Did you know that laundry detergent is toxic to dogs? It's true, but it wasn't too much of an issue in the past because most detergents were inside a bottle. If a dog did ingest some, it was usually just a tiny amount licked off the floor. Some drooling and mild vomiting and diarrhea were often seen as a result, but the amount ingested was not usually enough to cause a serious problem.
However, with the advent of detergent pods, a bigger threat is present and more detergent injuries to dogs are being seen.
Laundry or detergent pods are colorful packets containing a pre-set amount of laundry detergent. They can be quite convenient for people, who can just grab a pod and toss it into the machine. This reduces the time and mess associated with pouring detergent out of a container.
The problem for dogs is the result of five facts about laundry pods:
Inhaling the detergent is far more dangerous for a dog than swallowing it. Once inhaled, the detergent coats the lungs and causes the dog to be unable to exchange oxygen properly, possibly resulting in suffocation. There are two ways that inhalation may occur when a dog plays with the laundry pod:
If a dog ingests multiple detergent pods, the additional risks of intestinal obstruction and corrosion of the G.I. tract by the large amount of concentrated detergent are possible.
If your dog has ingested or inhaled the contents of a detergent pod, you may see some or all of the following signs of illness:
Treatment of detergent poisoning in dogs includes diluting as much of the detergent as possible. It's important to rinse out your dog's mouth as well as possible and wash off any detergent on his face or fur.
Contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Hotline at 855-764-7661 immediately for further instructions.
If your dog is having difficulty breathing, get him to your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic as quickly as possible. The veterinarian may need to administer oxygen treatment, intravenous fluids, and other supportive measures.
It's crucial to keep all laundry products out of the reach of your dog. In fact, you may wish to limit your dog's access to your laundry room.
Laundry pods are an extreme hazard to children and cats as well as dogs.
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