The answer is no, pets cannot use plug-in air fresheners. Make sure to ventilate the area if you use them.
Which air fresheners can dogs safely use?
Owners of pets are familiar with unpleasant pet odors, which can range from a dirty dog to an unclean cat litter box. Candles and air fresheners can help with that. Pet-safe candles and air fresheners may significantly improve the smell of your home, but you need to know what to look for to make sure your pet and your nose are both content.
When searching for high-quality pet-friendly products, there are a few things to be on the lookout for. For instance, avoid using paraffin wax when making pet-safe candles and opt instead for those made of soy, vegetable, or beeswax. Purchase products that use naturally derived substances rather than chemicals when it comes to pet-friendly plug-in air fresheners and pet-safe essential oils, and be sure the essential oils you choose are safe for your animals. Continue reading for our list of the top candles and air fresheners that are safe for pets as well as solutions to Grove community members’ most frequent queries.
Are dogs poisonous to Febreze?
ASPCA veterinary toxicology experts believe that Febreze fabric freshener products are safe for use in households with pets, dispelling myths that the fabric freshener causes serious disease or death in pets.
What odors are harmful to dogs?
Volatile organic molecules, or essential oils, are concentrated liquids that come from plants. In addition to being used in cleaning goods, food and drink flavorings, herbal treatments, perfumes, personal care products, and liquid potpourris used as house air fresheners and fragrances, essential oils have gained popularity for their usage in aromatherapy and alternative medicine.
Numerous liquid potpourri items and essential oils are harmful to dogs, including the oils of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang. It’s possible for skin contact and ingestion to be harmful.
How hazardous are essential oils and liquid potpourri to dogs?
Chemicals in essential oils and liquid potpourris are quickly absorbed through the skin or mouth cavity. The liver is involved in the metabolism of several of these substances. With liver disease, puppies and dogs are more vulnerable to their consequences. While exposure to small doses of essential oils and liquid potpourri frequently merely causes stomach discomfort, some concentrated oils, such pennyroyal oil and tea tree oil, can have negative effects on the liver and nervous system. Additionally irritating or burning the skin and mouth are liquid potpourri and various essential oils.
A dog could be harmed by just a few licks or a small amount on the skin.
Depending on the components in a particular product and how the dog is exposed, only a few licks or a small amount on the skin could be dangerous to a dog.
What are the signs of essential oil or liquid potpourri poisoning?
signs could be:
- perfume or fragrance on the skin, hair, or breath
- having trouble breathing
- inability to walk or an unsteady gait
- drooling
- weakness or sluggishness
- muscles trembling
- pawing at one’s face or mouth
- Burns or redness on the skin, gums, tongue, or lips
- vomiting (you may detect the smell of essential oils in the vomit)
What should I do if I suspect that my dog has been exposed to essential oils or liquid potpourri?
It is crucial to diagnose and treat patients quickly. Call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680), a 24-hour animal poison control center, right away if you think your dog has consumed or came into contact with essential oils or liquid potpourri. The prognosis and outcome for your dog will be better the earlier you get treatment.
Please be aware:
- Don’t make your dog throw up or give him activated charcoal. This could make your dog’s condition worse.
- Take the product packaging with you to the veterinarian clinic in a sealed container.
- Use hand dishwashing detergent to swiftly wash off any product that may be on the skin or fur.
How are essential oil or liquid potpourri poisonings treated, and what is the prognosis?
Your veterinarian will quickly and forcefully treat you to reduce the hazardous effects of ingesting essential oils. Treatment will be based on such symptoms if clinical signs have emerged.
Blood tests will be done by your veterinarian to see if the kidneys and liver have been impacted. If there are chemical burns in the mouth or esophagus, intravenous (IV) fluids may be utilized for hydration, and a soft diet or feeding tube may be required. Other therapies could involve anti-vomiting drugs, stomach protectors, painkillers, antibiotics, and liver protectors.
Recovery may be dependent on the particular oils consumed because certain types of oils are more harmful than others. Although there is no cure for this poisoning, most dogs can survive with early diagnosis and supportive care.
How can I prevent my dog from being exposed to essential oils and liquid potpourri?
