Skip to main content

Household Cleaners & Your Pet


One thing that is commonly overlooked by many pet owners is the types of household cleaners they use and how they can effect your pet. Some people don't think about it since we aren't spraying the cleaners directly on our dogs, however, the cleaners we use on floors and other places where our dogs go or can reach can seriously harm them. For example, Chlorine is a toxic respiratory irritant that can damage pets' skin, eyes, or other membranes. It can be found in all-purpose cleaners, automatic dish washing detergents, tile scrubs, disinfecting wipes, toilet-bowl cleaners, laundry detergents, and mildew removers. According to the National Center for Health Sciences, cleaning products with ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, chlorine, glycol ethers or formaldehyde can put pets at risk for cancer, anemia, liver, and kidney damage. Even when toxic cleaners are put away and closed, the vapors left behind can continue to harm both us and our pets.

Chemicals To Avoid:

  • Phenols (typically found in cleaners with "sol" in the name)
  • Phthalates
  • Formaldehyde
  • Bleach
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Perchlorethylene 
  • Chlorine
  • Bleach
  • Glycol Ethers

Common Cleaning Products That Are Not Safe for Dogs:

  • Floor Cleaners - Including Pine-Sol and Mr. Clean - even if you manage to get all the residue off the floor, the vapor lingers and is dangerous to your pet
  • Bathroom Cleaners - Clorox Bathroom Cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles. Unless you keep your toilet lids closed, avoid continuous toilet bowl cleaners such as Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner for those toilet bowl drinkers. 
  • All Purpose Cleaners - The most common toxic products are Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Spray and Formula 409
  • Drain Openers - You may think that since this is poured directly into a drain, it can't be harmful for your pet. However, the toxic drain openers give off dangerous fumes long after you've emptied them.
  • Glass Cleaners - Windex is not safe for your pet
  • Laundry Detergent - It can leave residue on clothes and pet blankets which can be harmful to your pet, especially for those who chew on their bedding. Avoid detergents with toxic ingredients like Tide and Cheer. Also Fabric Softeners contain detergents that could harm your dog. 
The best, safest, and probably cheapest cleaning products would be ones you can DIY at home (here is a helpful link with recipes here DIY Cleaning), but here is a list of safer store bought alternatives

Safer Cleaning Alternative Brands:
  • Earth Friendly Products
  • Seventh Generation
  • Biokleen
  • Ecover
  • Mrs. Meyers
  • Method



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What To Consider Before Gifting A Dog For The Holidays

With Christmas being right around the corner, it's not uncommon for families to get puppies as a gift for their family member or themselves over the holidays. As wonderful as a gift dogs and puppies are, unfortunately, often times they are soon surrendered for adoption because not enough research was done to ensure the dog you are getting is a good fit for you and your family. Often times, important things to consider prior such as dog's breed, dog's energy levels, dog's temperament, dog's grooming and health needs, the time, attention, and training required, etc. are overlooked before bringing a dog home. For example, if you are interested in a low maintenance dog, a golden doodle, though adorable, may not be the best choice because they require daily brushing and regular grooming every 6-8 weeks to avoid matted hair (see blog post on matting ). Dogs are not objects, dogs are living, breathing creatures and most importantly, they are family. We encourage everyone ...
2 comments
Read more

Tips for Treating Your Dog's Allergies

With allergy season for humans starting to kick into overdrive, lots of people don't realize their dog can also have allergies. If your dog is an obsessive licker or he frequently scratches or scoots across the floor, he may have allergies. Just like humans, dogs can overreact to harmless allergens in the air, sneezing and itching as a result. There are four main types of allergies in dogs: atopy, flea, food, and contact. Atopy refers to enviornmental allergies; a dog's body releases excess histamine when exposed to a higher concentration of pollen in the air. The most common symptoms of atopic allergies are itching, scratching, biting, and chewing. Here are some tips to help prevent or minimize the symptoms of atoptic allergies in dogs: Wipe down your dog to remove allergens after walks Try a hypoallergenic shampoo (or if your dog is allergic to wheat/gluten, then try a wheat and gluten free shampoo) Use appropriate, dog supplements such as biotin or omega-3s (Vet...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dog Friendly Events in 2018

Everyone loves to bring their dog out with them, in fact, most people, including us, wish we could take our pups everywhere! Here is a list of some of the dog friendly events coming up in Richmond in 2018. ●  Pups and Pints  – Beginning in April, Pups and Pints takes place at Ellwood Thompson’s the 2nd Thursday of every month from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This spring, Ellwood Thompson is proud to partner with local breweries to support a different animal-loving, non-profit neighbor each month. $1 from every drink sold goes to the non-profit partner. For more information, click  here . ●  Fido’s After Five  – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden partners with the Richmond SPCA allowing leashed dogs during “Flower’s After 5”. Known as “Fido’s After Five”, this fun event takes place on the following on the nights: June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23, September 13 , 2018. Live music, food and fun! Bring a blanket! In addition to the regular admission fee,...
Post a Comment
Read more