(author Shelley Krake, Clever Canines Club Member)

Are you and your canine companion living in a healthy home?

Do you really know what “Fido” is licking every-time he licks the floor, your cupboards, the walls, the carpet, or other items in your home? Did you know that cleaning products you are using right now might be shortening your dog’s life or contributing to disease or illness?

We all love a fresh clean home.  It gives us a good, healthy feeling.  The unfortunate fact is that often the products we use in our homes actually make our homes “dirtier” by exposing us and our pets to toxic chemicals.

Did you know for instance that many dishwashing detergents contain dry chlorine that becomes activated when exposed to water in the dishwasher?  Chlorine fumes are then released in the stream that leaks out of the dishwasher.  Chlorine gas can cause eye irritation and chlorinated chemicals are linked with other illnesses such as cancer.  Steam that comes out of the dishwasher does so right at the level that our small children and pets are walking and crawling.

Think of it this way; none of us would want our kids or our pets to “play” with toxic chemicals, so why would we use cleaning products that potentially expose them to these very chemicals?

Common cleaners give off fumes that have been linked to increasing the risk of children developing asthma.  “Domestic exposure of volatile organic compounds at levels even below currently accepted recommendations may increase the risk of childhood asthma.”  Asthma rates for children under 5 rose over 160% between 1980 - 1994.  And asthma is now seen in dogs as well!  Furthermore, strong links have been found between the use of domestic cleaning products and the risk of asthma.  (Source: Rumchev, K et al (2004) thorax, 59(9) 746-751);  thorax, Nov. 2003, 58(11), 950-954).

Many all purpose cleaners contain neurotoxins and nasal irritants that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled.  Some of these solvents can cause hormone disruption.  Butyl cellosolve and formaldehyde are two such chemicals.  Degreasers typically contain petroleum distillates and butyl cellosolve, which can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue surrounding nerve cells.

Bleach is the number one household chemical involved in poisoning.  In humans, the chemical known as hypochlorite in bleach may cause reproductive, endocrine, and immune system disorders.  (Source: annual report of the American Association of Poison control Center Database 2005).

What about our four-legged companions?  They are at risk too!

Ammonia is found in many glass cleaners and the fumes from ammonia can irritate skin, eyes, and the respiratory system.  (Source: annual report of the American Association of Poison control Center Database 2005).

Carpet cleaners can be extremely toxic to children, who tend to play and crawl around on them.  Isn’t it possible that they affect our dogs as well?  Of course it is!  Carpet cleaners give off fumes that can cause cancer and liver damage and they accounted for over 5000 human poison exposures in 2005.  (Source: annual report of the American Association of Poison control Center Database 2005).

Scale and lime removers are products designed to do just that and to rid excess soap scum.  Among other things they can contain sulfuric acid that is corrosive, toxic to lungs and mucous membranes, and to the gastro intestinal tract.

Does your dog ever drink from the toilet bowl?  Toilet bowl cleaners are one of the most toxic and dangerous cleaning products on the market.  They are harmful to your health simply by breathing during use and are very toxic to the respiratory system in general.  (Source: annual report of the American Association of Poison control Center Database 2005).

Did you know that animal poisoning exposure cases totaled 131,336 in 2005 with dogs accounting for 89% of the cases?!?!!   In the USA, poisoning statistics from 2005 show that over 90% of poison exposures happen at home.  Over 120,000 children under the age of 6 were poisoned by household cleaners in that year!  (Source: USA National Center for injury Prevention and Control;  annual report of the American Association of Poison control Centers, National Poisoning and Exposure Database 2005).

What about the environmental impact of chemicals in household products?  Phosphates alone - found in many automatic dishwashing detergents - cause rivers and lakes to become clogged with masses of algae and weeds, robbing less aggressive plants and aquatic life of oxygen, resulting in lifeless streams and rivers.  It’s critical that we consider what goes down the drain!  The US EPA estimates that the average American household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year!  (The EPA designates toilet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, oven cleaners, and bleach as hazardous waste.)  And cleaning products make up 176,000 tons of household waste annually.

What kind of chemicals are in the products you use?  Make sure you now what you are bringing into your house by going to the National Institutes of Health & National Library of Medicine Household product database.  You can search almost any brand of cleaner you use, find out what’s in it, and uncover its links to health effects.  Or, search by chemical ingredients (such as the ones we’ve talked about above,) and discover what brands contain it.

Much of the way we think about clean has been influenced by advertising.  We all think we know what clean “smells” like (pine trees, oranges, lemons, flowers, etc,) and we all think we know what clean “looks” like (such as little puffball armies of scouring suds), but in reality, clean looks… well… it just looks clean.  And clean smells refreshingly clean, devoid of any volatile organic compounds that give off some artificial smell.

So, what can you do?  Start by responsibly getting rid of the nasty stuff in your home.  Then choose products that are non-toxic, natural, biodegradable, concentrated, and hypoallergenic.  Products that are safe for you and your home, safe for your family and pets, and safe for the planet.

So, next time you notice your dog licking the floor, think about what it is that they are actually ingesting.  We all love our dogs and want the very best life for them.  That is why Tracie & Joe of Clever Canines have made the switch from traditional cleaners to safe biodegradable cleaners, like the ones that Shelley & Dave recommend.  Niko & Foster are very healthy and happy about the switch too!

Click here for more information on those products.   Or email Shelley, your Calgary Representative,   skrake@telus.net

Shelley Krake & Dave Johnson, Clever Canines Club Members

This entry is filed under Clever Canines Club, Just something to say