Tea Tree Oil is Toxic to Dogs and Cats Despite its many wonderful uses, tea tree oil can be toxic to dogs and cats when it's only mildly diluted or in concentrated form. For that reason, it should never be used to clean or heal wounds, or to prevent and treat insect infestations on your pet.
Many veterinarians and other pet care experts recommend not using tea tree oil for cats, even though it has been considered a safe and effective remedy for some feline complaints in the past. Tea tree oil is one of several essential oils, such as peppermint oil, considered toxic to these animals.
A common misconception about tea tree oil is that it is toxic for humans and animals. Tea tree oil is safe to use when it is diluted to a low concentration and can even provide several benefits.
Tea Tree Oil poisoning can occur from skin exposure, oral ingestion or a combination of the two. Signs of poisoning can occur within 2-12 hours of ingestion and can include: Vomiting and drooling. Lethargy and weakness.
How should I administer tea tree oil to my dog? Tea tree oil must not be ingested, and should be applied externally only, and only in its diluted form. Products such as Be Soothed Spray and Be Soothed Shampoo contain a diluted amount of tea tree oil.
Combine a teaspoon of tea tree oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to keep combined, and spot treat existing areas of mold. Leave for a few minutes and wipe away. To prevent mold and mildew, simply spray to apply where needed.
Its popularity has resulted in some veterinary skin care products that contain small amounts of tea tree oil. In small concentrations (. 1% to 1%), tea tree oil is tolerated and safe for cats and dogs.
Tea Tree Oil Should Not Be Used on Cats
For prevention or treatment of fleas, we recommend you talk to your veterinarian and obtain a recommendation for a product that has been extensively tested for safety and efficacy in cats.
A staple in most homes is tea tree oil. You can use this to treat ringworm by diluting 12 drops of tea tree oil with one 1 oz of carrier oil. Coconut oil is a popular choice. Simply apply it to your cat's skin three times a day.
Because tea tree is an essential oil, it needs to be diluted (like we noted) with a carrier oil or water. Carrier oils should be used when applied topically, but use water when you make a spray.
Tea tree oil falls into this category: it can be toxic to our pets and fleas, even though it is likely safe for most humans when used on the skin. The dose required to kill all of the fleas might be fatal to your cat.
I would never use tea tree oil on my cat but after doing a LOT of research, I can say that I use tea tree oil on my dogs. Basically, as long as you dilute the tea tree oil and use a concentration of LESS than 1.0% tea tree oil, it is safe. That kind of dilution would be 6 drops in 30ml or 1 ounce of carrier oil.
You may not realize it, but certain scents and pure essential oils like tea tree, citrus, and eucalyptus oil can be harmful toxic oils to your little feline. Many compounds in these pure essential oils contain toxins that can be fatal if your kitty breathes them in or ingests them.
Good items to have at home in case of wounds include: Sterile, non-stick gauze. Antiseptic solution (povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine diacetate) Saline solution.
Essential oils can be toxic to cats through skin contact, ingestion and inhalation. Coming into contact with essential oils in these ways can cause serious organ damage to cats, including liver failure, seizures and even death. Never apply essential oils to your cat's fur or skin.
Comb your cat with a fine-toothed metal flea comb from head to tail several times a day. This will skim off adult fleas and their eggs and ease their itching. Then, dip the comb in a mixture of warm to hot water and liquid dish detergent to kill the fleas.
2 1,8-cineole is another type of terpene found in tea tree oil that has shown to be relatively effective in killing various types of parasites,3 and limonene, yet another type of terpene, has been found to specifically kill Ctenocephalides felis4, the species of flea most commonly found on pets.
A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense. If you diffuse oils in your home, it should not cause a problem for your cat, as oil used in a diffuser is highly diluted (versus direct topical application or dietary supplementation).
Don't mix Tea Tree Oil with other active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinol, retinoids, tretinoin, Retin-A, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c, etc. Best to use one or the other, not both. Never use it more than once a day – less is more!
Tea tree oil (TTO) may be a valuable addition to the traditional antifungal drugs due to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity. Ketoconazole (KTZ) is an imidazole antifungal agent commonly used as a treatment for dermatological fungal infections.
As tea tree oil is such a potent ingredient, you should never apply it directly onto your skin. Instead, it should be added to a gentle carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil.
Mix 5-10 drops of tea tree oil and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle.