We use many household chemicals to keep our homes clean. The problem with these chemicals, when you have pets, is that they can be toxic to your fur babies.
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Toxic Chemicals in Detergents
Detergents, such as dish soap, contain a number of chemicals that are toxic to dogs (as well as small children and other pets). These ingredients will vary from product to product, but they are still harmful to your fur baby.
Many dish soaps contain some of the following chemicals:
- Phosphates: acts as a water-softening agent in water that is high in minerals.
- Triclosan: is a synthetic chemical that is sometimes added to dish soap because of its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.
- SLS (Sodium laurel sulfate) & SLES (sodium laureth sulfate): these chemicals are what make the dish soap foamy and they help to cut grease. These chemicals are called surfactants. They can be toxic to dogs.
- Chlorine: some dish soap products also include chlorine, which can be toxic to humans and their canine companions.
- Formaldehyde: is a carcinogen, which may appear on the dish soap label a methanol, methyl aldehyde, or methylene oxide. This is added as a preservative to prevent bacteria from growing in the dish detergent.
Detergent Poisoning in Dogs
Detergent poisoning is a common problem in dogs, and it must be treated quickly once the dog has ingested the dish soap.
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has ingested dish detergent:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal lesions
- Lack of appetite
- Swollen abdomen
- Burns/lesions in the mouth
- Excessive drooling
- Disorientation
- Muscle weakness
- Seizures
- Collapse
- Eye and skin irritation
- Hair loss
The symptoms will vary according to how much of the product your dog ingested, and his size. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, then call the vet immediately. Your dog will need prompt medical treatment.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Dish Soap Poisoning in Dogs
The vet will not have antidotes for this type of toxicity issue. For this reason, they will use supportive treatment, which may include IV medications. Then the vet will use treatments that work on the type of dish detergent your dog drank.
It’s possible your canine companion may need to be kept in the hospital for monitoring. The time in hospital will depend on how much of the detergent your dog has ingested.
The prognosis for your dog is pretty good, but this will depend on the type of dish detergent he’s had. The other key factor is seeking medical assistance as soon as possible.
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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