Schweikert Introduces Bipartisan Bill Protecting Pets from Harmful Chemicals

Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) has introduced a bipartisan bill to require food products to include xylitol warnings to protect pets.

Xylitol is an additive commonly found in candy, baked goods, and vitamins used to replace sugar, but it is lethal to dogs when consumed.

Thus, Rep. Schweikert's bill would amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require foods with xylitol to have clear labels and warnings about the chemical's lethality to pets or otherwise be mislabeled and pulled from the market, along with pet-proofing the containers for such products.

Named the "Paws Off" Act, the bill was inspired by Ahana Kameshwar, an 11-year-old girl who lost her beloved husky, Loki, to xylitol poisoning. Rep. Schweikert first introduced it in January 2023.

As Kameshwar explained to the Arizona Congressman, her dog Loki had gotten into a container of melatonin pills accidentally left out after returning from a vacation.

"Those pills; they had 250 milligrams of xylitol in each tablet. Here's the problem: the xylitol was listed, but the dosage wasn't. Loki [ingested] about 85 tablets. His liver started failing, and ultimately, we had to put him down," Kameshwar continued.

As VCA Animal Hospitals explained, xylitol poisoning in dogs is the result of increased insulin levels in the bloodstream and drastic drops in blood sugar as a result of xylitol absorption, and larger doses can cause liver failure in 24-48 hours.

In his press release, Schweikert said, "We have been working tirelessly to move this simple yet impactful piece of legislation through Congress," adding, "The damage of these sugar alcohols is truly lethal for our pets and furry companions. All it takes is a simple labeling fix to prevent more people from enduring the heartache that Ahana went through, and better yet, to save the lives of animals across America."

In May, the Arizona Congressman was part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers calling for protecting another species of four-legged friends, the few remaining herds of wild horses roaming the American West.