Are Dryer Sheets Toxic To Your Pet?
My sleepy boy 🙂
Dryer Sheets Are Toxic to Dogs and Cats
https://companionpetstn.com/blog/dryer-sheets-are-toxic-to-dogs-and-cats/
A dryer sheet works to disperse static cling by coating fabrics with chemicals transferred from the sheet by heat. These same chemicals that are in high concentrations on the dryer sheets can harm your pet; especially if they chew or ingest a sheet, even a used one. Formulas vary from product to product, but your favorite fabric softener or dryer sheet may contain benzyl acetate, camphor, or even chloroform.
None of this is good for pets. The Merck Veterinary Manual warns that cationic detergents, which are present in fabric softeners and dryer sheets, can cause a variety of problems for animals ranging from minor skin irritation to widespread systemic distress and pulmonary edema. Kidney failure is also one of the problems that can occur after ingestion of dryer sheet chemicals.
Dryer Sheets and Pet Dander
There is a well-meaning but dangerous tip on the internet about using dryer sheets to remove loose hair from cats or dogs and to reduce natural static when the humidity is low. But animals lick their fur and the areas on which they rest, so using dryer sheets to remove fur is dangerous. They are, however, good for removing pet hair from our clothes and upholstery. Look for sheets that use plant-based ingredients.
Jake checking up on me...
We spent most of Saturday and Sunday outside working on our house. Jake always checks up on me to see where I am.
The science
A dryer sheet works to disperse static cling by coating fabrics with fabric softener, fragrances and cationic ingredients that reduce static in your clothing and help them feel soft and fresh and that are then transferred from the sheet by heat. Unfortunately, some of those ingredients are benzyl alcohol, camphor and even chloroform. These same chemicals that are in high concentrations on the dryer sheets can harm your pet; especially if they chew or ingest a sheet. Unused dryer sheets are definitely a greater threat since they still carry most of these chemicals, but even used ones are a problem.
To be more specific, many veterinary manuals warn that cationic detergents, which are present in both fabric softeners and dryer sheets, can cause a variety of problems for animals ranging from minor skin irritation to widespread systemic distress and pulmonary edema. Kidney failure is also one of the problems that can occur after ingestion of dryer sheet chemicals as are stomach and intestinal blockage.
My little helper...
Mr. TAL and I worked on fixing bad Hardy Board on our house and Maggie was right there helping us 🙂
If your dog happens to lick his coat after exposure to dryer sheets, he may experience symptoms of cationic distress. Signs include loss of appetite, excessive salivation and burning of the mouth. In especially severe circumstances, digestive tract ulcers may even be a possibility.
Cats
Definitely dangerous to the canine species, dryer sheets are particularly harmful to felines. Cats are more vulnerable to the hazards of the chemical agents in fabric softener sheets; compounding the risk is the fact that they lick their fur more frequently than dogs due to their meticulous self-grooming routines. Be safe and smart. Keep dryer sheets out of reach of any pets in your household, period.
Other resources
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Good to know! I stopped using dryer sheets long ago. I have a box of unscented just for a few pieces of clothing that get static. They started bothering my skin so can only imagine what they will do to my furry babies!!
Glad this post helped you. I stopped buying dryer sheets when I adopted Bear. I was so afraid I would drop one and he would find it.