How safe are these essential oils for our pets? Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
However, you should not use it as a flea treatment for your dog. Peppermint oil is concentrated, and the potent odors deter bugs and even rodents. Remember, your dog has a strong sense of smell, so peppermint oil could be too much for them, causing respiratory problems or making it difficult for them to breathe.
Absolutely not. All essential oils are toxic to dogs. These concentrated organic plant compounds cause mouth and throat irritation, drooling, and vomiting. Karwacki adds that even inhaling peppermint essential oil might cause wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
It's best to avoid diffusing essential oils around dogs and cats. In addition to inhalation exposure to potentially toxic essential oils, microdroplets of oils could collect on your pet's fur. This exposure could lead to dermal absorption or eventual ingestion once your pet grooms or licks itself.
“Essential oils are bad because pets are sensitive to them,” Dr. Grewal told The Dodo. “They can damage the respiratory tract, affect the nervous system and can lead to liver damage. They are harmful when applied topically or inhaled.”
Some vets may suggest diffusing lavender in your home to help calm an anxious dog. However, you should only use lavender for your dog when advised by a vet. That being said, there are many adverse side effects of essential oils. Luckily, diluted lavender oil is considered relatively safe for dogs.
Diffusing eucalyptus oil around dogs can also be harmful if it's used for a long period of time within a small space. Additionally, if your buddy has breathing problems, it's best to avoid diffusing essential oils of any type, as prolonged use can cause or worsen aspiration pneumonia.
For one, their nose will probably start to wiggle as they take in the new scent and try to figure out what exactly is going on. They may sneeze, which could indicate the essential oil is bothering them, so be sure to watch for this.
- Inhalation of large doses of menthol may lead to dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness, nausea and double vision. Avoid diffusing pure peppermint oil near infants and children.
This is due to the eucalyptol oil — a neurotoxin that may cause liver or kidney damage in canines. Dogs should not eat any part of the eucalyptus tree or shrub, including the leaves and the bark. Keep these plants out of reach if you decide to plant them inside or outside your home.
Your dog's sense of smell alone is up to five times as strong as yours. Now a sniff or two might not be enough to do actual harm. But with diffusers, you're exposing your dog to ingesting eucalyptus oil and this in itself could be toxic to canines.
Some oils, like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil, can cause serious health issues in dogs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and even liver failure if ingested. Burning candles or using diffusers can also release fumes that can be harmful to a dog's respiratory system if they are inhaled in large quantities.
Used safely, lavender essential oil is beneficial to dogs in similar ways to humans. For example, it has a calming effect, so it can help dogs relax. It also helps relieve pain and anxiety. Dogs who are anxious or in a lot of pain are often less likely to sleep or eat, which can cause even more problems.
Most candle waxes, including paraffin, soy, coconut, and beeswax aren't toxic to dogs, but if a large enough chunk is swallowed, it might have trouble being digested.
While air fresheners can be toxic to dogs, spraying diffused lavender oil into the air will make your home or car smell better and you won't be harming your pet. Just make sure your dog doesn't try to lick up any residue.
Large Doses Lead To Risk Of Seizures
If you are experiencing nausea, difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, slowed heartbeat, dizziness, and/or convulsions, then it could be because of using peppermint oil. Call in for medical care at the earliest to avoid complications.
Citronella is toxic to pets
Citronella candles and oils are a popular mosquito repellent, but the citronella plant is toxic to pets. Use caution when using citronella products around your pet, and make sure they don't have access to any citronella plants in your garden.
Intoxication is most often seen when 100% tea tree oil is used. As little as 7-8 drops (10-20 mL) applied to the skin may be fatal to both cats and dogs. Products with low concentrations (e.g. shampoos, body washes) are generally not considered toxic.
Citronella Oil
Dogs hate the smell of citronella, and trainers often use the oil in both collar and spray form to break aggressive behavior and persistent barking habits. In fact, just a whiff of citronella could very well keep your dog away from your garden.
If your dog does accidentally ingest eucalyptus oil, see your vet immediately or contact the animal poison centre. Some signs of essential oil toxicity in dogs include: Vomiting. Lethargy.
Whether applied topically or in oil diffusers, Eucalyptus oil irritates dogs, and you should avoid it. Pine oils extracted from the Scots pine naturally repel insects. Many people love them for spring cleaning. But they also have therapeutic uses.
Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Sheets are naturally hypoallergenic making them perfect for pets (and people) who have allergies and/or sensitive skin and hair. They're also FKT certified, which means they're deemed "harmless without exception" by an international board of textile wizards (we assume).