Which Candles Are Bad for Dogs? The Dangers of Many Candles
Mmm-hmmm… that gorgeous smell that wafts through the air when you go into some homes… It might be a zingy, citrusy scent, or something floral. Or… the smell of damp fur after a walk, smelly dog breath, or just a lingering doggy odour.
For us pet parents, an occasional stinky dog smell is a fact of life. We need to have ways to make our homes smell – and look – divine, but not all of them are dog-friendly.
Scented candles are just one way we can add a lovely fragrance. What’s more, certain candle scents can be calming to both us and our dogs. However, whilst some candles are safe for dogs, others certainly are not. The ingredients they are made from can potentially affect your dog’s health.
If we want to protect our precious pooches, we do need to be careful with the candles we burn.
Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell – it has been estimated that they can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than we can. This means that they are particularly sensitive to smells and can be easily affected by strong or toxic scents.
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DO CANDLES CONTAIN HARMFUL INGREDIENTS?
When a candle burns, it releases chemicals into the air. The artificial scents and colours, as well as the base material in certain candles, can be harmful to dogs – and to us.
There are several ingredients in candles that can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and cancer, to name just a few.
However, not all essential oils used in scented candles are harmless to pets. Here is a list of essential oils that should never be used around dogs, as they are toxic to dogs.
TYPES OF CANDLES SAFE FOR DOGS
However, not all candles are bad for dogs, so what candles are safe for pets?
Instead of a paraffin candle, look for a soy, vegetable or beeswax base, none of which are believed to emit toxic fumes.
Scented candles should only contain natural, pure essential oils instead of artificial fragrance. Make sure they are dog-safe essential oils – here is a list of essential oils that are OK for dogs.
Avoid lead wicks. Instead, you need a cotton, wood or paper wick.
Candles made from dog-safe ingredients are usually more expensive, but that’s a small price for your dog’s and your own health, right?
DOG CANDLE SAFETY TIPS
Once you’ve found some dog-safe candles, there are a few other precautions to be aware of before you light up.
Wherever you burn the candle in your home, make sure your dog has the freedom to leave the room. Whilst dog-safe candles may not bother most pups, your dog might not like the fragrance, or the smoke of your candle.
If you can, keep the door or a window open, to ensure ventilation.
Keep your lovely candles out of reach of your dog. I’m always amazed by what some dogs eat: socks, tennis balls, cushions… and yes, some dogs would eat candles too!
From a fire safety point of view, it goes without saying that candles should be placed far from anything that could catch fire, such as curtains and upholstery.
DOG FRIENDLY CANDLES IN THE UK
Pooch and Pup
Pooch&Pup produce dog-safe candles, hand-poured in small batches in their Norfolk home in the UK. Their candles are 100% soy wax with cotton wicks, and are phthalate-free, cruelty-free. They are also plastic-free: all of their candles are poured in glass containers and they use recyclable, cardboard packaging. They donate £1 from each sale to the Many Tears Animal Rescue charity. As well as candles, they have a range of cute, paw-shaped wax melts too.
I love citrus scents, but I’m a sucker for the smell of roses too, so their Garden Rose & Sweet Orange candle was perfect for me!
It’s a really gorgeous combination and it makes my living room smell divine.
I bought this candle for myself but its combination of great fragrance and elegant presentation make it the perfect gift for any pet parents in your life.
Their other fragrances include:
* cedarwood, lavender & amber
* vanilla garden
* vanilla musk
Follow this link through and use the coupon code CANCOMP15 to get 15% discount on their products (excluding the gift sets).
DOG FRIENDLY CANDLES IN THE US
Made by pet parents for pet parents, these candles have thousands of 4.5 – 5 star rated reviews on Amazon. With up to 60 hours burn time, and many different fragrances available, there’s sure to be a scent perfect for your home.
They are made from:
* 100% natural soy wax
* 100% cotton wick
* non-toxic fragrance
* no dyes
* no parabens
* no pthalates
* no parabens
CLEANING TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME ODOUR FREE
You might just be interested in dog-safe candles because you love to burn candles and want to know your pet is protected. Some of us also use them to help make our homes smell nice. This article has lots of suggestions for ways we can help keep a house free of ‘eau-de-dog‘.
CONCLUSION
Burning the odd candle from time to time might not do any harm, but we should avoid candles that have ingredients in them that are known to be bad for dogs, or for us for that matter!
We can minimise potential problems by not burning candles all the time. Our dogs’ noses are far more sensitive than our own, so we should burn candles in a well-ventilated room and keep the door open so our dogs can leave the area if the candle emissions bother them.
Clearly, something as simple as a candle can have far-reaching consequences.