Please Pass This Around
 

When we took our dog to puppy class, the trainer suggested we put peanut butter inside a kong as a treat when we go out. He's two years old now but I still put a smidgen of pb in his kong.

My veterinary surgery presently have a warning up in reception. Some (not all) peanut butter contains something called Xyletol. Xyletol is a chemical used in sugar free gum as a sweetener and it can be deadly to your dog.

If your dog eats xylitol, this sugar substitute enters its blood stream much faster and ,unlike your body, your dog’s body does not recognize that xylitol is not true sugar. The dog’s pancreas then releases large amounts of insulin to deal with it. This can cause a sudden, severe drop in your dog’s blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), similar to what diabetics experience if they take too much insulin. http://www.2ndchance.info/Xylitol.htm

I came home and looked at the label on my peanut butter and was relieved to see it had no Xyletol in it. Its more likely to be in sugar free peanut butter. I then went online to look up what other foods contain Xyletol and the list was alarmingly long, so before you give your dog a bit of your left over food, make sure it doesn't have Xyletol in it.

I heard about this years ago, it's a shame that not many people know about it because poor doggies are probably dying all the time because of it.

Thanks DR I used to give our dog peanut butter but I stopped as he was getting fat, good job :(

..yeah, I've heard this as well..I don't think it's regular supermarket brands but more the specialist ones that people on high protein diets use..bodybuilders and such, but it's not something that I would personally risk though and just wouldn't give it to a dog at all...it's strange when you think about it, that it would be suggested as being ok by a trainer because what if a dog had a nut allergy..can they get nut allergies, I don't know...there can be so much rubbish anyway in human food, I wouldn't give any human food to a pet, just to be on the safe of it...

Well If I ever have a Dog I know not to give them anything with Xyletol in it, thanks for the info.

Though if you want to talk animal cruelty, how about the fact that they are two massive dogs who are only allowed in the small kitchen and back garden (paved, not grass) of a semi-detached house and in a year and a half living here, I haven't seen them being taken for a walk. Ever.

Who needs chewing gum, maybe I can just get the RSPCA to take 'em...

That really is cruel, a neighbour of mine has 2 beautiful German shepherds and I've only ever seen them let out for a wee :(

Will have a search what other foods contain it, thanks.

My in-laws are the same with their two dogs, made only slightly better by the fact that they're just little Jack Russells and have a decent sized garden to run around in whenever they want. But we walk them whenever we're down there (they live in Engerland) and they're always so happy to get out for a walk :(.

I don't get it really. Why get dogs if you don't want to take them out? It's like people who get cats and then keep them indoors as "house cats" :omgno:. I hear a million and one excuses for that but there just isn't one. Cats love being outdoors. It's what they live for. If you live somewhere that it's not possible for them to be out hunting / exploring, don't get a damned cat.