Whether it be a Labrador or a Lhasa Apso, a Poodle or a or Pomeranian; at some point your dog and their surrounding need cleaned and sanitised.
It is easy to reach for bleach or some other household cleaning agent but are you fully aware of the issues that can arise when you use bleach around pets?
Maybe you are asking yourself these questions:
Should I clean my dogs chew toys with bleach?
Is it safe to use bleach in my dog’s crate?
What happens if my dog drinks bleach water?
How does bleach affect dogs?
There are very few products on the market that could be classed as a ‘safe sanatiser’ when it comes to pets and animals.
Why is this?
Why when the pet industry is worth over £4,500 million (2018) safe cleaners, specifically for animals and their equipment, are few and far between.
Can bleach hurt my dog?
The short answer to this is ‘yes, bleach can hurt your pet all though with this, comes some variables that need to be taken into account.
Here are 4 things to consider before you set about cleaning your home or business with bleach.
- Strength of bleach being used
- Dilution ratio of bleach to water
- How the animal is exposed to the solution
- Are there any alternatives to bleach
What strength of bleach is safe around my dog?
Regular household bleach has a pH level around 11, while ultra-concentrated is generally closer to 12 or 12.5. This is mostly used by professional cleaners and on farms.
“Wait, we use non-chlorine bleach”
Non-chlorine bleach (also known as color-safe bleach) may also be dangerous because it contains hydrogen peroxide. This may cause vomiting in addition to tissue irritation.
Any exposure to a chemical comes with its own risks; a weak solution of bleach may not have any obvious effect on a St Bernard but could have dire effects on a Chihuahua.
What is a safe dilution ratio for bleach?
Exposure to bleach through ingestion, breathing or touching can be harmful to all pets.
The dilution ratio affects the toxicity of the chemical and there are different dilution ratios depending on your intended use.
There are various dilution calculators and lots of advice online when it comes to working out how much bleach you should use for your intended task.
This made me stop and think; if there are mathematical calculations needed in order to use a product safely in my home, am I happy to take the risk?
What do I do if my dog licks bleach?
Unless you are incredibly careful, at some point, your pooch will come into contact with bleach or at the very least, inhale the fumes. Unfortunately some dogs may even lick the surfaces you have just cleaned or roll around on a recently mopped floor.
The exposure of bleach to your pet can be harmful; ultra-concentrated bleach can result in severe lesions on the skin, and in lesser cases, skin irritation.
If your furry friend happens to ingest any of these products, toxicity could result in complications within the digestive and respiratory systems.
Is the smell of bleach bad for dogs?
Apart from the risk of bleach coming into contact with your dog or he or she licking or worse, drinking a solution, there is the pungent smell to consider. Animals use their sense of smell to understand their surroundings; the strong smell from bleach reacts with your dog’s olfactory receptors, damaging them and can result in ‘nose blindness’. Damage to these receptors leaves them unable to process the world around them.
If you suspect that your pet may have inhaled or ingested a toxic chemical always seek medical advice from a vet.
Remember; not all dogs have the intelligence of Lassie; animals are inquisitive and ultimately led by their nose and their stomachs.
What can I use instead of bleach?
As research develops, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers associated with bleach and other cleaning products.
Related content: Antibacterial cleaners; the issues facing our health and our environment
This has led to the increase in information and safer alternatives being suggested.
There are various homemade remedies, such as baking soda and vinegar to clean your toilet; all though these alternatives can be effective they do not kill the bacteria and viruses around your home and business
Related content: 5 Alternatives to bleach for household cleaning
When it comes to the health of our pets, our families and our environment a safe sustainable product would alleviate all these risks.
ESOL for animals™ is an extremely effective and fast acting disinfectant whilst also being environmentally friendly and completely safe to the handler.
What is ESOL™?
ESOL for animals™ is an animal and surface sanitizer.
Yes you read that right, animal AND surface sanitizer, you can clean both your dog, their chew toys, bowls bed and surrounding with the same product.
What can I use ESOL for animals™ for?
- Clean your pet
- Clean your home
- Disinfect their toys, crate and bedding
- Treat wounds and grazes
- Disinfect drinking water
ESOL™ is made with Salt, water and electricity. That is all; there are no other added ingredients. Over time, it reverts back to its constituent parts so when rinsed down the drain, it has no adverse effects on the environment.
ESOL™ is safe to handle, store and is completely non corrosive. It is as effective as bleach but safe around animals, even safe enough to drink.
If you would like to try ESOL™ and get 10% off enter your email address here to get the promotional code - we promise not to email you or send you spam (because that's just annoying)
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What next?
Have you thought about other products in your home or business? Do you understand the effects these products can have on your health, your pets’ health and the planet?
What could seem like an innocuous substance may be having an adverse effect on the environment and the people around you.
The next time you pick up a cleaning product check the label; make informed choices
Source: https://www.petmd.com https://rescuedisinfectants.com
