Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT, certified pet dog trainer and owner of Gooddogz Training, provides a place for dog owners to find positive training tips, canine-activities and places to visit along with the latest information on keeping your dog healthy and active. Nancy lives with her three kids, Charlee and Finney the dogs, Jeffi, Pumpkin, and Pepper as well as guinea pigs, canary & clicker-trained rat. Staying current, keeping fresh, and always learning new things is a must for Nancy and her profession because one thing that animals surely teach you is "the more you know, the more you know you don't know."
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Rescue Remedy candies contain Xylitol!!!!!!!
Nov 13, 2008 11:06 AM
Categories: Pet Care and Health
Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower essence, is used widely for it's calming effects on both people and dogs. As a trainer I would say I suggest the use of Rescue Remedy to at least 8 people a month. Callie my fearful foster pup is on her second bottle of Rescue Remedy Spray. I have also used it on myself during one particularly anxiety ridden event and it did help me to take the edge off.
While it is difficult to tell if Rescue Remedy actually works on dogs, in many cases I have seen, it sure does seem to. I had used it confidently up until yesterday when Rescue Remedy could have KILLED my client's dogs.
BEWARE!!! The self proclaimed yoga in a box, has a candy that contains Xylitol, a natural sweeter that is fine for humans but toxic for dogs. Chocolate, grapes, raisins and onions have nothing on Xylitol and the product is becoming more in common in everything to include gum, toothpaste, Jello, candy, mouthwash and baked goods.
Yesterday on my third visit to the home of two young sibling males, it was noted that both dogs have been exhibiting varying degrees of stress. The owner and I were discussing the possibility of trialing them on a homeopathic essence, and she already knew of the wonders of Rescue Remedy and mentioned that she had the candy.
Bach flower essences are widely used in the pet world, and in a million bazillion years I would never expect a Bach product would have Xylitol in it. I take full accountability for giving the dogs the candy and not reading the label more carefully, but at the same time I strongly feel that if I gave it to the dogs, and thought, hey wow, I no longer have to hold the dogs mouth open and force it down their gullet, I am not alone.
I think that shows just how dangerous having Xylitol in Rescue Remedy candy is, and I vow to boycott until either:
A-Xylitol is removed,
or
B-the package contains a huge warning label.
For the record I think all products with Xylitol should contain warning labels, and products containing Xylitol are not allowed in my home and even my kids know to check the ingredients. Be aware also that Xylitol is sold in bulk and more and more people are using it to bake with.
Of course we called the ER and with some degree of difficulty got both dogs to vomit. We then called the poison control number . Poison control will be contaacting Bach to find out the actual amount of Xylitol per candy so in the future they can be of more assistance to dogs and their families in needs.
WARNING---We did learn from Poison Control that Tic Tacs contain the highest amounts of Xylitol and that Tic Tacs are responsible for making more dogs sick than any other product.
While surfing around the web I found web site after web site claiming that Bach flowers are 100 % safe for dogs. Obviously --- not all of them! While I understand fully that the product is not made specifically for dogs, the many essences that certified Bach flower practitioners prescribe for dogs every day are not either.
I am waiting to hear how the two dogs are doing, and will update on them soon. I feel horrible, and again offer my most sincere apology to the family. I truly believe that if I made the mistake it is likely that others could to unless Bach either takes the ingredient out, or issues a warning on the package.
Yasi says,
Wow, that's interesting. I didn't know xylitol was poisonous to dogs. My dentist just gave me a bag of these herbals lollipops that are good for teeth, and I am pretty sure they said they are sweetened with xylitol. Since my dogs have been known to rifle through my backpack in search of treats, I will put the lollipops in a safer place? What does xylitol do? Is it a kidney toxin? How much is too much?
Nov 13, 2008 11:59 AM
Gooddogz says,
Dentists are giving it out a lot these days. it is good for human teeth. I am not going to say how much is too much, but a few sticks of gum can kill a small dog. On a former blog I wrote so many wrote people in about their sick dogs who stole candy. It affects dog's livers, they cannot process it.
Nov 13, 2008 12:08 PM
Gooddogz says,
(opps wrote people-sorry folks!) should read so many people wrote in ---
Nov 13, 2008 12:09 PM
BLS says,
I knew about the dangers with dogs----I know someone whose pup actually died after ingesting some candy with it (they did not know and just figured he was lethargic cause he ate something different--they only worried about chocolate). I made certain that all the stuff I gave out at Halloween did not contain any, cause I did not know who had pets. My skip is a goat so when we walk on the roads, I have to make sure he doesn't pick up gum or candy that has been spit out or dropped.....
