This is an important notice from the FDA for all dog owners. Per their latest bulletin, FDA had this to say when it comes to using sanitizers on dog paws:
“Attention Pet Owners: Do not use hand sanitizer to clean your pet’s paws. It can cause poisoning through the skin. Hand sanitizer products can make your dog sick if eaten.”
Cleaning your dog’s paws with hand sanitizer can cause the following harms:
1. Dangerous drying effect – a hand sanitizer that contains as much as 95% alcohol can cause severe dryness to your dog’s paws. Dogs’ footpads are extremely sensitive. If be applied such a solution, they get extra dry and will be exposed to tearing and wounds should they walk and go about. Such hand sanitizers can cause footpads to crack. Such cracks and wounds can make dogs vulnerable to infections like leptospirosis.
2. Ingestion accidents – dogs may ingest such harmful solutions and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs are extra sensitive when it comes to toxins. Hand sanitizers have very strong chemicals enough to kill viruses and cause indigestion and poisoning to dogs. It’s best that such solutions are not placed in their bodies or in any way near them.
These are the signs and symptoms that you should look for if you think that your dog is in danger of having been exposed to such strong solutions:
1. Slow reflex
2. Difficulty in breathing or slower breathing
3. Lack of energy or depression
4. Drowsiness
5. Unconsciousness
6. Lack of balance
7. Overly excited
So how do you clean your dog’s paws then? It’s very simple. Just use any kind of mild soap. Even a dish soap will do. Products like Dawn is perfect because it effectively removes grease and tar from dogs’ feet. All mild soaps are okay so long as they are diluted in water. When cleaning your dog’s paws, always check for cuts and sensitive areas that need further care.
For additional precaution, you can also use dog booties.