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Can laundry room chemical smells harm my dog if sealed?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Male | neutered | 6 years and 6 months old | 40 lbs

My laundry room contains numerous bottles of chemicals such as brake fluid, antifreeze and bleach as well as household tools. My stepdad was storing a few of these on the floor in secured bottles. Timo often likes to sleep on the laundry room floor and I notice his fur will temporarily smell like chemicals even though there are no leaks and he takes no interest in the bottles. Is it possible that these could be damaging to him even though they are tightly sealed? Is a scent separate from fumes?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on July 10th, 2020

Most chemicals include warnings against breathing in the fumes, even inadvertently, as they typically recommend that they are only used in well-ventilated areas. If you can smell the fumes from these chemicals in your laundry room, it's likely that Timo is also breathing them in. Different chemicals can cause different toxicities, but most/all can cause some problems, particularly if they are inhaled on a regular basis. As long as you are certain that Timo could not have ingested or touched any of the chemicals, is eating, drinking and acting normally, without any coughing or breathing concerns, you shouldn't need to seek out emergency veterinary care at this time. (Obviously, if he is doing any of those things, emergency veterinary care is needed urgently!) Otherwise, be sure to remove these chemicals from the laundry room so that they are stored in an area where no one (Timo or a person) can breathe in these fumes.

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    Without observing directly, it would be hard to tell if he's actually getting into the chemicals, or just the smell/fume is transferring. Since there are so many potentially harsh chemicals in the area, I would either prevent Timo from having access to the laundry room, or set up a cabinet where the items can be safely stored out of reach to be on the safe side. If you suspect he's gotten any on his fur, an immediate bath can help remove any residue. Signs of ingestion/toxicity to look out for can include vomiting or diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc and if you suspect he is getting ill from this, it is best to seek vet care ASAP.

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