If you accidentally sprayed perfume on your dog, don’t panic: a quick spritz is unlikely to cause serious harm. Gently wash the area with lukewarm water and a mild dog shampoo, stop your dog from licking it, and give them fresh air. Call your vet if perfume got in their eyes, or if you notice ongoing sneezing, coughing, red or itchy skin, drooling, or vomiting.
Below, we explain why perfume can bother dogs, exactly what to do, and dog-safe ways to help your dog smell better.
Are Perfume and Cologne Safe For Dogs?
If you must wear perfume or cologne around your dog, it is best to do so sparingly. You should also avoid putting any directly on their skin or fur.
A small, accidental exposure usually isn’t dangerous, but perfume isn’t made for dogs. It can irritate their nose, eyes, and skin, and most perfumes contain alcohol and fragrance chemicals you don’t want them licking off their fur. Pay close attention to their health if they have been exposed to a lot of it.
Potential Health Hazards of Perfume and Cologne for Dogs
Dogs have an extremely keen sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than ours. This means that they are much more sensitive to the chemicals in perfume and cologne than we are.
When you expose your dog to perfume or cologne, it can irritate their skin, eyes, and respiratory system. In some cases, it can even cause an allergic reaction. A few sneezes right after a spritz are common and usually pass quickly. If your dog keeps scratching, sneezing, or coughing, has red or watery eyes, or develops a rash after being exposed to perfume or cologne, it is best to call your vet.
Dogs can also ingest perfume or cologne if they lick themselves after it gets on their fur. This can cause drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea. The bigger danger is a dog chewing a bottle or licking up a spill: perfume is mostly alcohol, and drinking it can cause alcohol poisoning, with wobbliness, lethargy, low blood sugar, and in severe cases collapse. That is an emergency, so call your vet or an animal poison control line right away.
For these reasons, it is important to take this issue very seriously and be very conscious of what you are exposing your dog to.
What to do if Perfume Gets on My Dog
When you accidentally get perfume or cologne on your dog, follow these steps:
- Get some fresh air. Open a window or take your dog outside so the scent isn’t overwhelming their nose.
- Wash the area. Use lukewarm water and a mild dog shampoo on the affected fur, then rinse well and towel dry. For a tiny amount, wiping with a damp cloth may be enough.
- Flush the eyes if needed. If perfume got in your dog’s eyes, gently rinse them with plenty of clean, lukewarm water or saline and call your vet.
- Prevent licking. Distract your dog until the area is washed and dry.
- Watch them for the next few hours. Look for ongoing sneezing, coughing, redness, itching, drooling, or vomiting.
If your dog is having trouble breathing or any other health issue, it is best to take them to the vet immediately so they can be examined and provided with medication if necessary.
Dangerous Essential Oils for Dogs
While essential oils are often marketed as being safe for dogs, there are actually many that can be very dangerous. In fact, even some of the oils that are safe for humans can be toxic to dogs.
Some of the most dangerous essential oils for dogs include Cinnamon Oil, Clove Oil, Citrus Oils (including Lemon, Grapefruit, Bergamot, and Orange), Eucalyptus Oil, Oregano Oil, Pennyroyal Oil, Peppermint Oil, Pine Oil, Sweet Birch Oil, Thyme Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Wintergreen Oil, and Ylang Ylang Oil. Many perfumes contain some of these oils.
These oils can cause a variety of health problems in dogs including drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, wobbliness, seizures, liver damage, and even death, and concentrated oils on the skin are especially risky. Never put essential oils directly on your dog’s skin or fur unless your vet has told you to. If you use a diffuser, use it sparingly in a well-ventilated room your dog can leave, and keep oils out of reach. Dogs with breathing problems may be bothered even by diffused oils.
Natural Solutions for Helping Your Dog Smell Better
You don’t have to use perfume! There are other ways that you can help your dog to smell better if that is your concern. If the smell comes from your dog’s rear end, see how to get rid of dog anal gland smell.
One way is to give them regular baths. This will help to remove any dirt, debris, or other smells that might be on their fur. You can also use dog shampoo, which is designed to be gentle on their skin and coat. Our guide to the longest-lasting, best-smelling dog shampoo can help you choose one.
Another way to help your dog smell better is to brush its teeth regularly. This will help to remove any plaque or bacteria that might be causing bad breath. You can also give them vet-approved dental chews to help keep their teeth clean. Persistent bad breath or body odor can also be a sign of dental disease, skin or ear infections, so if a smell keeps coming back after bathing, have your vet take a look.
Finally, you can also try using a pet-safe air freshener in your home. This can help to mask any odors that might be coming from your dog. Other household scents can bother dogs too; we cover whether incense is bad for dogs.
Pet Poison Control
If your dog has been exposed to a lot of perfume, or swallowed some, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 426-4435) if you suspect that your dog has been exposed to harmful substances. It’s available 24/7, though a consultation fee may apply. Your own vet or an emergency vet clinic can help too.
When you call, have the perfume bottle handy so you can tell them the ingredients and roughly how much your dog was exposed to. They can then tell you whether a trip to the vet is necessary.
Best Dog-Safe Deodorizing Spray
If you want to use a fragrance on your dog, it's important to choose a product specifically made for them. Regular perfumes and colognes can irritate your dog's sensitive nose and skin. Here's our top recommendation:
FAQ
Can I Spray Perfume on my Dog?
It is not recommended that you spray perfume or cologne directly on your dog. As we mentioned before, their sense of smell is much more acute than ours and they can be easily irritated by the chemicals.
How to Clean Perfume Off of a Dog
If you do get perfume or cologne on your dog, the best way to clean it off is to use a mild dog shampoo and lukewarm water, then rinse thoroughly. Avoid using any harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions, as this may irritate their skin further.
Are There Perfumes for Dogs?
Yes, there are some perfumes and colognes that are made specifically for dogs. These products are generally much milder than the ones made for humans and are less likely to cause irritation.
If you want to use perfume or cologne on your dog, it is best to do some research and find a product that is specifically made for them. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you are not exposing them to any unnecessary risks.
Final Thoughts
We hope this post has helped to clear things up for you and given you a better understanding of whether or not it is safe to use perfume or cologne on your dog. In general, it is best to avoid using these products on your dog altogether.
