There’s something about springtime that gives many of us the urge to purge belongings we don’t use anymore and give our homes a deep cleaning. For those of us with pets, however, spring cleaning can be a risky time as we use chemicals and cleaners we might leave locked behind a cupboard during most of the year.
This doesn’t mean you must give up your cherished spring cleaning tradition, but it does mean knowing the risks and taking precautions to keep pets safe. Here’s what the team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital wants you to know about pet-safe spring cleaning.
3 Tips for Pet Cleaning Product Safety
1. Know Which Household Cleaners Are Toxic to Pets
Many products we commonly use during spring cleaning contain ingredients that can hurt our pets. To keep your pet safe, it’s essential to know what these ingredients are.
The biggest no-no ingredients for pets include:
- Bleach: Highly corrosive and irritating to pets, and can cause chemical burns to the mouth, paws, skin, and inner organs if ingested. Bleach fumes can also irritate your pet’s respiratory system.
- Ammonia: Commonly found in glass and floor cleaners, ammonia’s fumes can irritate the lungs, nose, and eyes. Direct contact can burn your pet’s skin and paw pads.
- Phenols: A common ingredient in disinfectants and pine-scented cleaners, phenols are dangerous for pets—especially cats. Ingesting phenol can lead to liver damage and neurological symptoms.
- Chlorine: Many toilet cleaners and disinfectants contain this chemical, which can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, drooling, and respiratory irritation if it’s inhaled.
- Formaldehyde: Sometimes used as a preservative or disinfectant, vapors from formaldehyde can wreak havoc on your pet’s respiratory tract and can burn the skin or eyes.
- Concentrated essential oils: Even though they’re often marketed as pet-safe and natural, essential oils can be toxic when inhaled, ingested, or even absorbed through your pet’s skin. Tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, and citrus are among the worst offenders in this category.
Next, we’ll explore what pet poisoning from cleaning products can look like.
Symptoms of Cleaning Product Exposure in Pets
If your pet comes into contact with a toxic cleaning ingredient, symptoms can appear right away or develop over a few hours.
Common warning signs include:
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Stomach upset, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
- Pawing at the mouth, face, or other area of the body that came into contact with the ingredient
- Redness or irritation on the skin or paws
- Difficulty breathing, sneezing, or coughing
- Weakness or lethargy
- In severe cases, seizures or shaking
Take your pet to the vet right away if you notice any of these symptoms of exposure to toxic cleaning products for pets. With prompt treatment, your pup or kitty will have a better chance at a good outcome.
For non life-threatening signs of spring cleaning-related irritation, like redness on the skin or paws, the caring team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital can come to you to assess your pet’s symptoms.
Call us at (818) 614-9929 to set up a convenient mobile veterinary visit today.