Protect your paw pal

AVENDER, vanilla, chamomile, citrus, cranberry, and whatnot.

- NITIKA KRISHNA

Sitting pretty and colourful in little glass jars or all by themselves, most cannot resist the look, feel, and aromas of scented candles. And while it is quite alright to want to adorn your home with these trendy symbols of opulence, you might want to think twice if a troubled 'woof-woof' echoes through your house. That's right because scented candles are not your dog's best friends.

Behind the beauty lies...

"Pure danger," cautions Dr K Ramakrishna, a consultant veterinary physician and surgeon. "Scented candles have essential oils, which I'm sure most of us have heard of. Oils such as peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil are especially dangerous for your dog's lungs," he explains, adding that these oils have alkaloids, which irritate the windpipe and mucus membrane in the lungs. "This can lead to inflammation, respiratory distress, and suffocation. In short, these essential oils are carcinogenic in nature, which means they have the potential to cause cancer in the long run," warns the veterinarian.

The paraffin problem