Should Dogs Eat Peanut Butter? Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group Warns of the Potential Dangers of Xylitol

AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group™, the provider of ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance, is warning pet parents of the potential danger when dogs eat peanut butter containing xylitol.

"We recommend that you ask your veterinarian before giving any specific people food to your dog. For most dogs, peanut butter is fine," said Dennis Rushovich, Senior Vice President, Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group. "However, pet parents do need to avoid any peanut butter that contains xylitol. It can be lethal to dogs.

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener. It's a good sugar substitute for humans, especially people with diabetes. For this reason, it is an ingredient in many foods, including some peanut butters.

"If consumed by a dog, xylitol can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure and death. So, pet parents should be sure to read labels and avoid feeding their dog any food that contains the ingredient," said Wendy Hauser, DVM, AVP, Veterinary Relations, Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group. "Also, be on the lookout for other names that also refer to xylitol, including xylite, anhydroxylitol, d-xylitol, xylitylglucoside and 1,4-anhydro-d-xylitol."

In 2014, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received more than 3,700 xylitol-related calls. If you believe your dog consumed a product containing xylitol:

• Take your dog to the veterinarian or pet emergency room as quickly as possible. Try to bring the package or suspect product with you.
• Consider rubbing corn syrup or maple syrup on their gums to raise blood sugar levels temporarily.

For more information and shareable content, including a video, please visit https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/peanut-butter-month.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is provided by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group through its licensed agency. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.

Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group is a trademark of United States Fire Insurance Company.

C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Crum & Forster is comprised of leading and well-established property and casualty business units.

Media Contact:
Travis Reynolds, Director, Media Relations
[email protected] 
(234) 231-1830

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SOURCE Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group