Always keep liquid potpourri items and essential oils out of dogs’ reach. Never leave opened essential oils or simmering potpourri unattended since curious animals might want to inspect the sweet-smelling substances. Additionally, before administering any essential oils or other herbal products to your pet, seek the advice of a veterinarian. Never use an essential oil that has been concentrated on your pet!
How are pet-safe air fresheners made?
- Fill your Mason jar with approximately 1/2 cup of baking soda.
- Add 15 drops of lemongrass oil, cover the container with the top, and thoroughly shake it.
- Add the remaining 1/2 cup of baking soda after adding 15 drops of lavender oil.
- Reattach the lid and vigorously shake.
- Make small holes or slits in a sheet of wax paper that has been cut to fit over the top of the mason jar.
- Then, using the wax paper and the mason jar’s outer ring, seal the jar with the lavender sprigs inside.
Are rechargable air fresheners harmful?
Due to the development of handy “plug-in air fresheners” in the 1990s, the air freshener market saw a significant upsurge. These air fresheners use specialized heat-activated scented gels and heat induction technology to continuously release a scent.
Plug-in air fresheners were hailed at the time of their debut as a fantastic advancement in home scenting technology. They were not only inexpensive and simple to use, but they also didn’t rely on aerosol sprays. During the 1980s, aerosol sprays had come under fire for harming the ozone layer. However, they are now cautioning customers to reconsider using modern air fresheners. Researchers have found an astounding number of hazardous substances in several scented-gels as they have looked more closely at these ostensibly hassle-free products.
The Health Hazards Of Plug-In Air Fresheners Exposed
The widespread usage of phthalates in plug-in air fresheners is one of the main issues that health professionals have with them. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that phthalates were present in 86% of the air fresheners it tested. Phthalates are well known for being disruptive to the body and are found in numerous plastics, aerosol sprays, paints, insecticides, cosmetics, and scents. According to the NRDC’s research, “The majority of phthalates are well recognized to interfere with testosterone production and have been linked to problems in reproduction. The State of California’s list of harmful compounds includes phthalates “cause harm to reproduction or birth problems. The NRDC cautions that phthalates in the air might trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions. Phthalates can build up in even trace concentrations to produce these negative side effects.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a general warning regarding the excessive phthalate levels prevalent in air fresheners as a result of the aforementioned findings (and related studies that corroborate them). Additionally, you should be aware of the numerous additional hazards that phthalates may pose. Even so, they are still researching cancer, liver, and renal toxicity. According to preliminary animal research, these negative effects are a real and concerning possibility in people as well.
Even though the Public Health Centre for Radiation, Chemical, and Environmental Hazards in the UK has determined that phthalates are not highly carcinogenic in humans, air fresheners frequently contain another harmful substance that is unquestionably carcinogenic:
Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen that has been linked to throat and nose cancers. According to the US government’s National Toxicology Program, it can also result in persistent irritation of the throat and airways, which could lead to serious infections, recurrent nosebleeds, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. The elderly, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk than most. In fact, a 2013 study involving over 2,000 pregnant women (published in the International Journal of Public Health) discovered that women who used plug-in air fresheners during gestation were statistically far more likely to deliver babies who had significant lung infections.
The majority of well-known brands of plug-in air fresheners contain a substance known as naphthalene, which heightens the dangers posed by formaldehyde. In laboratory experiments, it has been demonstrated that naphthalene can harm tissue and result in cancer in rodents’ lungs. It makes sense to infer that similar effects occur in people.
It has been discovered that plug-in air fresheners also contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as if the facts presented above weren’t already damning enough. Low-boiling-point chemicals, or VOCs, turn into gas or vapor at ambient temperature. They are hence great fragrance dispersants. Sadly, they also are linked to a higher risk of developing asthma, especially in youngsters.
Exploring The Alternatives
It may seem necessary to use air fresheners if you have pets or other sources of household stink, but you don’t have to buy the harmful brands found in stores. For instance, you can create secure household fragrances like “DIY scented candles” with natural essential oils. Try making safe scented candles by following this straightforward YouTube video.
Finally, keep in mind that having a clean, well-ventilated home is the simplest, healthiest cure to the majority of unpleasant scents. It’s likely that you have a concealed mold infestation in your ventilation system if your home smells musty. Instead of covering up the symptoms, get a qualified home air inspector to evaluate the issue and make remedial recommendations.
