Fact or Fiction - What’s harmful for your dog?

Apr 18, 2007

Most of the time, things that are dangerous for our beloved, four-legged friends are pretty obvious.  However, there are some things that you may hear conflicting advice about.  What is true and what is just a myth?

Febreeze is dangerous to pets

FICTION: Febreeze is perfectly safe to use in households with pets.  However, it is recommended that the Febreeze, or any other product in an aerosol can, not be used in close proximity to birds as it can cause respiratory problems.

Swiffer Wet Jet is harmful for your dog

FICTION: The rumor is that the Swiffer Wet Jet cleaning solution contains an ingredient similiar to antifreeze and if ingested by your dog can cause liver failure.  The truth is that the Swiffer Wet Jet formula is 90% water and has very low percentages of propylene glycol n-butyl ether.  At the current concentration level, these ingredients would not cause liver damage in pets.

Macademia Nuts are harmful for dogs

FACT: Macademia nuts can cause your dog to have tremors and weakness in their hind legs.  These symptoms have been found in dogs that eat one gram of macademia nuts or more per pound of their body weight.

Pennies are poisonous if ingested

FACT: This will not only put a hurt on your wallet, but it can also be harmful for your pooch.  Pennies that were minted after 1982 contain 99.2 percent zinc.  Zinc, if ingested, can cause problems in the kidneys, liver, red blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract.

Poinsettias are poisonous to pets

FICTION: This popular holiday plant may upset your pet’s stomach if ingested but it is not poisonous to dogs.  Dana B. Farbman, CVT of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center had this to offer, “In reality, ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation in pets, which may include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.”

Posted by Corrine
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