It’s no fun seeing your pup shivering in the cold on your regular morning walk. Open a box of baking soda and keep it in a safe place away from curious pets. These chemicals are often simply referred to as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Since soft furnishings can hoard bad smells, wash them regularly using a pet-safe detergent. Scented candles can emit hazardous chemicals. "Air fresheners almost killed my dog!" After you introduce a diffuser in a room and for a little bit afterwards, take note of any unusual behavior or side effects. We all want nice smelling homes. Baking soda absorbs smells, so placing an open box out of reach of a pet in a room will help to clear the air. The number of these oils that are dangerous to pets is extensive, some of them are listed and worth reading up on. Symptoms and Types. After a wet walk, wash paws in warm water to remove mud. About 20 percent of the population and 34 percent of people with asthma report health problems from air fresheners. Exp 03/02/22/05/L2 Exp 03/02/22/05/L3 Exp 03/03/22/05/L2 Sportmix Energy … Marianne Whyte's dog became very sick after being exposed to scents released by an oil diffuser: "Saturday night I got home late and my dog didn't recognise me. *Pet Poison Helpline, is an animal poison control service available 24 hours, 7 days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet – including birds! Had Badger not woken her when he did, Farrah would likely have died. Toxic Synthetic Air Fresheners. The same applies to pet bedding. ugh.). If you notice more sneezing, coughing, water eyes, and runny noses in your pets after you use either a plug-in or spray air freshener, your pet may be sensitive to them. Even air fresheners called "organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens. An article in Science Daily, 2nd October 2019 reminds me of a 'Paws' I wrote a few years ago about the negative affects air fresheners of various kinds may have on our dogs. If opening a window is not an option, you could invest in an air purifier that will remove allergens and other pollutants from the air. Severe skin issues should always be treated by a vet. When picking a house plant, check that it is non-toxic to your pet. Phthalates have been linked to early puberty in humans, obesity, male reproductive health problems, birth defects, and testicular lesions and altered DNA in human sperm. Finally, invest in some good drying coats for your dog to wear after a walk or swim, to wick away any water and prevent it seeping into pet bedding, carpets or furniture. Scented candles give off toxins as well. In some cases, this toxicity can cause long-term liver issues and/or death. You might also opt to limit access to certain rooms while your pet dries. These occur for a few reasons—they can be due to a pet not being sufficiently groomed, a skin condition, or caused when the dog has been out and gotten wet or muddy. Sources: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats They are also more sensitive to some of the ingredients, such as ethanol. The reason 1,4-Dichlorobenzene is found in air fresheners is that it is a nerve-deadening chemical that coats your nasal passages so you can't smell anything. Dogs have very sensitive noses and are easily affected by air fresheners. Air fresheners cause bad health health problems. During the 1990s, the air freshener market experienced a massive resurgence thanks to the introduction of convenient “plug-in” air fresheners. VOCs are essential to air fresheners as they help to quickly and easily distribute scent about the room. There are currently no items in your cart. Propane has been shown to be toxic humans since it damages the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and nervous system. I have no idea what made me think of the air freshener at 1 am but thank goodness I did. Sunday afternoon he was feeling better.". If you can't go outside, bring the outside in with open windows. To quote Science Daily:… Marianne's dog was lucky, but vets are seeing more and more cases of pets being poisoned by essential oils used in diffusers, burners or incense. Remember when you were feeling sick and your mom would make you go outside and get some fresh air? The chemicals may land on their fur, which they will groom and ingest. bag. In this case, an air purifier might be a good investment for your health as well as your pet's. What these chemicals all share in common is that they vaporise at room temperature and release a scent. Many are made with synthetic chemicals that produce indoor pollutants that affect animals. In fragrances, Phthalates are used to prolong the length of time that a scent lingers. Apparently, dichlorobenzene is chemically similar to the ingredients in the banned pesticide DDT and other similar compounds such as DDE and DDD. To be fully safe, it is better not to use any of these forms of natural air fresheners around your dogs. House plants help to naturally purify the air and some give off a pleasant perfume. Sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and lethargy may be telltale signs that something is not right. I’ve not read about the dangers of plug-in air fresheners to … air fresheners were negatively impacting on 20% of the US population and 34% of known asthma sufferers, suspected of causing reproductive issues and birth defects, Mental impairment, such as problems with memory. Anything to take away that smell and make a home fresh and pleasant to both themselves and visitors. Washing at a high temperature (around 60 degrees) will also kill flea eggs. But some therapeutic grade essential oils can be beneficial to pets when used very carefully and cautiously. These air fresheners rely on heat induction technology and special heat-activated scented gels to continually release a scent. No one wants to stink. The dog owner continued: ... and the star used it to make a DIY air freshener last October. Your pet will later walk on those surfaces and absorb