(CHRISTOPHER SMITH/Tulsa World)
Just because it's green doesn't make it good for your pets, some veterinarians tell the
Associated Press about how seemingly natural household cleaning products can be healthy for you but toxic to your family dog or cat.
"People expose their animals without even realizing the risk," says Dr. Karl Jandrey of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. "That's the most common thing that happens when you come to our emergency room - the clients put their pets at risk because they were unaware of how significant the damage could be."
While most household cleaners are safe if used as directed, those cleaners people make may have ingredients that are harmful to their pets. And without a safety and directions label, there is no way of telling.
For example, cats can develop stomachaches from the essential oils added for lemon, orange and peppermint scents in cleaners, Dr. Camille DeClementi, a senior toxicologist at the Animal Poison Control Center, tells the AP.
DeClementi points out that most green commercial cleaners are safe for animals but should nevertheless be used with precaution.
Here are a few tips from the article.
Keep pets away from areas being cleaned.Don't use sprays directly on a pet.Make sure your pet doesn't chew on the products.And if a cleaner's label says "Keep out of reach of children," keep it away from your pets, too, DeClementi adds.
Also, don't use fabric softener sheets that contain cationic detergents because they will give your pets - cats, especially - stomach trouble.
Jandrey says that just because a product is labeled "green" doesn't make it completely safe.
"Some still have their own toxicities," Jandrey says. "In general, they probably are a little less toxic, but not free of toxic potential. They just need for a larger dose to cause the same kind of problems."
