We often don’t think of our pets when it comes time to do our household chores. Spraying for bugs, cleaning toilets, washing floors, setting mouse traps. Our pets are low to the surfaces and their paws can easily pick up chemicals from the floors and carpets. Cats and dogs are also curious, such as small children. Safe guarding our home shouldn’t just be for children, pets are family members too. Most household products do not even warn you of the chemical dangers they could cause.

Common chemicals found in the home are:

Formaldehyde

Perchloroethylene

Pesticides

Phenol Derivatives

Caustic Products

Scented Cleaners and Aerosol Products

Formaldehyde

Pressed wood products that use glues  contain formaldehyde are common construction materials:

Particle board

Hardwood

Plywood paneling

Medium density fibreboard

These are often used to make furniture and cabinets.

Pungent formaldehyde can be found in these products at home:

Cosmetics and nail polish

Glues and adhesives

Foam insulation materials

Mouthwash

Wallpaper

Wrinkle-resistant drapes, linens, and other fabrics

Perchloroethylene

Found in rug and carpet shampoos

Pesticides

What are Pesticides?

Definition from wikipedia:

Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.^[1] A pesticide is generally a chemical or biological agent (such as a virus, bacterium, antimicrobial or disinfectant) that through its effect deters, incapacitates, kills or otherwise discourages pests.

Most pesticides contain chemicals that can be harmful to people, pets and the environment. Pesticides are regulated in the United States to protect public health and the environment. 

* EPA is responsible for ensuring that all pesticides sold in the United States do not cause unreasonable risks when they are used according to label directions and precautions.

Here are some examples of pesticide products we use in our homes:

Cockroach sprays and baits

Mosquito sprays

Rat poisons

Flea and tick sprays, powders, and pet collars. 

Did you know that these products are considered pesticides?

Cleaners used to disinfect the kitchen floor.

Cleaning products used to remove the mildew on bathroom tiles.

Household plant sprays.

Lawn and garden products to kill insects and weeds.

Some swimming pool chemicals.

Phenol Derivatives

Phenol is a toxic substance used in many cleaners that  kills germs, such as Pine Sol and Lysol. These have been linked to have caused  health problems in cats and rabbits. 

The fumes from phenols can get into the bloodstream through the lungs. Cats especially have a low tolerance for phenols because they can’t remove these types of toxins from the blood very well.

Caustic Products

Toilet bowl cleaners, detergents and bleach are household cleaners that can have caustic reactions in pets. The Alkaline or Acidic properties if ingested can be mild to severe depending on the amount ingested.

Scented Cleaners and Aerosol Products

* Attention Pet Bird Owners  

Birds are susceptible to toxic cleaners, especially parrots. Their lung system is highly efficient, taking in and processing more air through their bodies than mammals. This means that toxic cleaners can cause not just breathing problems for birds, but a quick death. Any products with chemical fumes or artificial fumes such as furniture cleaners, oven cleaners, drain cleaners and air fresheners plug in and can sprays should not be used.

A message from ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (Click for message)

If you suspect a toxic substance has poisoned your animal, induce vomiting immediately with some warm salt water or a little hydrogen peroxide (dosage varies based on size of animal). Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 4ANIHELP (426-4435). They will guide you through the necessary procedures you must take to save your pets life.

” Be Aware Of Potential Hazards To Your Pets”