This Increasingly Popular Cosmetic Product Is a Deadly Poison for Dogs

To be precise, it is not a single specific product that is highly toxic to our four-legged companions, but an active ingredient that is used in products developed for a growing problem affecting both women and men alike.

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Below, you can find out what minoxidil is, which products contain it, and why it is lethally dangerous for dogs.

Minoxidil is toxic even if a dog licks it from their owner or from the owner’s everyday objects

What is minoxidil?

Minoxidil is a medicinal active ingredient that was originally developed as a blood-pressure-lowering drug, and during testing it was discovered that it stimulates hair growth extremely effectively. It is a vasodilator, meaning it improves blood circulation in the scalp, thereby prolonging the growth phase (the anagen phase) of hair follicles. Put simply, it essentially makes hair stay on the head for longer.

Numerous clinical trials have proven it to be highly effective in cases of androgenetic alopecia but it is also often used successfully to treat diffuse hair loss.

It is not a hormone, so it does not interfere with the hormonal system; however, for it to be effective, it must be used once or twice daily even after hair loss has stopped. It is available in foam and solution form, and is safe for both women and men. Not so for dogs, cats and small pets!

We considered the details in the previous section extremely important because this is a genuinely effective, and therefore understandably increasingly popular, active ingredient – meaning more and more people are expected to start using it. Products containing minoxidil are already available in Hungary under several brand names, and the bottle usually advertises this “magic” ingredient in large letters. Even if it does not, it must appear in the list of ingredients – so as a dog owner, if you buy a hair-growth product, you should read this list very carefully.

You might shrug and think you’ll simply store the product safely, just like medicines or cleaning products – but this does not necessarily prevent trouble. Poisoning can occur not only through direct ingestion, but also if a dog licks minoxidil residue from their owner’s skin, hair, clothing or even from a pillow. Symptoms may include weakness, breathing difficulties, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and in severe cases, death. For this reason, veterinarians clearly warn that using minoxidil in households with dogs, cats or small pets poses an increased risk and is contraindicated.

Unfortunately, as a dog owner, you will need to look for an alternative method of hair growth – but don’t despair! Besides minoxidil, other effective solutions do exist; however, it is recommended to speak with a specialist who can determine the cause of hair loss and thus the most suitable treatment and method.

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