In light of the recent dog recall, I thought this might be a good time to mention another health concern for dogs.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in items such as chewing gum, mints, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, and oral-care products. It is also purchased in granulated form and used as a sweetener for cereals, beverages, and baked goods. Caution - Xylitol is very toxic to dogs.

Xylitol has grown in popularity during the past few years, primarily because it is considered a good sugar subsitute for those on low-carbohydrate diets as well as those concerned with the glycemic index of foods. Xylitol is also popular among diabetics because it does not cause dramatic peaks of insulin production after use.

Unfortunately, as the popularity of xylitol products has increased so has the number of reported toxic exposures to dogs. In 2003, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center reported three cases of xylitol poisoning. In 2005, 193 cases were reported. And during just the first half of 2006, they received 114 reported cases of xylitol poisoning in dogs.

Most all of these poisonings occurred due to unawareness. Pet owners did not know that Xylitol is a dog poison.

Old research showed the primary Xylitol side effects on dogs was hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Recent research shows it has been discovered to produce acute and possibly life-threatening liver disease.

Dogs seem to absorb almost 100% of xylitol into their systems. Humans absorb only 50%. Only a small amount of xylitol is needed to produce toxic effects in dogs

Watch for these symptoms.
After ingesting xylitol, dogs may begin to vomit and develop hypoglycemia within an hour. Some dogs will develop liver failure within 12 to 24 hours after xylitol ingestion. One reported case involved a 3-year-old dog that ate five or six cookies containing the sweetener. It became ill 24 hours later and died the next day. If your dog ingests xylitol call your veterinarian immediately.
Pet owners who use xylitol-sweetened products in their home need to be aware of its toxic effect on dogs. Please tell your friends and neighbors who own dogs. They need to ensure that their dogs do not get ahold of any of these products.

It could be as innocent as a child or owner sharing a cookie with their best friend. The results could be tragic.
Link:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Press Release http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_082106

Note: Xylitol’s effect on cats is currently unknown. Other sugar sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, sorbitol, mannitol, and sucralose are generally regarded as safe for dogs. However, I see no reason to give any of these ingredients to a pet.

On Friday, Menu Foods issued a recall on “wet” dog and cat foods. Go here for the recall information. You can also call 1-866-895-2708.

An undisclosed number of owners have reported vomiting and kidney failure in their dogs and cats after feeding them certain products. The actual source of the problem with the foods has not yet been identified.

Here are the products that have been recalled:

Dog Foods

Cat Foods

DO NOT CONTINUE TO FEED THESE FOODS!

In the meanwhile, watch your pets for any signs of kidney failure. The signs of kidney failure include loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy.

If your pet displays these symptoms, go to your veterinarian immediately.

Looking carefully at the list, I see both premium and discount foods. This is not the first recall of pet foods in the last year. I will discuss this in more depth in the future.

Your Pets Medicine - Your Veterinarian Or The Internet? (The Conclusion)

If you remember the post regarding your pet’s medicine from a week ago, I showed you how you could possible save on your pet’s medicine by getting your veterinarian to price match your pet’s medicine from the internet.

I also promised to provide you even more information why buying your pets medications online may not be the way to go. Here goes …

Did you know that many products and medications for pets have a guarantee if administered through a licensed veterinarian? Did you also know that most of these guarantees are void when purchased from online retailers? Make sure you read the fine print or check with the retailer if you decide to purchase this way. Get your answer in writing from the retailer or the company who manufactures the product.

A good example would be two owners who give their dogs’ heartworm preventative. Both love their pets and work hard to maintain their dogs’ health and nutrition. Both give the heartworm preventative regularly as prescribed.

Dog owner #1 buys his pets medicine (in this case heartworm preventative) online. Dog owner #2 buys his through his dog’s veterinarian. Let’s say in this particular case, both owners’ dogs test positive for heartworms. Although rare, it can happen.

Dog owner #2’s veterinary bill for heartworm treatment will be paid by the manufacturer as outlined in their guarantee. Why? Because it is documented in his dog’s medical records by his veterinarian.

Dog owner #1 does not have such a luxury. He has to pay the bill entirely out of pocket because he purchased his pets medicine online.

What makes the difference in the two? The manufacturer’s guarantee does! Go to this link (http://www.interceptor.novartis.us/dog/en/about.shtml) and scroll down to the bottom where it says, “Novartis 100% Satisfaction Guarantee to Veterinarians.”

Read that section in its entirety.

Get the picture? Which dog owner will you be?

The guarantee also applies to other products besides heartworm medication. If your dog has a reaction or if for some reason you are unhappy with your pet’s medicine, good luck getting a sympathetic ear from the online vendor!

If you are still determined to go online to buy your pets medicine, check the packaging. Make sure it has the proper expiration. Make sure it is in the correct language. Read the instructions and conditions. And make sure the contents look in satisfactory condition.

To summarize, who do you think really cares about your pet? It should be an easy answer … your veterinarian.

In fact, any decision regarding your pet’s safety and well being should be deferred to professionals.