Nov 13, 2008 01:49 PM
hylights says,
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/xylitol.asp
Here is the informative snopes article with the info.
Will you post here when Nelson gets back to you with the answer about how much is in the Pastilles?
Nov 13, 2008 01:58 PM
Elfie says,
Nancy, yikes! I hope your client's dogs suffer no ill effects. I too had no idea the Bach Rescue Remedy pastilles contain xylitol and I don't think it would have occurred to me to look either. I would have assumed because it's a Bach product, it would have been safe. Thank you for the warning!
Ugh. Can't trust anybody.
As for Tic Tacs, I just bought some ( mint flavor) as I use them for stress reliever in the car while driving. The ingredients list does not show xylitol, just sugar and maltodextrin. Wonder how the company can get away with that?
Here's a quote from Wiki regarding xylitol toxicity and dogs.
"Dogs ingesting foods containing high doses of xylitol (greater than 100 milligram of xylitol consumed per kilogram of bodyweight) have presented with low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) which can be life-threatening. Low blood sugar can manifest as loss of coordination, depression, collapse and seizures as soon as 30 minutes after ingestion. Intake of very high doses of xylitol (greater than 500 - 1000 mg/kg bwt) has also been implicated in liver failure in dogs, which can be fatal."
Nov 13, 2008 03:38 PM
Gooddogz says,
Are there sugar free tick tacs??? that maybe are different?
thanks for the info Elfie!
Nov 13, 2008 04:42 PM
Elfie says,
I don't know. I think the Tic Tac labeling is suspect! The mint brand I bought today only lists Sugar, and I wasn't aware that the FDA had given the go-ahead to companies to allow xylitol to be called "Sugar".I am going to have to search myself for a substitute driving aid, even though the Tic Tacs reside in the front of my car, and the dogs in back in crates. The business of xylitol in Bach rescue Remedy pastilles is a wake up call for extra diligence!
Have you told Gina and Christie??????
Nov 13, 2008 09:34 PM
K9 Solutions says,
Thanks for the heads up Nancy. I recommend RR sometimes as well. I posted it on my other blog too.
Nov 14, 2008 02:31 AM
browndogs says,
The warning on Xylitol is well taken.
But don't you think the invective in the form of a boycott is a bit over the top? You chose to give dogs a product that's intended for humans and *not* market for use in dogs! Whose fault is that?
A boycott is intended as punishment for something someone has done wrong . . . Bachs did nothing wrong, Nancy! Maybe you should get your priorities straight and stop redirecting blame where it doesn't belong . . .
Nov 14, 2008 08:38 AM
BLS says,
Browndogs: Rescure Remedy is marketed for pets. The web site gives specific conditions and how to use the products for them--for pets.
If it is fact that the FDA is allowing Xylitol to be shown as sugar on labels, its probably time to get pet lovers together to petition the FDA to change that ruling.
Nov 14, 2008 08:45 AM
MAA says,
I am all for petitioning the FDA; however the product that nearly killed my dog, Hammer Nutritions HEED has not been evaluated by the FDA. I think the only way to get company's to do the right thing like Trident is to force them with civil suits, as there is no law that requires them to put a warning about Xylitol's effects on dogs for food intended for humans. If that company had acted like Trident, I would have read the label and Known not to give any to my dog. But for Xylitol to be this lethal to our family members without warning is not right.
Apr 14, 2009 05:42 PM
MannerlyMutt says,
Yeeps, apparently read this ad.
http://organicpharmacy.org/products/Rescue.Remedy.Pastilles.-.Black.Currant
Nov 14, 2008 05:13 PM
Gooddogz says,
Thank you for posting that link! !!! ! ! !
For those who have not clicked it, it is a company that sells Bach products touting the
Rescue Remedy candy as safe for pets.
Looks like I have a lot to phone calls and emails ahead of me on Monday.
Nov 16, 2008 07:53 AM
MannerlyMutt says,
Luckily, I don't use it, so I don't need to boycott it. But I will warn others about it.
Nov 14, 2008 05:14 PM
danemumma says,
Nancy, thank you for reminding us that we always need to check ingredients! I would never in a hundred years have thought to look at the pastilles list of ingredients. We've used Rescue Remedy for years. It's a good reminder that we all needed. I appreciate it and I'm sure you feel terrible about this.
