For larger pieces of furniture which are not easy to wash, such as sofas, cover them with throws that are easy to remove and put in the washing machine. This chemical is a known carcinogen and an EPA-registered pesticide that is found in the majority of air fresheners. ugh.). The term VOCs covers a wide range of substances, some natural and some not. Site & Contents © BaxterBoo.com®. British woman Farrah Lorrel Fraser, nearly died when she fell asleep in a room with a scented candle. Ethanol is a type of alcohol and is toxic to dogs in relatively small amounts. Baking soda is another old-fashioned remedy to make your home smell nice. According to OSHA (the US government's department for promoting workplace safety), "Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen. You will know if your bird has suffered from fumes or aerosol poisoning because it will have difficulty breathing, tremors and other neurological symptoms. It can be caused by an external source, such as an air freshener in your home, an allergen from outdoors, or can be caused by an external source, such as parasites. Being smaller than humans, birds, cats, and dogs are unable to deal with the toxic load of many of our household chemicals, and air fresheners are some of the worst. Plants are nature's air purifiers and they produce oxygen. What’s in Air Freshener. Be sure to select plant varieties that are safe around your pets in case Fido or Fluffy decides to munch on a leaf or two. Farrah had black soot lines coming out of her nose and was coughing up black phlegm. According to the video above, 75% of us use air freshening products in our homes. In 2011, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reported that air fresheners were negatively impacting on 20% of the US population and 34% of known asthma sufferers. Not all candles and air fresheners are created equally. In fact, vomiting is such a common finding that if a dog does not vomit, it’s probable that a … July 25, 2008 -- Fragranced laundry products and air fresheners emit dozens of different chemicals, including some regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal law, according to a new study. Had Badger not woken her when he did, Farrah would likely have died. They are also more sensitive to some of the ingredients, such as ethanol. ...Sunday he was still acting weird. With these products being used everywhere, we are unable to prevent being exposed to mystery toxic ingredients. ", Industries that frequently deal with formaldehyde exposure (mortuaries, etc.,) have higher rates of leukemia as well as nasal, throat, and lung cancers. This resource covers all sorts of toxins that your pet might encounter, from air fresheners, cleaning products, human and pet medications, foods, plants, and other substances. As far as the dangers of plug-in air fresheners, you bring up a great point. She required oxygen therapy and was at serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Remember, our pets are even more vulnerable to these chemicals since they are smaller. The number of these oils that are dangerous to pets is extensive, some of them are listed and worth reading up on. Scented candles can emit hazardous chemicals. Mild acetone poisoning symptoms include: headache; slurred speech; lethargy; lack of coordination; a sweet taste in the mouth; Severe symptoms … Baking soda absorbs odors, which is why we're told to keep a box in the refrigerator. Even air fresheners called "organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens. The simplest and cheapest solution is to open a window and let in fresh air. 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. We all want nice smelling homes. Having dog towels on standby after a walk is always useful, and means you can dry wet heads, ears and tails. After ingestion, vomiting (with or without blood) is one of the first signs of poisoning. Even fresheners labelled as 'green' or 'natural' are likely to contain VOCs—ethanol, after all, is a natural substance, yet very toxic to dogs. In this case, an air purifier might be a good investment for your health as well as your pet's. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can be fatal. Sources: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats There is no question in my mind that these are toxic substances, and he just happens to be very sensitive to them. Before using air fresheners, you need to know the dangers they pose to your pet. 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. Scented candles give off toxins as well. According to the Hayward Score, which aims to improve the health of your home, burning a candle with a lead-core wick can release five times the amount of lead considered hazardous to children. After a wet walk, wash paws in warm water to remove mud. The wick can also be a source of danger. Some wicks contain or are wrapped in metal. My husband avoids the household chemical aisle whenever possible. In other cases, it can be serious and could lead to the dog dying. I have no idea what made me think of the air freshener at 1 am but thank goodness I did. If you are a dog breeder, definitely stay away from air fresheners and other products that contain Phthalates to prevent reproductive harm! Apparently, dichlorobenzene is chemically similar to the ingredients in the banned pesticide DDT and other similar compounds such as DDE and DDD. According to the EPA1, air freshener contains four basic ingredients: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, aerosol propellants, and p-dichlorobenzene. When he walks into a cloud of perfume or encounters potpourri, he gets visible symptoms of pain with sunken eyes and says it feels like someone took an ice pick to his eye. Many air fresheners are poisonous to dogs and they can react to them just by smelling them. Even air fresheners called "organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens. Long-term exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause respiratory difficulty, eczema, and sensitization. We often become so used to the smell ourselves we fail to notice it until perhaps a visitor remarks on it, and then we feel bad that our home has a pong. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. 