Dog Owner Alert - Is Your Kitchen Cleaner Poisoning your Pooch?
Most dog owners are shocked to hear that household cleaners have been linked to animal health issues from respiratory problems to rashes, skin irritations to liver toxicity.
From kitchen surface sprays to odour eliminator sprays, animal owners around the world are reporting adverse reactions.
"After spending $10,000 on vet bills trying to find out what was wrong with her beloved pouch, one lady eventually discovered that her dog was reacting to the bleach used on the living room rug. Her dog had a habit of rubbing itself of the rug. He was absorbing the chemicals from the bleach. Once they switched to cleaning the rug with natural cleaning product, the health problems went away. If only she'd known that before the $10,000 vet bill!"
"Liver toxicity was found in two cats in a household. Lab tests done at the animal hospital found the link back to the cleaning product used on the kitchen counters in the home. The cats had been licking the surfaces and absorbing the chemicals through their paws. When the cleaning products were switched to natural cleaning products, the liver toxicity issues in the cats went away."
So what's in these products that are causing the health problems? It's the mystery cocktail of chemicals contained in most supermarket cleaning products.
We're all effected by the chemicals we're exposed to. Though did you know that animals are even more susceptible than humans are? Hair follicles absorb more than skin. So the firrier the animal, the more they're absorbing!
Animals are also spend more time in contact with the surfaces being cleaned. They lick the surfaces these chemical cleaners are sprayed on, rub themselves on the furniture and animal bedding and they walk 'bare-pawed' on the floors. Doggie paws quickly and easily soak-up the chemicals from floors. There's a pile of chemicals to avoid in cleaning products. Let's explore one product..
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Febreze, a popular brand of odour eliminator has received the F rating. F is the worst possible rating, that the EWG classifies as 'Highest Concern - Potentially Significant Hazards to Health or the Environment'
What is the EWG? EWG is non-profit organisation that tests and rates the safety of cleaning and personal care products.
Below is an extract from the EWG's report findings on Febreeze for asthma, respiratory issues, skin allergies, reproductive toxicity and cancer. See the EWG report here.
So what's in the Febreze product? You won't see all the ingredients listed on the label. Below is a list of some of the 87 chemicals that the EWG testing found to be in Febreze Air Effects. These are listed in the sequence of toxicity to humans - though animals are affected too!
BHT - Known as a neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, immunotoxicity, non-reproductive organ system toxicity, skin eye and lung irritator
Acetaldehyde - Known to cause cancer, toxic to reproduction and development, immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin, skin, eye and lung irritator
"Fragrance" - One of the three ingredients actually disclosed, it's a neurotoxin, immunotoxin and allergen
Propylene Glycol - Causes cancer, allergies, toxic to immune system, accumulates in the system, non-reproductive organ system toxin, is classified with "enhanced skin absorption" and irritates the skin, eye and lung
1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol - Carcinogenic (causes cancer)
Limonene - Allergen, immunotoxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Methyl pyrrolidone - Toxin to reproduction and development, allergen and immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Alcohol denatured - Also disclosed in the ingredients of Febreze, it's linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Butylphenyl methylpropion al - allergen, immunotoxin and and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Ethyl acetate - linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, organic system toxicity and and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Geraniol - Linked to allergies, immunotoxicity, organi system toxicity and and skin, eyes and lung irritation
Linalool - allergen, immunotoxin, and and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Benzaldehyde - neurotoxin, and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether - non-reproductive organ system toxicity
Ethylhezanol - developmental and reproductive toxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
Hexyl cinnamal - allergen, immunotoxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
This comes as a shock to most animal owners. We can't change what we've exposed our animals to in the past. Though we can change the future. It's time to act to protect the ones you love.
So what can you use instead of conventional supermarket cleaners and odour eliminators?
Make the switch to essential oils and essential oil based cleaners!
Make the switch to all-natural products with essential oils that are not only highly effective for cleaning and sanitising, they're also great for odour elimination. And they're animal friendly!
For a ready-made cleaner, Thieves Household Cleaner can be used for all cleaning purposes around the home. Including for animal bedding.
For cleaning, sanitising and freshening the air, diffuse Thieves essential oil or Purification essential oil.
Diffuse Thieves oil or Purification oil for eliminating animal odours.
Diffuse Thieves or Purification oil near kitty litter boxes. Add a couple of drops of Thieves oil or Purification oil to kitty litter.
If you want to make a DIY cleaner, you can include Thieves oil in your cleaning solutions. Add Thieves oil to a water spray bottle as a surface sanitiser spray for the bathroom and kitchen.
Looking to get your own Thieves Oil, Thieves Household Cleaner or Purification Oil? We would love to help you!
If you're in Australia purchase your Thieves Oil here,
Thieves Cleaner here and Purification oil here.
If you're in the USA or elsewhere in the world? Then click here to view Thieves oil, click here for the Thieves Cleaner or click here for Purification oil and add it to your shopping cart.
