Many owners feed their dogs peanut butter either as a snack or as a way to give them medications. In general, this works very well – I mean, dogs do love peanut butter.
Unfortunately, there are now some brands of peanut butter that contain xylitol. This is a type of artificial sweetener similar in function to aspartame or sucralose, and it is safe for humans. However, it is highly toxic to dogs and may cause severe illness or death if ingested in great enough quantities.
So, if you give your dog peanut butter, please check the list of ingredients first. And remember – this also applies to food made with peanut butter, such as cookies or treats.
Xylitol may also be found in other products. The most well known xylitol-containing product in the past has been certain types of chewing gum, but we now know that there are hundreds of household products that contain xylitol including things like toothpaste, mouthwash, mints, shampoos, and cleaners. If you think your dog has eaten something, check the label to see if it contains xylitol.
Here is a complete list of foods that may be toxic for your pet:
It can be scary knowing that there are foods that can harm pets when they ingest them. Knowing what to avoid and being careful about where food is kept will help keep your pet safe.
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