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Oh, no! You just entered the room and discovered your silly pup got into your tote bag. They chewed up everything, including a bottle of hand sanitizer. Should you worry about it?
Hand Sanitizer: What You Need to Know
Hand sanitizer is potentially toxic to dogs, depending on how much they consume. The main ingredient is ethyl alcohol, typically 70% to 90%, the same as the main ingredient in wine and spirits. It’s essential to recognize that it does not contain ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic and found in antifreeze.
Some hand sanitizers have other ingredients, like scents, which could be toxic to your pup. The good news here is that these scents are often negligible.
Signs of Ethanol Poisoning in Dogs
If your dog consumes a lot of hand sanitizer, they are at risk for ethanol poisoning. That’s right: alcohol poisoning is a risk.
- Stumbling
- Disoriented
- Vomiting
- Hypothermia (low body temperature)
- Respiratory depression
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
Too much alcohol can rapidly affect dogs. Signs can appear within 30 minutes, so it is vital that you contact a veterinarian if you see any of these signs.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Hand Sanitizer
If your dog eats hand sanitizer, you need to call your veterinarian. According to Lisa Martin, DVM with Pet Poison Helpline, a small lick of hand sanitizer, such as if your dog licks your hands after you apply some, should not cause any issues.
The concern for hand sanitizer is when your dog consumes a larger quantity of it, such as chewing into a bottle of sanitizer. There is no one treatment for hand sanitizer ingestion, so your veterinarian will likely recommend you contact a pet poison control group, namely:
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- Inducing vomiting to expel the hand sanitizer
- IV fluid therapy
- Anti-nausea medications like Cerenia (maropitant)
- Ventilator support for respiratory depression
- Seizure medications: If your dog is convulsing
Preventing Your Dog From Getting Into Hand Sanitizer
Keeping hand sanitizer away from your dog is the best thing you can do, especially if you have a nosy pup who likes to chew on things. Secure bottles in out-of-reach places, such as on counters or in cabinets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happens if your dog sniffs hand sanitizer?
If your dog whiffs a bit of hand sanitizer on your hands, it’s unlikely to do anything. The alcohol in the product evaporates quickly.
Is hand sanitizer safe for pets?
Hand sanitizer is unsafe for pets and should not be used on them. While you should be fine using hand sanitizer on yourself, you’ll want to keep the product away from your furry family member, even if you’re around your dog.
Conclusion
If your dog licks hand sanitizer, it’ll probably be okay, although it may be very unpalatable. However, if your dog consumes a lot of hand sanitizer, it can cause alcohol poisoning, and you’ll want to contact your veterinarian.
Featured Image Credit: Dragon Images, Shutterstock
