Is glass cleaner toxic for dogs? What are pet-safe cleaning options?

Most common household cleaners are safe when diluted according to the instructions. For example, properly diluted PineSol - if Lucy drank straight from the mop bucket, she would likely have vomiting and diarrhea, but it is unlikely to be fatal. So if you keep her out of the mop bucket and attempt to keep her away from the floors until they are dry, you should be fine!

Most of the floor cleaners used nowadays are not heavily toxic and if your kitty just licked a small amount off his feet he shouldn't have any long term effects. Occasionally we may see some stomach upset or irritation to the mouth. I would offer him some food and just monitor him for vomiting and excessive drooling. If you notice any abnormal behaviors then you can bring him in for an exam. As I said, most floor cleaners will dry quickly and won't be harmful unless the pet is licking large volumes up, but if you want to be extra cautious you can mix vinegar with water to make a cleaning solution (though you can't use this on wood floors).

It can be toxic to dogs, but luckily it takes a lot to cause toxic effects and the toxic effects are usually limited to vomiting and diarrhea. I wouldn't worry too much unless they are starting to vomit. It's also good to rinse them off with normal water for 10 minutes, because it can be irritating to their skin. If you happen to notice any problems with them, you are welcome to post another question to us. I hope that helps and Mimzi gets better soon.

Hi and thanks for your request. Propylene glycol (PG) is one of the least toxic glycols. It is categorized by the FDA as a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) substance. Only ingestion of large amounts is toxic; a couple of drops won't be harmful at all.

I am sorry to hear about Foxy. I see your question was posted some time ago. Hopefully Foxy is doing just fine, but signs that would indicate she ingested enough to cause toxic effects would include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, drunken appearance, lethargy. If any of these occur, seek veterinary care immediately. We will often recommend giving some milk to try to decrease effects on the GI tract if ingestion just occurred but since it has been some hours it is hard to say if this would help. Care that your vet can provide would include administration of activated charcoal to help decrease absorption of the toxins, IV fluid therapy to correct dehydration and support the kidneys, and medicaitons to help stop vomiting/GI upset. This toxin can affect the kidneys so keep a close eye as well on thirst and urination. If your dog starts showing increased thirst/urination then you should bring her to your vet to have her kidney values checked. If you want to play it safe, you can go ahead and bring her to your vet today to get her checked out.

Oh no, that was naughty of Zeus to lick up the carpet cleaner! Given that it was diluted by water and he only had a small lick, he should be fine. Because it causes hydrogen peroxide it can cause some GI upset in the form of vomiting, and I would monitor him for now. If you do see vomiting, anorexia, or lethargy, have Zeus seen by a vet immediately for a health check.

I would not recommend using essential oils, cats are very sensitive to them and certain ones are highly toxic. I will be honest, I don't use a special cleaner in my home as a vet. I just don't let my animals into the clean area until it's completely dried, and I have never had an issue. Brands I use in New Zealand are likely different from ones you can get in the US, but even the cleaners you get at the grocery store are safe to use around your cat. Just don't let George in the area until it's completely dried. I hope this helps!