By simply cleaning household surfaces or burning a scented candle, we may unwittingly harm our precious pets. But with a few simple changes, we can lighten the chemical load on our furry friends…

Efforts to improve the home environment can backfire. Badly. If we’re not fully considering the impact of toxic substances on our own health, we’re certainly not thinking about the chemical burden on animals. Exposure to harmful substances at home can be extremely damaging to our pets. Maybe even fatal.

For those already making more informed choices, it can be confusing and frustrating to learn that ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe. Cleaning, self care, beauty and wellbeing products containing botanical and essential oils probably seem like safe, responsible choices. They smell divine and can have many health benefits for humans. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always apply to our pets.

Don’t be fooled by the price tag either. High end and luxury brands aren’t necessarily safer. High quality botanicals can be as toxic to pets as are cheaper, synthetic chemicals.

Inexpensive, homemade recipes (like grandma used to make) will provide safer, effective cleaning alternatives to most of the market leaders. And opening a window instead of using a fancy cocktail of essential oils may prevent respiratory distress or perhaps worse for your pet.

Reading labels is a good place to start although scarily, not all ingredients are always listed. And who knows what all those scientific names really mean? Scientists, mostly.

Without decoding a long list of contaminants, let’s look at some of the most harmful everyday products we use at home...

Indoor pollutants

Mainly VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can be toxic when a high level of exposure is sustained from household cleaners, air fresheners, scented candles (including the soot released from the wick), reed diffusers, perfumes for personal use, fabric fresheners, paints and solvents (yes peeps, this includes nail polish and remover), fumes from cooking appliances and even indoor furnishings such as sofas which contain all sorts of nasties including flame retardants.

Other chemicals in household products

Cleaning products (e.g bleach, ammonia, chlorine), laundry detergents, pesticides, cosmetics and other personal care products.

Contaminated indoor surfaces

Floors, carpets and furniture can carry residues from cleaning products and also airborne products (think room sprays, insect repellents) that eventually settle on surfaces.

Household plants

Toxic plant matter and the pesticides, fertilisers etc we apply to them.

Poor water quality

Chlorine, heavy metals and bacteria.

Why are pets at greater risk than people?

An entire range of problems may present when any of us ingest harmful substances, inhale airborne pollutants or absorb them through the skin. But our pets are smaller and their physiology is unique. Studies show that compared to humans, there is double the average amount of chemicals in pets. Terrifying and very sad that unintentionally, we expose them to harm.

Pets typically have a higher metabolic rate which means the onset of poisoning is faster and the effects are more severe. They also have a lower body weight than humans; a much smaller amount of a toxin will have a significant impact on their health.

Animals are unable to metabolise certain substances due to organ sensitivity, namely the liver and kidneys. Highly toxic responses including some foods may be immediate and sadly, fatal.

Chronic health problems tend to develop after longer periods of exposure to indoor pollutants (mainly VOCs) and typically include the following:

Skin irritation, rashes and sores, irritation of the mucous membranes and respiratory system (including sneezing, coughing and wheezing), gastrointestinal irritation, chemical burns, internal bleeding, thyroid (metabolism) and neurological disorders (seizures), cancer, endocrine disruption (hormonal imbalance and reproductive/fertility issues), allergic reactions to fragrances and other scented products, kidney failure.

Pets with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic respiratory infections are more susceptible to the effects of airborne contaminants worsening symptoms and sometimes leading to respiratory distress.

Some species, listed below, are at higher risk than others.

High Risk Animals

Birds

Birds have a highly efficient respiratory system sensitive to airborne pollutants which include smoke, cooking fumes, cleaning products and also scented products. Teflon and other nonstick coatings can emit toxic fumes when overheated and can pose a severe risk to birds.

Cats

Highly sensitive to airborne allergens such as dust mites, pollens, mould spores and fragrances. Cats are prone to respiratory issues following even limited exposure to strong chemical odours. Cigarette smoke and other fumes can exacerbate these issues.

Room sprays, air fresheners, reed diffusers, scented candles, fabric conditioners and even the perfumes we wear contain essential oils which can be highly toxic to all pets but especially cats.

Cats lack liver enzymes essential for metabolising and eliminating certain compounds found in EOs. It doesn’t matter how they are transferred, they are always dangerous to cats and some significantly more than others.

Brachycephalic breeds

The adorable short nosed breeds such as Pugs and Persian cats are prone to respiratory issues. Airborne contaminants further exacerbate breathing difficulties and can also cause eye complaints due to their unique anatomy.

Small furries

Animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters have delicate respiratory systems severely affected by smoke and strong odours.

Safer options, better choices

Homemade products help to repurpose, recycle and are ridiculously cheap. Best of all, they’re safe for our pets. Numerous recipes exist online but my favourite and most trusted source is Dr Karen Becker. Check her out at www.drkarenbecker.com or www.barkandwhiskers.com.
A clean, well-ventilated environment is essential for our pets. If you want fresh air, open a window rather than use room spray or plug-in diffuser.
Minimise exposure to strong odours.
Fabrics and pet bedding should be fully aired after washing to avoid inhalation of VOCs. Preferably, use a pet-safe laundry detergent. My favourite is available from Ingenious Probiotics. See below.
Avoid smoking indoors.
If using any scented products, in addition to ventilation, always leave a door open giving pets the option to exit the area and retreat to a neutral zone.
Watch for signs of withdrawal, discomfort or illness related to exposure. What you think is just an ‘off day’ could actually be a response to toxic load. For example, if you burn a scented candle for hours in a room that your cat has been confined to and they seem out of sorts, they probably are for reasons that haven’t even occurred to you! Please don’t do it to them.
If your pet displays any sudden and unusual symptoms or change in behaviour, seek veterinary intervention without delay.

Ingenious Probiotics

If you’re time poor but still interested in safe, natural, cleaning products (and don’t mind paying a little bit extra), I can’t recommend EVAA+ Probiotic Home Cleaning Products highly enough.

The range is vegan certified, free from harmful chemicals, hypo-allergenic and completely safe for animals. Not only do they do a great job of cleaning, I have total peace of mind knowing that my Rex and Juno are safe.

Available from Ingenious Probiotics who also sell an excellent range of topical probiotic products for pet health. I’ll tell you all about those next time.

Awareness is so important, helping us to make better-informed choices for our vulnerable pets. Please read labels and do your research. Find a trusted specialist source of information. With such easy access to the internet, we can check ingredients at home and even in the supermarket aisle. There’s no excuse. It could make such an important difference to your pet’s health. Humans in the household will benefit too!

Good health for the entire family, less risk of disease, longer life, spending less on harmful products and let’s not forget what you’ll save in vet fees!

For people and pets, there’s much to gain by making small, smart changes at home. And you can start today!

Toxic homes, chemical burden and our compromised pets