a new dog flu strain caused an epidemic in the Chicago area, sickening thousands of dogs and causing at least eight deaths. This strain, known as H3N2, is the same as a strain of dog flu seen in Asia. No one knows how it arrived in the U.S.

According to Asian veterinarians, this bug can also make cats sick. However, people aren’t affected.

“So far, there isn’t a single verified (case of a) cat who’s come down with the dog flu in this country,” says Dr. Jill Lopez, senior drug safety specialist at Merck Animal Health.

STEVE DALE hosts the nationally syndicated “Steve Dale’s Pet World” and “The Pet Minute” and is a contributing editor to USA Weekend. Send questions to petworld@stevedale.tv. Include your name, city and state or visit stevedalepetworld.com.

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