Are Air Fresheners Poisoning Your Dog?

Good Morning fellow dog lovers! Hope you enjoyed your fill of Turkey and stuffing this past Thanksgiving 😊 Today we’re going to talk about air fresheners, wax melts, incense and how they can be negatively impacting your dog’s health. Then you’ll read about the top indoor plants that can help purify the air to make both you and your pets breathe better indoors. And as always, Pabo has a few things to say to keep his furry friends updated on what he’s been up to lately. Enjoy!

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Pablo’s “Paw”nderings

Hello my furry friends! Hope you are all doing well out there! How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was PAWSOME! I got to visit with one of my favourite hoomans – my Auntie Mags.. mom’s sister. She always gives me so much attention and tells me how handsome I am.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. Mom made all of my favourites – turkey, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, squash and of course, pumpkin pie. I got to sample a bit of everything. Mom said it’s ok because it was a special day 😊 I’m so spoiled, I know.

I have to go to the V-E-T this week to get my booster shot. They are all so nice to me there, and they give me liver treats – YUM!

Well that’s it for this week, stay cool my furry friends!

 Are Your Air fresheners and Scented Products Killing Your Dog?

Ok, I admit it – I LOVE scented wax melts. I have at least two going in my house at all times. I love the fall scents – apple pie, caramel clusters, pumpkin spice, warm vanilla and a slew of other scents fill the air and make it smell like I’m baking 24/7 (and who has time to bake every day?) But I must admit, I never considered how those delicious aromas were affecting my pets.

As it turns out, wax melts, air fresheners, incense and even scented cleaners can all negatively impact your furry friends.

What Makes These Products so Toxic?

All of these products contain VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds. These organic chemicals have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. This allows the compounds to turn into vapors or gasses from a liquid or solid form.

 Bottom Line? Air fresheners and scented products can cause a myriad of health issues in pets (and humans too!) These include but are not limited to:

·         Eye, nose and throat irritation

·         Lethargy, nausea, loss of coordination

·         Damage to kidney, liver and nervous system

·         Asthma

·         Cancer

What about Essential Oils? Aren’t They Natural and Safe?

Although these are marketed as being safe alternatives to traditional air fresheners, they too can be toxic to pets, especially cats. While they may be extracted from natural sources like berries, wood, flowers and fruit, some products are combined with potentially harmful ingredients. Even if completely natural, if they are used improperly, they may harm your pet. Consider the fact that your dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 stronger than a human and you can get a sense of how sensitive they are to potent smells.

A good rule of thumb? If you walk into a room that’s been sprayed with air freshener and it stings your eyes, then it’s probably having the same effect on your pet.

 If you’re like me and don’t want to give up the smell of vanilla or apple pie in your home, there are some things you can do to mitigate the negative effects:

·         Purchase an air purifier

·         Place pet-friendly plants strategically around your home

·         Limit the air freshener to one or two rooms, and keep your pet in another area/room in the house

I know this is a space for large breed dogs, but I’m including ‘pets’ in general here because these can be very toxic to all pets in your home and I think it’s important to consider their health too 😊

Air Purifying Plants that are safe for your Mighty  Mutt!

Because we and our pets spend much of our time indoors, having air-purifying plants in our homes makes sense. But not all plants are pet friendly. Some are toxic and can cause illness, or worse, if ingested. As long as you know which air-purifying plants are safe for your cat or your dog, and which ones you should avoid, you and your pet can breathe clean and easy.

Though pet-safe plants won’t hurt your cat or dog if they’re ingested, coming home to a half-eaten plant isn’t ideal. If your dog or cat is prone to eating plants, consider utilizing dog gates when your pet is unsupervised to ensure they don’t snack on your air-purifying foliage. 

We consulted a vet expert and a plant expert to compile this list of beautiful, air-purifying plants that are safe for cats and dogs.

 Bamboo Palm

Also known as the parlor palm, the bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) is a hardy, low-maintenance air purifying plant with a high shade tolerance.

Its waxy green leaves might be tempting for a plant-partaking pet, and that’s perfectly fine. Bamboo palm plants are safe for dogs and cats, says Angelica Dimock, DVM, a veterinarian at Animal Humane Society in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The bamboo palm will happily and safely share the sunny window seat with your cat or provide the perfect canopy for your dog’s bed.

The humble spider plant, also known as Chlorophytum comosum, is another air purifying plant that is safe for pets, Dr. Dimock says. And bonus? It’s easy to maintain and makes a great beginner’s plant. Believe it or not, it actually thrives on neglect.

The spider plant prefers bright-to-moderate indirect light and will sprout clusters of small white flowers.

Place it in a hanging basket or on a shelf near where you and your pet nap so you both can take in clean air while you snooze.

 Prayer Plant

The prayer plant, or Maranta leuconeura, gets its name from the way its green-and-yellow variegated leaves fold together like hands at night, similar to how your dog or cat curls up at bedtime.

Dr. Dimock notes they’re non-toxic plants and they prefer little sunlight, making prayer plants an ideal way to purify the air in your pet’s favorite laundry room or basement hideaway.

Fun Fact

Your Dog Recognizes Your Scent — and Loves It!

A study conducted at Emory University placed trained dogs in a functional MRI and presented them with five scents: a familiar human, an unfamiliar human, a familiar dog, an unfamiliar dog and the dog's own scent. Only the familiar human scent activated the part of the brain associated with positive expectations and social rewards, suggesting that dogs associate our scents with good things.

Source:

Product Picks of the week

That’s it for this week! Enjoy this fall weather and keep your Mighty Mutt safe and protected from toxic scents! Feel free to pass this along to a fellow dog lover!

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Protect your pet