This Product Kills Pets!

 This Product Kills Pets!
Internet Rumors: Are They True or False?

by Dr. Michael Fagan

When was the last time you encountered a sensational-sounding internet pet health alert?  Swiffer?  Sugar free gum?  Any number of pet foods alleged to be harmful?  Rumors are very common and spread at nearly the speed of light.  So how can you discern whether a particular rumor should be ignored or heeded?

Let's look at an example that illustrates a few of the classic signs of a FALSE rumor (some are true!): 

"Swiffer kills pets! "

"Birkie" Eyes the Swiffer

A google search of that phrase turns up several versions (this particular rumor has been around for years), but this post is still in the top 5 search results:

                "I was just informed today that my Sister's young cat has just passed away. Coincidentally, after using SWIFFER for the first time. Her death was described as "just keeled over and died." When my Mother told me this, she also said her friend's dog died from using SWIFFER. Outraged, I googled "SWIFFER KILLS ANIMALS", and produced some results with other allegations! Has anybody heard of this happening???? I was actually going to buy a SWIFFER in the near future. NOT ANYMORE! I have three furbabies! Thought I'd pass this info along."

She followed a few posts later (after others assured her that Swiffer is safe) with, "Sorry for the dramatism. I just got very scared and wanted to share with everyone the news I had just heard."

Signals that skepticism is due:   

• The Fear Factor   
  
• Second or Third Hand Information - (my sister's, my mother's friend's, etc.) is less reliable.  Note that there was no verification of the cause of death.
• Vague,Improbable, or Multiple Symptoms - ("just keeled over and died")  Don't you think the manufacturer would have noticed if this were a common symptom?  
• Claims of Similarity to Other Scary Chemicals - Swiffer was reported by other emphatic posts to be "one molecule away from antifreeze" and "causes liver failure".  We can probably assume that they meant that propylene glycol is one carbon atom away from ethylene glycol (antifreeze), which is irrelevant since propylene glycol is a safe food additive.  Besides, antifreeze causes kidney failure, not liver failure.

The verdict:  Swiffer products are safe for use around pets.

So, if you encounter an alarming claim about a product, a little research can often ease your mind.  Some useful websites includewww.snopes.com, ASPCA Poison Control , Centers for Disease Control , FDA recall notices, and OSHA's Material Safety Data Sheets (search by company name and "msds").  Of course, you can also call us!  (262-569-0801) We have addressed many of these stories before, so we may have a quick answer, or if it's new to us, we have a network of specialists and other veterinarians available  for consultations.

By the way, sugarless gum with xylitol can cause major problems in dogs! (see our previous blog post)