Laundry products toxicity in pets

substance: Surfactants

categories:

Cleaning & Washing

symptoms:

Coughing / Diarrhea / Dyspnea / Nausea / Stridor / Vomiting

# Description

Laundry detergents may contain anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric surfactants and generally have low toxicity in veterinary species. However, exceptions include cationic detergents and laundry pods. Symptoms can range from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling to more serious but less common complications, such as esophageal burns and gastrointestinal bleeding.

# Toxicity

all

Safe 0-6 mg/kg
Vomiting 6-25 mg/kg

# How it works

They may act as irritants, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Cationic surfactants are the most toxic, followed by anionic surfactants, with nonionic and amphoteric surfactants being less toxic.

If a product contains more than 7.5% cationic surfactants, it may be corrosive and could cause serious complications.

# Symptoms

Gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastritis, which may cause corrosive injury leading to drooling, dysphagia, epigastric pain, and bleeding.

Skin – dryness, dermatitis, and irritation.

Ocular – conjunctive erythema, irritation, pain, stinging, corneal ulcer may occur.

Respiratory – cough, dyspnea, stridor.

Cationic surfactants (severe poisoning):

paralysis od breathing muscles
hypotension and shock
lethargy, CNS depression, coma and seizures

# Treatment

Emesis is not indicated.

Ocular: Flush the eyes with saline or room temperature water.

Dermal: Irrigate the affected area with room temperature water.

General Care: monitor and replace fluids and electrolytes as needed.

Oral Dilution: Oral dilution with water may be necessary.

# Prognosis

It depends on the type of detergent. If a cationic surfactant has been consumed, an urgent visit to the veterinarian is necessary.

Symptoms

Poisons