Pets dying from Swiffer Wetjet-Fiction!

Pets Dying From Their Owners' Use of the Swiffer WetJet Product-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
The email says a pet dog had to be put down because of liver failure.
The owner was mystified until spotting a warning on the label of a Swiffer Wetjet floor cleaning product that seemed to indicate danger to children and pets.
He is described as having called the manufacturer and was told that the cleaning ingredient in the Wetjet is only one molecule away from antifreeze, which can be toxic.

The Truth
First, there is no substantiation of this eRumor and, like many rumors, it is written in a way that there is no way to check it out.
There are no names, places, dates, or any professional offices or government agencies where the incident could be confirmed.

The Swiffer Wetjet is a mop-looking gizmo from Procter and Gamble that comes with special disposable absorbent pads and a spray bottle filled with cleaning solution.

According to an FAQ on their website, the makers of the Swiffer Wetjet say the product is safe for pets and does not leave residue on the floor.
They also say that the product does not contain antifreeze or any ingredient similar to it.

Last updated 5/5/04

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

I have not confirmed the below yet, but received it from another Pet
Sitter,
so buyer beware. As I get more info on it I will pass it along.

Jeanette, have you heard anything about this?

Linda

Warning for your animal's health:

I recently had a neighbor who had to have their 5-year old German
Shepherd Dog put down due to liver failure. The dog was completely
healthy
until a few weeks ago, so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause
was.

The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of
some kind.The dog is kept inside, and when he's outside, someone's with
him,
so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe.

My neighbor started going through all the items in the house. When he got
to
the Swiffer Wetjet, he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated
"may
be harmful to small children and animals." He called the company to ask
what
the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out
that anitfreeze is one of the ingredients. (actually he was told it's a
compound which
is one molecule away from anitfreeze). Therefore, just by the dog walking
on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking it's own paws, and
the
dog eating from its dishes which were kept on the kitchen floor cleaned
with
this product, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy its liver.

Soon after his dog's death, his housekeepers' two cats also died of liver
failure. They both used the Swiffer Wetjet for quick cleanups on their
floors.
Necropsies weren't done on the cats, so they couldn't file a lawsuit, but
he
asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don't
lose
their animals.