Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate powder used in quick breads, cookies, pancakes, and some fried batters. In recipes it reacts with acids such as buttermilk, yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, or brown sugar to make gas bubbles that lift dough. It is usually measured with flour, salt, sugar, and fats. Even small overmeasures can leave excess alkaline residue.
It is also used outside cooking for deodorizing refrigerators, litter areas, shoes, carpets, and trash bins. Many homes keep open boxes in kitchens, bathrooms, or under sinks, and some cleaners mix it with water or vinegar to make a paste or foam. Baking soda can also appear in some toothpaste and odor-control powders. Some home remedy sites mention it as an antacid, but direct dosing is not safe for pets.
The powder is fine and clings to counters, spoons, bowls, and raw dough during prep. If licked or swallowed, it may irritate the stomach and may disturb sodium and acid-base balance. Keep baking soda and uncooked batter out of reach, and contact a veterinarian or pet poison service if exposure is suspected.
