REMEMBER: IT’S EASY TO CONFUSE “NATURAL” WITH SAFE!
Essential Oils: Essential oils are everywhere and for good reason. They pack an immensely powerful and often useful assistance to so many areas of our lives. However, according to “Michelson Found Animals” they do not recommend using ANY essential oils for pets, especially when it comes to direct application to an animal’s body to be left on or diffusing the oils into the air. However, if you do wish to use some in small amounts periodically, only do so with a vet’s approval and make sure to wash it off. Our view on essential oils used on our pets is that they’re likely to do more harm than good, so better to be safe than sorry. To avoid poisoning, keep essential oils out of reach of your pets. Store them in secure containers that your dog or cat cannot get to. And, again, ask your vet before you use any kind of oil in any capacity.
Garlic: Garlic belongs to the Allium family (which also includes onion, chives, and leeks) and is poisonous to dogs and cats. Garlic is considered to be about 5-times as potent as onion and leeks. Certain breeds and species are more sensitive, including cats and Japanese breeds of dogs (e.g., Akita, Shiba Inu). Toxic doses of garlic can cause damage to the red blood cells (making them more likely to rupture) leading to anemia. GI upset can also occur (e.g., nausea, drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea). Other clinical signs of anemia can also occur including lethargy, pale gums, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, and collapse. Signs of garlic poisoning can be delayed and not apparent for several days. While tiny amounts of these foods in some pets, especially dogs, may be safe, large amounts can be very toxic.
Brewer’s Yeast: Brewer’s yeast, also known as nutritional yeast, is generally safe for our pets. However, you do need to be careful. Brewer’s yeast can cause allergies in both dogs and cats. Symptoms of an allergic reaction is flaking skin, red skin lesions, licking, scratching, rubbing and chewing. These allergic reactions are caused by a yeast infection and left untreated can result in ear infections and other yeast-related illnesses. Digestive problems can also occur since the yeast increases gas and fermentation in the stomach. And since brewer’s yeast is a good source of chromium, which stabilizes blood sugar, it can also interfere with your pet’s insulin cycle.
Boric Acid: Boric acid is a powerful weapon against household pests but the chemical definitely carries risks for your pets. Categorized as a poison, boric acid can present dangers to both humans and animals. According to the Pet Poison Hotline, boric acid can be safe in small dose, but concerns arise when used in larger doses for pest control. Boric acid has been used for decades as an effective, affordable pest control but it needs to be treated with great caution.
Rubbing Alcohol: You should never use rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) on your dog! It is not only harmful for them to inhale but is also dangerous for them to lick. On top of that, alcohol delivers ingredients into the skin by breaking down its natural oils and anti-bacterial layer. Rubbing alcohol is touted as a mild antiseptic, cleaner and disinfectant but has unfortunately found its way recently into many “natural” or “organic” pet care products.
Isopropyl alcohol is rapidly absorbed through the skin and can cause the following:
Skin irritation and excessive dryness.
It also delays healing of skin tissue (http://www.healthlinkbc.ca). Isopropyl alcohol removes the skin’s naturally occurring moisture barrier.
Isopropyl alcohol can also cause respiratory tract irritation from inhalation of its vapors.
Isopropyl Alcohol is a neurotoxin (negatively affecting the nervous system) that contains petroleum-based propene, which makes it unfit to drink, and making it twice as toxic as ethanol. The liver oxidizes isopropyl alcohol into acetone and, with prolonged exposure this process can negatively affect the kidneys. Isopropyl alcohol can be found under these alternate names: propyl alcohol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, isopropanol, 2-hydroxypropane; 2-propyl alcohol and dimethyl carbinol.
Mink Oil: The use of mink oil is simply for creating shine on your pet’s coat. Unfortunately, the first ingredient in most formulations is Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol, which is absorbed through the skin by breaking down the natural oils. Once absorbed and through continued use, isopropyl alcohol can cause skin irritations and respiratory tract irritations due to inhalation of its vapors.
Source: Familypet.com; Pet Poison Hotline, 2019; Michaelson Found Animals - https://www.foundanimals.org
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