Do you wear glasses? Do you use a glasses cleaner to keep them clean and streak-free? Then you’ll want to be aware that the liquid used to clean your lenses could be toxic to your dog.
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What’s in Glasses Cleaner?
Many glasses cleaners include isopropyl alcohol or ammonia, both can be toxic to dogs. These chemicals are used in glasses cleaners because they’re at stripping away grease and bacteria on the lenses.
It’s important to note that not all glasses cleaners use these substances in their cleaning solutions. Some may use a mild detergent to get the job done.
Isopropyl Alcohol & Dogs
Isopropyl alcohol can poison dogs. In fact, it can be quite deadly if your dog happens to lick it up, chew the bottle and swallow some of the liquid, and more. The problem is that this substance is quickly absorbed after it’s ingested and can cause a life-threatening medical emergency as soon as thirty minutes after ingestion.
Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning in dogs can include the following:
- Disorientation
- Loss of body control
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Excessive salivation
- Excitement then lethargy
- Depression
- Difficulty breathing
- Coma
- Seizures
- Heart rhythm issues
If your glasses cleaner contains isopropyl alcohol, and your dog has swallowed some, then call the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency.
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Ask a Vet Live NowAmmonia & Dogs
Ammonia can harm your dog in two ways:
1). The fumes can make him very sick if inhaled
2). Ammonia is a known toxin for dogs and can make them very sick. The most common signs of toxicity in dogs includes:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive salivation
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Convulsions/shaking
- Loss of balance
What to Do If Your Dog Has Swallowed Glasses Cleaner
The first thing to do is note the ingredients on the glasses cleaner, if listed. Call the vet and let them know what’s happened. They will probably advice you to bring your dog in to be checked. Be sure to take the glasses cleaner container in with you, too, even if it doesn’t list the ingredients. The vet may be able to contact the company or a pet poison hotline to check on the cleaner’s ingredients.
When you get to the vet’s, they will do a physical exam and order lab tests to check your dog’s blood for signs that major organs have been damaged.
If the glasses cleaner was swallowed a short time ago, then the vet may induce vomiting. However, if the cleaner solution was swallowed longer ago, then the vet may try to use activated charcoal. This works to keep the cleaning solution from being absorbed by the intestines, and then causing damage to your dog’s major organs.
In all cases, the key here is fast and prompt action once you realize your dog has swallowed some glasses cleaner. The sooner you can get your dog to the vet, the sooner treatment can be applied, which could just save your dog’s life!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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