Can Dogs Use Vicks Humidifier? The Truth Revealed Here!
Vicks humidifiers are safe for dogs if you can keep it where the dog will not reach it. It is also recommended to use a cool mist humidifier in a room that pets frequent because a warm mist unit poses the risk of scalding.
When you are buying a humidifier, you want to be sure whether it is safe for your baby, your cat, and your dog.
As it appears right now, a humidifier is one of the most harmless appliances that you can have at home if you have pets.
Sure, we have written about Vicks humidifier burning smell before and other humidifier problems, but it is safe for dogs.
How to ensure safety when using humidifiers for dogs
They are! But like any other appliance at home, you need to know how to use it correctly if you have pets roaming the house.
When placed and used carelessly, even the most harmless unit can turn into a danger. Therefore, in this section, we are going to look at a few considerations to make your Vicks humidifier even safer for dogs.
Keep reading!
1. Use the Vicks humidifier without VapoPads
In our article on: Can you use Vicks humidifier without Vapopads, we saw that every Vicks humidifier comes with a scent pad.
Now, pets do not take to aromatherapy as well as us humans. Therefore, it is best that this time around, you use the Vicks humidifier without the VapoPads. It is going to work okay, without any problems.
You could use essential oils minimally in humidifier for babies, but not for dogs.
Before you can apply essential oils to dogs orally or topically, consult your vet because some of these oils, for instance, Tea Tree Oil, can be downright dangerous.
2. Humidifier placement and positioning are everything
The best position for a humidifier should be where the dog cannot reach it easily, and in case it reaches it and topples it over, it will not cause damage.
Since a humidifier uses water and has to be plugged into an electrical outlet, place it at a distance from the socket. That way, if there is a spill, the water will not get into the socket.
3. Use a cool mist humidifier
Never use a warm mist Vicks humidifier in a room that your dog frequents. A warm mist Vicks humidifier has a heating element, and it boils water in the tank.
If the dog hits the appliance by accident, the boiling water in the humidifier can scald them badly. Always use a cool mist humidifier.
Even if it is an ultrasonic cool mist humidifier that leaves white dust behind, it is better to deal with the harmless dust than to scald your pet.
4. Clean the humidifier thoroughly
Clean the humidifier thoroughly. This has many benefits. One, it is going to prevent weird smells from the humidifier.
Secondly, it is going to prevent the growth of mold in the humidifier. This mold can cause serious mold toxicity signs in humans as well as pets.
The frequency of cleaning a cool mist humidifier depends on how often you use it. If you use it daily, clean it daily or at least three times a week.
5. Use the right-sized humidifier
Whatever you do, you do not want to over-humidify the air in the kennel, yet that is what humidifiers with a high space rating will do—unless they have a humidistat, which many lacks!
As we saw in our posts on the best humidifier for a 2×2 grow tent, best humidifier for 3×3 grow tent and others, humidifier size is everything!
So, measure the size of the room before ordering one, and then look for the appropriately sized one.
Benefits of humidifiers for dogs
There are many benefits to using humidifiers for dogs. Some of them include the following:
1. They keep the dog comfortable
Humidifiers work by releasing mist into your indoor air, thereby increasing the humidity level.
The recommended humidity level is 30 to 50 percent, give or take a little, depending on the temperature in the room.
If the air is too dry, your dog will have a dry scalp. It can cause itching, and your dog keeps scratching all the time. To prevent this type of discomfort, inject some mist into the room and raise the humidity.
2. It makes the air easier to inhale
A lot of dry air passing through the nasal passages of the dog is not good at all. This is why you must keep an eye on the hygrometer to monitor the humidity.
If the air is too dry, the dog can start snoring loudly. Please note – all dogs snore, but it should not be too loud.
3. It helps when the dog is coughing
When a dog is coughing, dry air is going to make it worse. A hacking cough for a dog is not good because it can prevent the dog from eating, drinking, or even exercising.
Moist air is easier on the sores that might develop in the nasal passages. It might also help the dog heal faster from the cough.
Please note that a coughing dog should be taken to a vet. A humidifier might help with a cough, but it is not a cure for a sick pet.
Conclusion
Vicks humidifiers are safe for babies, adults, cats, and even dogs! However, many people ask this question because Vicks humidifiers come with scent pads for aromatherapy.
We repeat… Please only use the Vicks humidifier near or in the dog kennel without the scent pads. Do not add essential oils to the humidifier. You just need to use plain, distilled water.