the chemicals through their paws. I realised that I had been running my new diffuser and decide to turn it off. However, the fragrance will linger for some time and can still be inhaled along with nasty chemicals. A reaction can be subtle and may even be mistaken for the dog simply being tired, or getting old. Many air fresheners are poisonous to dogs and they can react to them just by smelling them. Case 3: A 2-year-old girl swallowed up to 20 air freshener beads, became very drowsy, and had a low heart rate. Before using air fresheners, you need to know the dangers they pose to your pet. Scented candles also contain VOCs, along with other hazardous substances. Aerosol sprays are made up of tiny particles of chemicals that quickly enter the bloodstream when inhaled. If this happens, immediately remove your pet from the … Scents and your dog. Air fresheners are often used to eliminate doggy odours from a home. Not all candles and air fresheners are created equally. In the holidays, using oranges dotted with cloves is a very traditional way of adding a festive aroma to a room. Many are made from paraffin wax which, when burned, releases chemicals known to cause cancer. Choose natural rubber dog toys that are BPA and phthalate free to keep your pet from being exposed to this dangerous chemical. When burned these emit toxic smoke. Typical symptoms include your dog developing a cough, getting tired more frequently, weight loss without you trying to get him to lose weight, wheezing, and anything else respiratory related. The simplest and cheapest solution is to open a window and let in fresh air. Toxicity: Minimally toxic in small taste amounts.. Expected symptoms: Skin irritation with prolonged exposure and minor stomach upset, some mouth or throat irritation with ingestion.. What to do: Wipe out mouth with a wet wash cloth and give your child a drink of water to wash the air freshener down to the stomach. There are no laws that require manufacturers to list any of the ingredients in air fresheners. Check out this article about plants you should avoid around your pets. Even if you make sure your pets are out of the room where you plan to spray, the product lands on every surface. Pets should never been in the room when an air freshener spray is used, and if furniture is treated, it must be fully dry before a pet is allowed near it. If you live somewhere with high pollution rates or you suffer from allergies, opening a window may not be an option for getting fresh air. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Before using air fresheners, you need to know the dangers they pose to your pet. She competes in agility and obedience with her four dogs. Dog owners are all familiar with that distinctive 'doggy smell' that can accumulate in a home, especially during winter when windows are kept shut and dogs come in wet or muddy from walks. They can cause a wide range of dog symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, hormonal imbalances, allergies, neurological disorders and cancer. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can be fatal. My husband is a big, strong guy, and is able to communicate when these toxins make him feel ill, but our pets are unable to say with words when they don't feel well. When you first use them, a pet might immediately withdraw from the area or cower. The wick can also be a source of danger. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Some wicks contain or are wrapped in metal. The first step to helping with this problem is to invest in a good waterproof coat for your dog. This chemical is a known carcinogen and an EPA-registered pesticide that is found in the majority of air fresheners. According to OSHA (the US government's department for promoting workplace safety), "Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen. Dried herbs such as lavender can be used to fragrance a home naturally. Do yourself and your pets a favor and skip the commercial air fresheners! They can still harm pets if inhaled. If you are a dog breeder, definitely stay away from air fresheners and other products that contain Phthalates to prevent reproductive harm! To add a fragrance to your home, you could dry using fresh flowers that have a scent, or dried herbs such as lavender. I recently bought a glade air freshener. Pick beds with removable covers that can be easily and regularly washed. According to Dr. Mahaney, the negative effects of air fresheners may appear immediately or within a few hours or days after use. Doggy smells are a common reason for pet owners to want to freshen a room. Breathing hard coughing panting! As far as the dangers of plug-in air fresheners, you bring up a great point. There are several natural ways to freshen your home that will not harm your dog. You will know if your bird has suffered from fumes or aerosol poisoning because it will have difficulty breathing, tremors and other neurological symptoms. You can use a little hibiscrub in the water if you wish, but make sure none remains on the paws for your dog to lick off. Swallowing some of a solid, cone-type air freshener is not likely to cause symptoms from the fragrance because it is imbedded into wax, which limits the amount that can be swallowed. We all want a healthy home that smells nice and welcomes others, both human and furry friends. These could be plug-in devices, sprays, incense burners, essential oil diffusers or scented candles. Phthalates are known as plasticisers (to make plastics more pliable.) This means a dog could inhale more of the VOCs from a plug-in than a person, especially if they tend to spend most of their time in a room where one is installed. Baking soda absorbs odors, which is why we're told to keep a box in the refrigerator. Since March is Pet Poison Awareness Month, it is an opportune time to share with our pet-loving friends the buzz about what experts are saying about the dangers of air fresheners. 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