Can Febreze be sprayed on my dog’s bed?
A Procter & Gamble cleaning detergent is allegedly harmful to pets, according to internet email lists popular with dog owners, but the manufacturer, the National Animal Poison Control Center, and the American Veterinary Medical Association have all denied the claims.
NAPCC vice president Steven R. Hansen DVM, MS wrote: “Contrary to allegations being propagated over the Internet, there is no substantiated proof that the usage of Febreze1 caused the death of any dogs or cats. When a pet passed away and a necropsy was conducted, a reasonable cause of death was found and Febreze was ruled out as the cause. According to Hansen, complications from a heartworm infestation were the cause of death in one instance.
A fabric refresher is called Febreze. It is a water-based corn starch solution in a pump sprayer that gets rid of odors in clothes by annihilating the molecules that cause them. The container’s instructions state to spray the cloth until it is damp, then to let it air dry. Pets should be kept away from fabrics that have been sprayed with the product until it has dried; it is only meant to be used on fabrics.
According to Hansen, it is advisable to keep birds out of the room anytime aerosol cleaners are used and to bring them back after the product has dried and the area has been aired because birds are more susceptible to airborne pollutants.
Zinc chloride, a salt that, like many compounds, can be harmful in large numbers but is regarded as harmless in trace amounts, was a component of an older version of Febreze. According to P&G’s online fact sheet regarding Febreze, the ingredient contains less than 1% zinc chloride and is also used in eyedrops, mouthwash, and pet food, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
According to P&G, the most recent version of Febreze employs a new ingredient to accelerate drying. According to the P&G fact sheet, “Like all our products, Febreze and its ingredients were extensively researched to guarantee that the product is safe for humans, pets, and the environment.” More than 100 scientists, physicians, safety specialists, and veterinary professionals analyzed this safety data, and they all came to the same conclusion: Febreze is safe.
The World Wide Web assisted in both the dissemination and debunking of the Febreze myths. Urban legends 2 websites, together with P&G, AVMA, and NAPCC, assisted in disproving the claims. Like other urban legends, claims that Febreze is harmful are accompanied by ambiguous claims that animals have perished or developed major illnesses as a result of contact with the product. No contact information, medical documents, or research has been presented to support the claims.
According to the research by Barbara and David Mikkelson on the Urban Legends Reference Page, there is a significant difference between the statements “My pet died after I used Febreze” and “My pet died because I used Febreze.” “… Febreze has been generally accessible for several months and was previously tested in a number of sizable marketplaces for a number of years. Is it likely that this product has been regularly harming dogs and birds and this is only the latest report?”
The US Congress formed the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 1984 as a non-profit organization to advance conservation activities and encourage the wise use of natural resources.
The fundamental objectives include public policy formulation through public-private partnerships, habitat protection, natural resource management, and ecosystem restoration.
The foundation receives some funding from the federal government, but it is required to match that funding dollar for dollar with contributions from its project partners. For the past 11 years, it has fulfilled or exceeded this obligation. The NFWF received $100 million from the federal government between 1986 and the middle of 1998; the foundation contributed another $200 million and distributed more than 2500 awards for environmental initiatives.
NFWF initiatives are divided into six categories: migratory bird conservation, wetland and private lands, wildlife habitat, conservation policy, and education.
Shell Oil Company has donated $5 million to support marine conservation in the Gulf of Mexico, not wanting to be outdone by Exxon. The NFWF will oversee the Shell Marine Habitat Program, similar to how the STF works. Projects for habitat protection, environmental education, and research on Gulf Coast marine management will be funded with the money over a five-year period.
The US Golf Association, another NFWF partner, contributes $200,000 yearly to the research of wildlife on golf courses.
More than 1.5 million acres of habitat are provided by more than 15,000 golf courses. Since the program’s inception in 1996, several projects have been funded, including a Colorado Bird Observatory manual for golf course architects and managers to improve bird habitat, a handbook of wetlands habitat management for golf courses, an Audubon project to create a database for wildlife habitat on golf courses, a Xerxes Society study to find out whether golf courses have the potential to become sanctuaries for butterflies and other insects, two university studies, and more.
