My Pet World: Artificial sweetener can be toxic for dogs

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 you've reported is harmful to dogs. How dangerous is it? -- L.D., Buffalo Grove, IL

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, MN, 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.

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, as 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.

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Q: Years ago, I heard that Febreze was dangerous to pets. I heard nothing more until a few weeks ago, when I began reading warnings online to avoid using Febreze. Can it harm pets or not? -- B.C., Minneapolis, MN

A: "You can safely use Febreze around pets," says Dr. Justine Lee, emergency veterinarian and critical care specialist, and toxicologist in St. Paul, MN. "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.

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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 Specialist Drug Safety at Merck Animal Health.

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Q: Fleas suck! I've tried everything. How about using Diatomaceous earth as a natural way to solve the flea problem? -- D.C., Tampa, FL

A: Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. Silica deposits are mined from these areas, yielding Diatomaceous earth.

Veterinary parasitologist Dr. Michael Dryden, distinguished professor, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, says Diatomaceous earth can be effective in damaging flea larvae, but does not impact flea eggs or seem to kill adult fleas.

Workers who mine the product are potentially prone to a serious respiratory illness called Silicosis, caused by inhaling silica dust. While Diatomaceous earth may be a natural product, no one knows if it may be unhealthy for people to use the product, or whether it's harmful to pets.

"When there are safe flea products that your veterinarian knows will work, I'm unsure why people would take a chance with this product just because people say so online," Dryden notes. "How about asking your veterinarian?"

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Q: On the radio, you once mentioned four steps to avoid tick disease. Could you repeat the list? -- C.G., South Haven, MI

A: Internal medicine specialist Dr. Carrie White, of Pear City, HI, will do the honors:

1: Monitor your pet's environment: If you know there are ticks in your yard, discourage them by creating an unfavorable tick environment. Ticks don't thrive on concrete. Ticks have a particular affinity for low-hanging bushes, so keep these away from the house. Most importantly, deter wildlife, especially deer, from coming on your property. White concedes this can be challenging, as many people love seeing Bambi in the back yard.

2: Do tick checks: Examine your dog for ticks daily. If you spot one, wear gloves to remove it, White advises. Using tweezers or a tick-removing tool (available online and at many pet stores), pull the tick straight out (without twisting) and save it for your veterinarian to identify. Even when engorged with blood, some ticks are quite small and can be hard to see -- especially in all that dog hair.

3: Use tick products: "Tick products purchased with veterinary input do a very nice job; some even deter ticks from getting on the pet in the first place," says Dr. Michael Paul, past president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

4: Check out the Lyme disease vaccine: Where Lyme exists, the vaccine should be considered.

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