Before burning any candles, ensure that your pet has no respiratory issues. Signs and symptoms include laboured or rapid breathing, sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose. Once your pet is not at risk, weigh the differences between paraffin wax and vegetable/plant-based wax. Burning paraffin wax releases chemicals that can harm both pets and humans. However, the dosage is usually tiny, so people continue to use them. To be safe, you can opt for vegetable/plant-based wax instead. Place your candle away from pets and small children to avoid burns.