What Household Cleaners to Use or Not Use Around Your Pets

Household cleaners are in everyone’s homes. Many of them are safe to use around your pets, especially if you are using them properly in small amounts and allowing proper drying time. Some can be hazardous though and it is important to know what can and cannot hurt your pet. As a general rule if you would not use it on yourself, you should not use it on your pet.

Bleach: Liquid bleach is a staple in many households for disinfecting. It is made of sodium hypochloride and if it comes in contact with the eyes or skin can cause irritation, pain, or redness. Inhaling bleach will irritate the respiratory tract and can cause trouble breathing. Ingestion can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting, diarrhea, and decrease in appetite. If ingested, contact your veterinarian immediately. Offer milk if your pet has eaten bleach. If bleach come in contact with the skin bathe your pet in dishwashing soap until the bleach smell is gone.

Alkaline Products: These products are typically found in dishwasher detergents, drain openers, toilet bowl cleaners, lye, ammonia hydroxide, and potassium permanganate. They can go deep into the tissue on contact and can cause significant damage. Typically, pain is not immediate, so you may not see signs immediately. Signs may be drooling, not wanting to eat, fever, ulcers or sores in the mouth, as well as trouble swallowing, vomiting, pain in the belly, and black tarry stools. Call your veterinarian and flush the affected area for at lest 10-15 minutes with room temperature water.

Acidic Products: Acidic products can be found in cleaning products such as toilet bowl cleaners. These can cause severe damage with contact and can be extremely harmful if eaten or put into the eyes. Eyes may appear red or swollen, signs typically occur immediately and can range from pain, crying, trouble swallowing, vomiting, sores in the mouth, skin redness. Call your veterinarian immediately. You can offer water or milk if the product is eaten. Rinse the area of contact with room temperature water.

Detergents and Soaps: Detergents can be found in many types of soaps ranging from shampoo, dishwashing detergents, and hand soap. The toxicity level typically is mild but can cause some irritation if they get into the eyes. You may see some redness or squinting. Rinse the eyes with room temperature water or saline.  If ingested they can sometimes cause stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you see any of these symptoms, call your veterinarian immediately.

Cationic Detergents: All purpose cleaners and sanitizing products such as disinfecting wipes, pool algaecides, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and laundry detergents are cationic detergents and will have this labeled as an ingredient list on the front label. Symptoms would be similar to Alkaline products. Call your veterinary if ingested.

Alcohol and Hand sanitizers: Isopropanol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol, is quickly absorbed by the mouth and skin which can cause toxicity if enough is absorbed. Fumes can also cause problems in small areas. Ethanol is a type of alcohol found in hand sanitizers which also have other ingredients such as propylene glycol. They are not the same thing found in antifreeze.  Most hand sanitizers are rarely a problem if ingested in small amounts. Signs of toxicity can be wobbliness, vomiting, twitching, and trouble breathing. Call your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of these signs.

If you are unsure call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. They are available 24 hours a day. There is an initial consulting fee however, any follow-up is done without an additional charge. Your veterinarian will most likely have you call prior to treatment.