Veterinarians are treating more and more cases of cancer in animals, as well as increased numbers of behavioral problems and poisonings.
Cats, in particular, have difficulty eliminating toxic chemicals because their systems are insufficient at metabolizing foreign intruders.
Household cleaners can be extremely toxic to pets, as can common bug sprays and garden pesticides .
Modern energy efficient construction methods are most likely the responsible agent: in their function to provide superior insulation, these methods prevent air from leaking into or out of the house. While the newer techniques save you a great deal of money in heating costs, they also result in a build-up of chemicals fumes within the home. And as pets spend most of their time indoors, they may develop serious health problems.
Furthermore they inhale higher concentrations given body weight. Therefore, many symptoms attributed to poisonous fumes can appear in our animals before they appear in us.
Aerosol sprays are also a hazard to an animal's health, especially if the pet already has respiratory problems. And those pleasant smelling air fresheners which are fatal if eaten, are laden with chemicals that permeate the indoor environment. Fumes left over from these and other cleaning products can linger in the home for long periods of time, particularly when the windows are closed during the heating and air conditioning seasons.
Symptoms of Cleaning Product Poisoning:
While the actual symptom of cleaning product poisoning that the animal exhibits depends on the type of substance to which he or she was exposed, there are some general symptoms of which you should be aware. For dogs and cats, these include:
*Anxiety *Burns on the mouth and esophagus *Central nervous system depressant *Colic *Coma *Corneal damage *Cough *Excessive salivation *Foaming at the mouth *Hormonal changes *Hyperthermia *Muscle weakness *Restlessness *Seizures *Shallow breathing *Skin ulcers *Slow respiration *Vomiting
IN addition to the above-listed symptoms, cats, who can have fatal reactions to cleaning products, also experience the following:
*Cardiac arrhythmia *Hair loss *Hyperactivity *Panting *Shock
Birds who have been poisoned by cleaning products suffer from:
