Pet Decontamination at Home: What to Do After Exposure

Pets are curious creatures who always keep us on our toes. They try to eat whatever they can find, they roll around in gross things, they love to chew on things like glow jewelry and often find themselves in sticky situations (quite literally).

If your pet comes into contact with a potentially toxic substance on their skin or fur, prompt and proper dermal decontamination is essential to reduce further exposure and mitigate health effects. That’s why our experts at the ASPCA Poison Control want to make sure you have all the information you need to safely bathe your pet and remove the material at home, while protecting yourself in the process.

But before we get started, it’s important to note that different substances carry different risks and recommendations, so if you are concerned about potential toxicity or possible ingestion of a toxic substance, you should seek assistance from a veterinary professional immediately.

Protect Yourself First

Before handling your pet after an exposure, put on rubber gloves and a plastic apron or old clothes to avoid contact with the substance. Many substances can transfer easily from fur to skin, so taking precautions is important for your safety as well.

Bathing Your Pet

Use a mild liquid dish soap (not dishwasher detergent) rather than dog or human shampoo as dish soap is more effective at cutting through oily or chemical residues. Mix the dish soap with warm water to create a soapy solution, like what you'd use for washing dishes. Use this mixture to gently scrub your pet’s fur and skin, avoiding the eyes and ears.

Thorough Rinsing

After washing, rinse your pet thoroughly to ensure no soap or substance residue remains. A single bath is usually sufficient, but you can repeat the process if necessary. Be mindful that repeated bathing can cause dry or irritated skin.

Once clean and fully rinsed, gently towel-dry your pet. Do not use a blow dryer, as heat may further irritate the skin or spread any residues.

Handling Sticky Substances

If your pet gets into something sticky (like glue or tar), cover the sticky section of fur with paper towels or apply baby powder to prevent the substance from spreading. Then, removing the paper towel (if used), massage a small amount of butter, margarine, vegetable oil, olive oil or mayonnaise into the sticky area. Let it sit for five to 10 minutes, but do not leave your pet unsupervised during this time as you’ll want to prevent licking and further exposures. Once the substance begins to bead or ball up, proceed with the steps above and bathe your pet with dish soap, rinsing thoroughly afterwards. Repeat this process as needed until the sticky material is gone.

Glow Jewelry Exposure

Glow-in-the-dark jewelry can be surprisingly tempting for pets. While oral and dermal exposures to the substance within glow jewelry is not usually serious, it’s best to remove the material to prevent further ingestion. For this instance, you can take your pet into a dark room to easily spot glowing areas and focus your washing efforts there.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested something potentially toxic, please call your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately.