As a pet parent we all pull out our best when it comes to taking care of our pets. Be it midnight feeding, vaccinations, timely deworming, using pet safe cleaning products, grooming or spoiling them with treats. But do you know that our pets are susceptible to various allergies which develop over time without our knowledge? There are many elements in our homes that can be hazardous to them.
As per a study conducted by Center of Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), indoors are 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoors. Animals may be untidy, and having pets in the house necessitates additional cleaning. Cleaning solutions we use on a regular basis has a greater risk to our pets health than the germs. Cleaning chemicals that contain ammonia, bleach, strong odors, and formaldehyde can cause Allergies, dysfunction, damage, and even death.
“Going Natural” is the way forward?
Many things in your pet's environment cause allergic reactions, so look into their surroundings before pinning it on their food. Most commercial disinfectants/cleaners include chemicals that damage the interior environment with harsh odors that may not be dangerous to you, but are extremely harmful to your dog/cat. Our pets are in greater proximity to these pollutants than we are, and as a result, they are naturally more affected
Our cats and dogs literally eat, sleep and play on the floor and be in direct skin contact by sniffing, licking etc. Thus going all green is the best practice you can adopt not only for your pet but also for the environment.
Allergies can cause within our house
Sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes, and itching are all symptoms of allergy, which is described as an immune system overreaction to normally harmless substances. Allergies can impact our canine companions as well. Allergies to pollen, dust, fleas, and even cooking smoke can affect our pets. As pets are considerably smaller than us, toxins reach their respiratory systems and bloodstream more quickly.
Signs that your pet has developed any kind of allergy:
- Frequent licking or biting in some specific area of the body
- Scabs
- Patches of baldness
- Itchy or Runny eyes
- Swelling
- Loss of appetite that lasts for more than two days
- Rapid Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Breathing problem
Ignoring such signs can lead to permanent damage to your pet’s health. Timely detection and treatment can save your pet. While it is critical to keep our homes and workplaces clean; veterinarians caution that pets may be exposed to cleaning products by accident, leading to significant injury or disease. Non toxic cleaning products for pets is thus a necessity.
Toxic Ingredients to avoid completely
1.Ammonia
Dishwash liquid, surface cleaner, oven cleaners, floor cleaners, glass cleaners contain ammonia as one of the active ingredients. It can induce eye swelling, tearing, and burning when aerosolized at very low doses and can irritate the throat and lungs, causing coughing and inflammation of the airways at greater dosages. Especially with dogs, it can adversely affect their liver function.
2.Bleach
Due to its powerful disinfection qualities, bleach, or chlorine, is probably the most used cleaning product. Bleach can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and in more extreme cases, seizures when inhaled or consumed by accident. So switch to pet safe cleaning products including your laundry detergent rather than bleach. Investing in non toxic cleaning products is a simple solution.
3.Phthalates
These are hormone-disrupting chemicals that are added to items to make them smell nice. And just because they aren't listed on the label that doesn't mean they aren't there in the bottle. Most of the products you use, including lotions, soaps, makeup, nail paint, hair sprays, perfumes, after-shave lotions and your regular floor cleaners contain phthalates. Because dogs bite, chew, lick, and nose anything they play with, they are the most susceptible to phthalates. There are six types of phthalates that are completely banned to be used in toys, which unfortunately are still used for pet toys.
4.Artificial Fragrances
In floor cleaners, the phrase "fragrance" is used as an all-term for a bunch of chemicals that can be irritating to animals' delicate nostrils. Breathing problems, headaches, nausea, and dizziness have all been linked to them. Using a pet safe floor cleaner will ensure that your pets are saved from such heavy exposure to chemicals in the name of fragrance. How to pick the right floor cleaner for pets at home, read here.
How to ensure yours and your pet safety?
- While using commercial cleaning products, pay attention to its labels, percentage of alcohol, bleach, fragrances etc.
- Clean your pet bedding frequently with non toxic cleaning products for pets
- Use your nose as your ultimate guide, any disinfectant, cleaner, detergent high on fragrance is a surely overloaded with chemicals
- If your pets display any symptoms of allergy which may or may not be restricted to diarrhea, vomiting, scratching, short breath - consult your vet right away.
It is our responsibility as pet parents to choose pet safe cleaning products for our houses.
PurCult range of home cleaners are absolutely pet safe. Zero Sulphates, Zero Phosphates, Zero Bleach, Zero Artificial Colour, Zero Artificial Fragrance, Zero Harmful Acids, Zero Animal Testing and the list goes on! Explore our full range of products here.