Imagine coming back from work to find pieces of Clorox wipes scattered all over the floor, a few pieces on your dog’s furs, while it chews on another piece.
The first thing that comes to mind is, uh oh! My dog has eaten a Clorox wipe. At this moment, you are likely to hop on your computer to run the Google search – “my dog ate a Clorox wipe, what should I do?”
Keeping your dog safe is vital. While anything that could cause harm to your canine companion should be avoided, knowing how to act in safeguarding your dog in the case of an emergency is very important.
In this article, we’ll discuss Clorox wipes, symptoms of Clorox toxicity, and what to do if your dog eats Clorox wipes.
Key Points
- Clorox wipes contain chemicals like alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides that are toxic to dogs if ingested, especially in large quantities.
- Signs of Clorox wipe poisoning can include choking, gagging, drooling, gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or straining to poop, and oral or GI tract ulcers.
- If your dog eats a Clorox wipe, contact a vet immediately. They may induce vomiting within 2 hours or provide other supportive medical care like activated charcoal or IV fluids.
- Prevent dogs from accessing Clorox wipes by storing all cleaning products in cupboards out of reach and immediately cleaning any spills.
- Even if a dog just licks a Clorox wipe, monitor them closely for several hours for any signs of choking or poisoning, which can take time to manifest. Seek prompt veterinary treatment at the first sign of distress.
What are Clorox wipes?
Clorox disinfectant wipes are individual pieces of polyester cloth impregnated with antimicrobial chemicals. They work as disinfectants and promise to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria, fungi, and viruses including the coronavirus.
Clorox disinfectant wipes are a household item and are used in homes to clean, deodorize, disinfect, and sanitize surfaces. they come in various scents such as lavender, fresh scent, and lemon, and are designed to leave behind this pleasant and refreshing scent on cleaned surfaces
What do Clorox wipes contain?
Clorox wipes like almost everything, yes you guessed it, is made of water. They may be confused with bleach but Clorox wipes do not contain bleach.
They contain a disinfectant called Alkyl C12-18 Dimethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride and Alkyl C12-14 Dimethylethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride, which are the chief active components in the wipes. These two compounds are responsible for the antimicrobial ability of Clorox wipes.
Other chemicals present include; light and heavy chained carbon structures like citric acid, limonene, essential sodium bicarbonate, and fragrances.
All these compounds are impregnated on the individual piece of clothing material made of polyester.
Are Clorox Wipes Toxic to Dogs?
Yes, the chemicals in Clorox wipes are very toxic to dogs and can cause harm to your canine buddy. However, the ability of Clorox wipes to cause damage to your dog will depend on the number of wipes consumed, as well as its body size.
If your dog is small and chewed just a small piece of Clorox wipes, it may not experience any toxic effects. if it consumes a large quantity of it, you should seek the attention of a veterinary doctor immediately.
What Happens if My Dog Eats Clorox Wipes?
If your dog ate a couple of Clorox wipes or ingested toxic levels of Clorox, there are two possible dangers. the first danger is the possibility of the wipes clogging its throat or intestine, while the second danger is toxicity from the harmful chemicals present in Clorox wipes.
Signs and Symptoms of Clorox wipes toxicity in dogs
If you have reasons to believe that your dog has chewed Clorox wipes, you should watch out for signs of choking, assuming that some wipes have clogged its throat.
Signs of choking in the dog may include:
- obvious distress,
- gagging or retching,
- salivation,
- pawing at the mouth,
- rubbing of the face against the ground,
- coughing, and
- bluish mucous membranes.
The coughing action may help the dog spit out the chewed wipes. A vet can administer an injection that will trigger your dog to vomit out the clogged wipes. This must be done within 2 hours of ingestion.
If there are no signs of choking, then you should watch out for signs of intestinal obstruction. These signs usually don’t show up immediately and may include signs like:
- straining to poo,
- poor appetite,
- vomiting,
- eating little food, and
- abdominal pains.
Your dog may require surgery to remove the Clorox wipes in its intestines. If your dog ingested a toxic level of the Clorox liquid from the wipes container, you might notice these signs:
- excessive drooling,
- throat and oral ulcers,
- poor appetite,
- vomiting and diarrhea, and
- signs of abdominal pains.
As a dog owner detecting these symptoms quickly and seeking the help of a Veterinarian on time will improve the chance of survival of your canine companion.
What Should I do if My Dog Eats Clorox Wipe?
If your dog only licked a piece of Clorox wipe, you have nothing to worry about. But if you have good reasons to believe that your dog ate Clorox wipes, your first line of action should be to notify your Veterinarian.
You can also reach out to the animal poison control center through their helpline, for instructions on what to do. If your dog spilled Clorox liquid on its furs, wash them off. Remove any visible Clorox wipes from its mouth and furs. You may also need to flush its mouth with clean water.
However, if you suspect a clogged throat, do not attempt to induce vomiting in your dog, as this action may push the wipes further into your dog if done wrongly. The vet will induce the vomiting if deemed useful at the time.
He may also administer activated charcoal to bind the toxic chemicals in your dog’s stomach, which will then be eliminated from its body during defecation. It may also require stomach pumping. If medical intervention is done on time, your dog can recover from the poisoning.
How Do I Prevent My Dog from Ingesting Clorox?
- The best way to prevent your dog from ingesting Clorox or eating Clorox wipes is to put Clorox wipes and other bleach-containing substances in a cupboard and lock them away.
- Used Clorox wipes should be burnt or placed in bins that are high off the floor, above the reach of your dog.
- Keep dogs away from surfaces that have been disinfected with Clorox or any other bleach-containing product. Whenever you’re too busy to pay close attention to your furry buddy, put them in a crate.
- If you spill any Clorox or other chemicals, be sure to mop them up immediately. You don’t want your dog licking up any of those chemicals, as it could be very harmful to their health.
- Take appropriate measures to make your home safe for your pet, and clean up any spills right away.
