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The Febreze™ Issue Email warnings about Fabreze™'s alleged toxic threat to pets began circulating in January. NetPets.Org has been, rather than post unsubstantiated rumors, collecting data to see if there was any merit to these emails. Below is what we have found:
The following are open letters sent by the NAPCC.
National Animal Poison Control Center
1717 S. Philo Road, Suite 36
Urbana, IL 61802Date: March 26, 1999
To: Whom It May ConcernSubject: Febreze™ Fabric Refresher
Recently there have been comments and discussions posted on the Internet suggesting that the use of Febreze™ Fabric Refresher in households is dangerous to animals. We have issued the following statement in order to help disseminate accurate information:
"Veterinary toxicologists at the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center are conducting an on-going investigation into claims that use of Febreze™ in the home caused the death of several pets. All information reviewed to date suggests that there is no evidence that Febreze™ represents any risk to pets when used according to label instructions. Presently, the center considers the product safe to use in households with pets. As with any cleaning product, the center recommends that birds be removed from the room until the product application has dried and the area has been ventilated. Please call 1-800-345-4735
if you have any questions or have a pet that you suspect is experiencing problems or visit us at http://www.napcc.aspca.org."
Please photocopy this letter or download our statement from our web site and pass the correct information on to other friends of animals.
Sincerely,
Steven R. Hansen, DVM, MS
Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Toxicology
Senior Vice PresidentAnd this follow up letter:
National Animal Poison Control Center
1717 S. Philo Road, Suite 36|
Urbana, IL 61802Date: April 16, 1999
Veterinary toxicologists at the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and other experts continue to look into claims that the use of Febreze™ in the home caused the death of several pets. The center considers Febreze™ safe to use in households with pets.
Contrary to rumors being spread over the Internet, there is no substantiated evidence that the use of Febreze™ caused the death of any dogs or cats. In instances where a pet died and a necropsy (autopsy) was performed, an understandable cause of death was identified and Febreze™ was eliminated as the cause. For example, a pet owner contacted the center convinced that the use of Febreze™ had caused the death of the family dog. A necropsy confirmed that the actual cause of death was from complications of severe heartworm disease.
Other calls have involved pet owners spraying Febreze™ directly on their dogs to eliminate musty skin odor. Although the dogs in these cases did not develop any problems, neither the center nor Procter and Gamble recommend that Febreze™ be used in any manner inconsistent with the label.
We have received questions regarding the use of zinc chloride in Febreze™. The small amount of zinc chloride found in the product's original formulation is not a concern. Low concentrations of zinc chloride have been used in human toothpaste, eye drops, and other products.
Since birds are much more sensitive to airborne chemicals, we continue to recommend the use of added caution. As we recommend with any cleaning product, remove the bird from the room until the product application has dried and the area has been ventilated.
The center continues to consider the product safe to use in households with pets. Please call 1-800-345-4735 if you suspect that your pet is experiencing problems or visit us at www.napcc.aspca.org.
Steven R. Hansen, DVM, MS
Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Toxicology
Senior Vice PresidentFurther referrences:
A statement by the American Veterinary Medical Association quotes Dr. Carl Hornfeldt, clinical director for the Hennepin Regional Poison Center in Minneapolis: "There's no truth in the concerns of this product being harmful." In addition, Dr. Steve Hansen of the NAPCC notes in the statement that the contents of Febreze are "much safer than some other household products, such as certain pesticides, disinfectants, antifreeze, and drain cleaners."
The Humane Society of the United States has posted a similar statement on its Website.
Read "The Facts about Febreze" at the Fabreze Pet Safety Page.
All sources, including the Animal Poison Control Center, agree that birds are extraordinarily sensitive to household chemicals and perfumes, and special care should be taken around them with all such products. The Parrot Parrot avian health page warns:
...most avian specialists would advise bird owners to avoid exposing their companion birds to any strong chemicals, particularly aerosolized chemicals, due to the delicate nature of their lungs. If you use any sprays or scented products it is advisable that you remove birds from the environment until the smell has completely subsided (at least 2-3 hours).Two things to note: Febreze is not sold in the form of an aerosol spray – it's a water-based pump spray; and while there have been consumer reports of bird injury or death blamed on Febreze, none have so far been authenticated.
If you think this product has caused injury to your pet, call the Febreze Customer Service Line at 1-800-308-EASY(3279) or the National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-800-345-4735
For more about Internet hoaxes see: Urban Legends and Folklore
