Hand sanitizer
ToxicHand sanitizer is mostly alcohol. Isopropanol is twice as toxic as ethanol, and an oral dose of 0.5 mL/kg or more causes serious signs in dogs. Signs begin within 30-60 minutes.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Do not offer as a treat
There is no recommended treat portion for this hazardous item. If swallowed, contact a vet with the amount, time and product details. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Poor coordination or balance
- Disorientation
- Lethargy
- Tremors
- Difficulty breathing
- Low body temperature
- Seizures
- Slow heartbeat
- Reduced breathing
- Low blood sugar
More about this food
Sanitizer is sweet-smelling, gel-textured and usually sitting in a purse, a car cup holder or by the front door. What is in the bottle is alcohol.
The Merck Veterinary Manual names alcohol-based hand sanitizers as a source of both ethanol and isopropanol, alongside rubbing alcohol, drug elixirs, alcoholic drinks and fermenting bread dough. It also states that isopropanol is twice as toxic as ethanol, and that an oral dose of isopropanol at or above 0.5 mL/kg can result in serious clinical signs in dogs. For an 11 lb (5 kg) dog, that is 2.5 mL, about half a teaspoon.
Signs generally begin within 30-60 minutes of ingestion: vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, disorientation (inebriation), lethargy, tremors and dyspnea, progressing in severe cases to coma, hypothermia, seizures, bradycardia and respiratory depression. Death follows from respiratory failure, hypothermia, hypoglycemia or metabolic acidosis. A small dog reaches low blood sugar and low body temperature far faster than a person would.
There is a second route people forget. Merck notes that most alcohols are well absorbed through the skin, and that toxicosis from over-spraying pets with alcohol-based flea sprays is not uncommon. Do not let your dog lick your hands or face right after you sanitize, and never use sanitizer to "clean" his paws.
Bring the bottle so the clinic can read which alcohol it is and at what percentage. Note how much is missing, the time, and your dog's weight, then call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home in a dog that is already wobbly or sedated; it aspirates. Keep him wrapped and warm in the car. Whether to decontaminate, how to manage temperature, and fluid and acid-base correction are veterinary decisions.
Frequently asked questions
- He licked my hands right after I sanitized. Is that dangerous?
- The residue on hands is usually a small amount, but alcohol is absorbed through skin too and small dogs drop their blood sugar and temperature quickly. Call if he becomes wobbly or flat, and let your hands dry before handling him.
- He chewed the bottle and ate some gel.
- Call now. If it is an isopropanol product, 2.5 mL is enough for serious signs in an 11 lb dog. Bring the bottle so the clinic can confirm the alcohol type and percentage.
- He is stumbling like he is drunk. Can he sleep it off?
- No. Alcohol toxicosis leads to hypothermia, hypoglycemia and respiratory depression, and none of those are visible at home until they are severe. Keep him warm and drive to the clinic now.