Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,
You may have seen in the news that some peanut butters may be toxic to dogs because they contain the sweetener Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is fine for people and is most often found in sugar-free gums.
But, in dogs, the product radically lowers the blood sugar to a point that could even be fatal. (This would be similar to a diabetic having an overdose of insulin) Do understand that the severity of the problem is usually related to just how much your dog got. That is, a tiny amount may be zero problems but a large amount may be a big problem.
So, if, like many pet owners, you give your pet pills in peanut butter, avoid any that are sweetened with Xylitol.
Some brands that use xylitol include: “Go Nuts,” “Hank’s Protein Plus Peanut Butter,” “Krush Nutrition,” “Nuts n More,” and “P28.”
There are several other names used for xylitol that include anhydroxylitol, birch bark extract, xylite, xylitylglucoside, and zylatol.
We have seen xylitol poisonings at the ER related to ingesting sugar-free gums, but so far no peanut butter problems.
As always, preventing problems with superior knowledge and planning trumps treating problems every time!
And finally,” Choosy Mothers Choose Non-xylitol-sweetened Peanut Butters.” So true!
That is all.
Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic
Dr. John Emerson 