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Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette,

Our dog barks a lot. Someone suggested a citronella collar. They said it was harmless and natural. Do they work or is it a money grab?

Steve

Many people do say that these collars can be effective on dogs that bark for attention. Personally, I have some mixed feelings about recommending the product. You might be surprised why.

Citronella is natural, but you aren't buying the whole plant. Keep in mind that many pharmaceuticals and even street drugs originated from plants. Heroine comes from poppy plants. Natural does not mean safe.

When a product has safety concerns, manufacturers must provide what is called a Material Safety Data Sheet (M.S.D.S.). This material provides information on handling, storage, use and health hazards. Citronella oil is a product that requires an M.S.D.S.

Consumers can easily access this information with a Google search. This means that you never have to rely on second hand information. You can type in the chemical plus M.S.D.S and you'll soon find all the information you need. Personally, I prefer to go to the pages from chemical laboratories. Information can vary slightly between retailers and can change over time. Go to the source if you want the full scoop. Make sure you choose sites that are reporting on the ingredient rather than the product as a whole.

What do the safety papers say about Citronella? Sciencelab.com's M.S.D.S sheet states:

“Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion. Hazardous in case of inhalation….The substance is toxic to lungs, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated or prolonged inhalation of vapors may lead to chronic respiratory irritation.”

I did take the time to look at a can of citronella refill. On the side of the container it stated clearly to keep away from skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Soap manufacturers also provided warnings that the soap might cause skin irritation in some people. That's why it's sold to people with oily skin conditions!

In case of exposure, the M.S.D.S pages give rinsing instructions for skin contact, prolonged flushing for eye contact and potential medical care for inhalation.

So I took it a step further and asked a veterinarian about this conflict of information. In a nutshell I was told that the canister should be pointed to spray at the dog's chin, not their eyes. Is that not skin? What about the vapors?

I cannot figure out how one can follow the safety protocol of this product. Until someone shows me data that shows that the product does not potentially cause the problems outlined in the M.S.D.S papers, I cannot in good conscience recommend it. I have not been able to find it despite extensive searching.

When deciding if a quick fix is safe, your first step should be an M.S.D.S search. Many common “tricks” are dangerous. Recently I have heard several people say they have been spraying their dog in the face with vinegar to stop unwanted behaviours. Vinegar has an M.S.D.S sheet. It is a diluted acid and an eye irritant. I have read where trainers suggest spraying Bitter Apple into a dog's mouth. The carrying agent is Isopropyl and it is toxic if ingested. That is not the directed use.

A quick search is an easy way to gather unbiased data to make a decision you feel good about. If you do choose to go ahead, at least you know what side effects to look for.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

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