Nov 15, 2008 04:35 PM
Elfie says,
Be sure to include Gina and Christie in your emails. The more the word is spread, and the more of us who join you in your email brigade and send emails to the Bach Essences Contact Us link and include links to sites that definitively back up that Xylitol is toxic for dogs, the better!!!!
Nov 16, 2008 06:56 PM
Gooddogz says,
I looked up tic tacs and there is a sugarless version that lists xylitol. I sent Gina an email. i don't have Christie's, but a lot of people will see this post on alltop.com.
Nov 16, 2008 07:24 PM
danemumma says,
I found a list of products that have xylitol.....don't know how complete it is but it sure does make you aware of this problem. http://www.parkanimalhosp.com/XYLITOL-1.pdf
Nov 17, 2008 09:11 AM
magicmistic says,
On the Rescue Remedy web site, it lists the ingredients for both types of pastilles (Original and Black Currant). The Black Currant type is listed as containing xylitol, but the Original is listed as containing only sorbitol.
Does the ingredients list on the actual tin for the Original variety differ from what is on the web site?
Just wondering.
Nov 20, 2008 09:22 PM
greylover says,
I use RR but I would never, ever use the pastilles. I always use the drops. It's so much easier - just drop it into the drinking water. I've checked the Bach website and can find no listing for xylitol in the drops. Anyone know any different?
Nov 25, 2008 08:51 AM
NJTerv says,
Maybe before you use any Bach Flower remedies you should first find out the truth behind these over the counter cures.
There is no scientific proof that the flower essences in Rescue Remedy actually does anything. If you want the same results (at a lot cheaper) use the old way of curing a crying (or teething) baby
8 ounce class of milk.
3 soup-spoons brandy (this is for a dog about the size of a Sheltie) - more brandy for bigger dogs, less for smaller.
It is not the Flower essences that is calming the dog, but the brandy (you are getting the dog slighting drunk). Bach Rescue remedy is also uses brandy to "calm" the dog
* * *
Nyquil also work wonders in calming down handlers - take a couple of capfuls before doing agility and you will not care what your dog is doing on the course
see also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_flower_remedies
Dec 1, 2008 07:20 PM
Bettina says,
We have received numerous inquiries about the safety of using the original Bach Flower Rescue Pastilles on dogs. The safety of using Rescue Pastilles on dogs, due to the sweetener, Xylitol is being investigated.
The sweetener, Xylitol, in Rescue Pastilles is not used in any other Bach Flower product. Other than the Pastilles, no Bach Flower Remedy contains any sweetener.
Send us an email with your name, address and telephone number to this address safety@bachflower.com and we will keep you posted on the newest developments and the eventual news release.
Temporarily we are offering a 5% discount coupon towards the purchase of Rescue Remedy Pet.
Rescue Remedy Pet has been formulated for the most delicate of pets. Rescue Remedy and Rescue Remedy Pet like the complete line of Bach Flower Remedies does not contain the sweetener Xylitol or any other sweetener.
Rescue Remedy Pet contains the same active ingredients found in Rescue Pastilles, but does not contain the sweetener that is the source of concern.
Visit www.bachflowerpets.com and enter this 5% discount coupon number with your order: Coupon Code PETSAFE08
We will ship the same day if received by mid-morning.
Thank you for contacting us,
Bettina Rasmussen, CEO, BachFlower.com
(www.bachflower.com and www.directlyfromnature.com)
Dec 1, 2008 11:39 PM
Nelson-Bach says,
Nelsons statement on use of Xylitol in Rescue Pastilles re: pets There has been some confusion from pet owners recently reported on blogging websites regarding Rescue® Pastilles and animals. Nelsons does not recommend giving Rescue Pastilles (a product intended for humans) to any animal as they contain Xylitol - a natural sweetener found to improve human oral hygiene, but which is not suitable for pets. To clear up any misunderstanding, Rescue® Remedy spray and dropper products and Bach™ Original Flower Remedies do not contain Xylitol. We recommend that pet owners should always check with their vet before giving any new health product to their animals. For animals within the U.S., we recommend Rescue® Remedy Pet from the Rescue range. Rescue Remedy Pet is a blend of five Bach flower essences in an alcohol-free, glycerine formula. It is available as a dropper purchasable at Whole Foods Market or go to www.rescueremedy.com/pets for additional information.