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. Thankfully the test showed his liver was ok, but we weren't out of the woods yet. As a side note, in addition to air fresheners, phthalates can be found in some children's and dog toys. It turns out the tea tree oil I was using in the diffuser is toxic to dogs. Google air freshener flamethrower and you'll see videos of these toxic and flammable products being turned into blow torches! 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. Though these products are natural or organic, many of the most popular fragrances are toxic to dogs. The dog owner continued: ... and the star used it to make a DIY air freshener last October. Choose natural rubber dog toys that are BPA and phthalate free to keep your pet from being exposed to this dangerous chemical. In other cases, it can be serious and could lead to the dog dying. PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) Pick beds with removable covers that can be easily and regularly washed. Washing at a high temperature (around 60 degrees) will also kill flea eggs. To be fully safe, it is better not to use any of these forms of natural air fresheners around your dogs. After shutting it off he is getting better! Air fresheners are often used to eliminate doggy odours from a home. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. But the "cure" for odors is actually causing disease. Open a box of baking soda and keep it in a safe place away from curious pets. It is a more common problem in cats than dogs but can cause burns in the mouth and esophagus that can be very bad. 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. *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! There are no laws that require manufacturers to list any of the ingredients in air fresheners. 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. Aerosol sprays are made up of tiny particles of chemicals that quickly enter the bloodstream when inhaled. Air freshener sprays contain the same VOCs as plug-ins, but are generally used less intensely. In the holidays, using oranges dotted with cloves is a very traditional way of adding a festive aroma to a room. But we can at least limit what we use in our homes and around our pets. We came across this video on Facebook, and judging by the number of views, this is an important topic that people care about! Cats and dogs can be affected by different oils, so an oil that is not harmful to a dog could still make your cat sick. 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. Ethanol poisoning can be fatal if left untreated. Yet, we spray these products around our homes and quietly poison ourselves and our pets. 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. What these chemicals all share in common is that they vaporise at room temperature and release a scent. Effects from long-term exposure include central nervous system problems and cancer. Do yourself and your pets a favor and skip the commercial air fresheners! If you can't go outside, bring the outside in with open windows. You might also opt to limit access to certain rooms while your pet dries. These chemicals are often simply referred to as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Spending time grooming your dog removes dead hair and allows the skin to breathe, and in many cases, will eliminate that doggy odour. We've been lied to by large companies about the safety of regular household products, and people are sick and tired of being sick and tired, and they're even more upset that these supposedly safe products don't have labels that specifically caution pet owners about their use. Some of the symptoms reported in people who reacted to air fresheners included; What makes plug-ins particularly bad for pets is that they are usually located low to the floor, at dog height. Of all the formulations, the evaporating beads and reed diffuser type air fresheners have the greatest risk of serious toxicity when swallowed by children. 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. Air fresheners use chemicals when they spray fragrance that changes the smell of your home. He was given fluids under his skin to get the toxins out.". Exp 03/02/22/05/L2 Exp 03/02/22/05/L3 Exp 03/03/22/05/L2 Sportmix Energy … When burned these emit toxic smoke. Other VOCs in plug-ins that can have nasty side-effects include: Over 100 different chemicals are used in air fresheners and many of them can have unpleasant consequences to human and animal health. Air fresheners cause bad health health problems. Many are made from paraffin wax which, when burned, releases chemicals known to cause cancer. Scented candles also contain VOCs, along with other hazardous substances. 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. Some dogs who suffer from skin allergies may need to be bathed routinely or given supplements. The chemicals may land on their fur, which they will groom and ingest. 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. Since soft furnishings can hoard bad smells, wash them regularly using a pet-safe detergent. Swallowing air freshener can cause toxicity ranging from minor irritation of the mouth to life-threatening effects. Even if you make sure your pets are out of the room where you plan to spray, the product lands on every surface. The plug-in models of air fresheners transmit even smaller particles of chemicals that are even more quickly absorbed into the lungs and bloodstream. In some cases, this toxicity can cause long-term liver issues and/or death. We came across this video on Facebook, and judging by the number of views, this is an important topic that people care about! I’ve not read about the dangers of plug-in air fresheners to … The same applies to pet bedding. Can bleach cleaning spray mixed with air-freshener harm our dogs? Unfortunately, the time between the bird exhibiting symptoms and death, is usually short. She competes in agility and obedience with her four dogs. Symptoms and Types. These include ethanol (alcohol), acetone and formaldehyde. Cleaning with bleach could create indoor air pollutants. 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. Severe skin issues should always be treated by a vet. 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. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. 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