Almost everyone has cleaning products, insect spray or flower fertilizer at home. However, numerous products can be dangerous or even fatal for cats, dogs and rabbits.
Most people know that cleaning agents and chemicals are never completely harmless to animals or even small children. As a rule, we all take good care of the means that are supposed to do particularly hard and hygienic work. However, products that most people consider harmless can also be dangerous for pets. “We are aware of cases in which animals have suffered fatal poisoning from common household means,” warns the consumer advice center in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Detergents and hygiene cleaners with benzalkonium chloride, for example, can get on the fur of dogs and cats when they lie down on freshly cleaned surfaces. During grooming, these chemicals are then absorbed with the tongue and can cause burns in the mouth. The result: the four-legged friends refuse to feed and do not drink. Insect killers with the active ingredient permethrin can also lead to severe poisoning and even death in cats. The substance can be found in many insect sprays, but also in devices – the so-called “foggers” – which promise pet owners of all things a remedy in the event of infestation by lice and other unwanted parasites. They cloud entire rooms with a high concentration of insecticides.
Hygiene cleaners and insect repellants are high risk
The consumer advice center strongly advises against the use of such devices, and generally instead recommends non-toxic alternatives. Insect screens and sticky traps, for example, are harmless to cats, dogs and rabbits. In the event of a flea infestation, you should go to the vet directly with the affected four-legged friend. Because even those who use anti-tick and flea products, which are only approved for dogs, on cats, risk poisoning them. Applicants for dogs are also a danger to cats living in the same household.
Aggressive cleaning agents and hygienic cleaners should generally be avoided. Neutral cleaners or soft soap as well as microfiber cloths are “hygienically sufficient alternatives”. Synthetic garden fertilizer is also repeatedly eaten by pets and can lead to poisoning. At the consumer advice center NRW offers numerous tips for pet owners who want to create a safe environment for their four-legged friends.
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Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
