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Is Febreze^TM Fabric Refresher Toxic to Pets?

We've have had several inquiries from anxious pet owners about the safety of Febreze^TM, a recently introduced fabric freshener manufactured by Procter & Gamble. There has been a swirling controversy, mostly conducted via email over the Internet, as to whether Febreze^TM has been the cause of illness and death of cats, dogs, birds, and other pets.

The most authoritative answer we could find comes from the National Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). In a letter dated March 26, 1999 Dr. Steven R. Hansen, DVM, MS states:

"Veterinary toxicologists at the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center are conducting an ongoing 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."

Click here for the official posting on the NAPCC Web Site.

Click here for the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association's comments.

Click here for Procter & Gamble's statement regarding Febreze™ and pet safety.

Much of the discussion regarding Febreze™ has been captured on the VETMED Digest listserver. Click here for access to the VETMED archives, or here for information about subscribing to the VETMED Digest.