Homemade Slime: It’s Squishy, It’s Stretchy, It’s…Toxic?

April 26, 2017

a dog with slime

What’s the hottest spring trend for the 10-and-under crowd? The Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) wants you to stay on the lookout for the latest and greatest elementary school trend—homemade slime. They are making it at school and in afterschool programs, and some of the more enterprising youngsters are setting up small businesses and selling it to their friends.

While this slimy situation may seem like harmless fun, the ingredients can be toxic. Consumer Reports issued a warning for kids, but what about your pets? APCC has all of the information you need to keep your furry friends out of harm’s way.

What ingredients should you be particularly careful of?

Borax. Borax is a compound used to make glass, and is found in many cleaning products. If ingested, borax can cause stomach upset and irritation in pets. In high doses, it can even cause injury to the kidneys.

borax

Laundry Detergent. Laundry detergents can cause stomach upset, and potentially severe lung injury.

Salt. An overdose of salt can be potentially fatal for a pet. Salt can cause high levels of sodium in the blood, which can result in seizures or death.

Zinc Sulfide. This compound is used in some recipes to make slime glow in the dark. If eaten, the ingredient can cause stomach upset, and irritation to the airways and lungs.

The above ingredients are most commonly found in online slime recipes, however, variations can be easily found. If you have a curious pet that might try to eat this colorful goo, you should consider using a recipe without any of these ingredients. Don’t forget to check out APCC’s full list of poisonous household products to keep your pets safe and healthy.

If you suspect your pet has been exposed to any poisonous substances, contact your veterinarian or call Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at 888-426-4435 immediately.