Dec 3, 2008 12:10 PM
knvet says,
This story underlines the importance of not assuming anything when using human products on dogs or cats. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have sen pets killed or made seriously ill by well intentioned people not checking with their veterinarian before administering medication or supplements.
Keith Niesenbaum, VMD
www.crawforddogandcathospital.com
Mar 17, 2009 11:37 AM
thorn says,
dr. niesenbaum, with all respect for Ur education and work, that comment sounds quite condemnatory -- and ignorant as well.
Bach remedies are homeopathics; according to conventional allopathic medicine, or even classical physics, there are NONE of the original-ingredients present in the finished-formula... as each step is a magnitude of potency in the processing. there is no interaction with other meds. with over 30-yrs of personal experience, i have yet to hear of, or see, any side-effect whatever in my clients pets -- or my clients -- or myself -- or my pets -- or indeed, even have heard about one side-effect, third-hand. Ever.
as i have adverse-drug-reactions myself, i can directly respond to that ALONE as a huge plus.
Bach formularies have been used by humans and animals for over a century; other than Coke-syrup for upset stomachs, i know of *nothing* that is less-likely to cause problems in the patient -- and XYLITOL most-assuredly was not even invented when Bach created his formularies.
the original-compounder is long since dead and buried; the current company is solely responsible for this cock-up with Xylitol as an ingredient. precisely BECAUSE Bach formulas are well-known as being not merely GRAS, but downright innocuous, is the root of the problem: people, as noted above, do not READ the ingredients panel!
we are not talking here about someone casually popping a Tylenol into a 10# pet;
we are talking about a long-accepted, very well-tested, COMMON over-the-counter homeopathic treatment, whose ingredients were altered without notice to consumers.
thank DoG, i have only ever used the drops and never the pastilles, and also have only ever recommended the drops (and never in water; as-is in a dose, to ensure they go down, or alternatively, massaged into the pinnae or otherwise thru the skin).
so i have never suggested the pastilles -- or i might be the one giving H2O2 to a clients dog, and worrying myself sick over the prospect of causing illness.
homeopathic and allopathic medicine are entirely dissimilar; homeopathy is far more popular on the other side of the Atlantic, and millions of Europeans test it daily for efficacy and safety; that is why the lower-potency formulas are OTC, not prescription.
i am not a vet, but a doggone-good practical nurse and a certified Vets Assistant --
i never prescribe, and i ALWAYS tell people to check with their vet before changing anything - from diet to exercise to husbandry.
but not one vet, IME, has ever said that any homeopathic was worth worrying over; most vets in the past have regarded them as placebos, the equivalent of sugar-pills or meditation.
increasing numbers of allopathic-vets are adding homeopathics to their repertoire,
which i feel is a good thing; not too long ago, 80% or more of vets would never have dreamed of advising hydrotherapy for dogs post-surgery to recover from hip or knee surgery; now about 8 of 10 suggest it routinely. i think that, too, is an excellent development.
a broader range of options for care, whether prevention or treatment, can only be
beneficial to the animal patients and their human families, IMO.
best regards,
----- terry
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, IPDTA, TDF
'change behaviors -- not pets!' [tm 1985]
Apr 26, 2009 10:08 AM
Gooddogz says,
Hi Terry,
Thanks for stopping by! Lots of great info there. Dr. Niesenbaum and I twittered about this subject a bit and I am sure he is just looking out for pet's best interest. I still will not suggest RR to clients, and will not until they take the Xylitol o-u-t.
Apr 26, 2009 04:13 PM
thorn says,
hey, nancy! :--) i just specify Rescue-Remedy DROPS, which contain zero Xylitol.
re Dr Niesenbaum, that may be; still, to condemn any use whatever of *human-products* on dogs or cats and implying that all *human-products* (potentially at least) are lethal or highly dangerous, is exaggeration and hyperbole, IMO. of course, then we have dangerous advice from other-sources (BOOK, Smarter than you think - encourages use of ALL human products ONLY on pets - IOW, use no pet-products whatever - including human-TOOTHPASTE - Fluoride is a poison! dogs cannot SPIT, so using human-toothpaste is very dangerous indeed.). knowing what is safe and what is not-safe is crucial. low-dose OTC-homeopathics are, to my knowledge and IME, GRAS - Generally Regarded As Safe - remedies. Cheers, and happy training! ------- terry *** terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, IPDTA, TDF; *** 'change is Good... You first!' [sept 2004]
May 7, 2009 12:07 PM
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