Most of us think carefully about what our dogs eat. But what about what they breathe?
Dogs spend most of their time close to the floor, right where particles from candles, sprays, and plug-in fresheners tend to settle. And here is something worth pausing on: a dog’s sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more sensitive than ours. What barely registers to us can be overwhelming to them.
Common Home Scents That Can Be a Problem
You do not have to give up a pleasant-smelling home. But it helps to know what is in the air your dog is breathing every day.
- Paraffin candles release soot and fine particles when burned, along with chemicals like benzene and toluene. Over time, especially in smaller or poorly ventilated rooms, these can irritate a dog’s respiratory system.
- Synthetic air fresheners and sprays often contain VOCs and artificial fragrance compounds. Dogs are far more sensitive to these than we are. Repeated exposure can cause sneezing, watery eyes, and respiratory irritation.
- Essential oils are one of the bigger concerns. Oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus are commonly listed as toxic to dogs, even when diffused into the air rather than applied directly to their skin.
- Plug-in air fresheners release a continuous stream of synthetic fragrance chemicals right at nose level for most dogs, making them one of the more constant sources of exposure in the home.
- Wax melts and warmers carry risks similar to candles, since they release many of the same synthetic fragrance compounds into the air, just without the open flame.
There Are Safer Options
The good news is that pet-safe alternatives exist for almost every category on that list. Making the switch does not mean giving up a home that smells good.
If you have been burning candles for years and never given it a second thought, you are not alone. It is just worth knowing what is floating through the air where your dog breathes, naps, and spends most of their day.
Your dog cannot tell you when something in the air is bothering them. But you can take a look around the room and think about what they are living with every day. That small act of attention is just another way of loving them well.
