Avoid direct exposure to vanilla extract. Keep bottles capped and stored high. Contact a veterinarian promptly if ingestion is suspected.
Vanilla extract is made by steeping vanilla beans in ethanol and water to create a concentrated flavoring for cakes, cookies, puddings, and icing. Standard extracts are often around 35 percent alcohol.
Home baking uses teaspoons to tablespoons in batters and custards. Imitation vanilla and vanilla paste may still contain alcohol, propylene glycol, or other flavor carriers.
A knocked-over bottle may expose a pet to alcohol quickly. Some recipes combine extract with rum, bourbon, or liqueurs, increasing ethanol further. Higher-strength products concentrate alcohol in smaller volumes.
