Ylang Ylang and cinnamon oil, along with peppermint, pennyroyal, and clove oil are also dangerous to cats. Essential Oils & Oil Diffusers. Pet metabolisms differ from ours and while there is a belief according to which ‘natural’ products can’t do them harm, in some cases this is not true. Other concentrated essential oils, such as cinnamon or peppermint, can also cause skin irritation, especially if they are undiluted. Evidence is scarce. Here are some tips that will help make sure that your cat or dog will be perfectly safe while you enjoy the benefits of essential oil: There it is. Oil diffusers, while they give off a great fragrance, can have the potential to exasperate underlying respiratory problems in our dogs and cats. If your cat ingests liquid potpourri, you should be worried as it can cause injuries to most mucous membranes (including the oral one) and it also damages the gastrointestinal tract to the point that it creates ulcers. According Palmquist, frankincense essential oil has shown itself to be helpful in some cases of... 3. Essential Oils for Pets: 5 Best Oils + Uses for Cats 1. It is a mixture of over one hundred unique components, and terpenes make up around 60% of that — and they are known for being metabolized by the liver. Jo Marshall CVT, NREMT ... Our Dr Benson addressed the concerns with essential oils and cats in her blog: ... likely know someone in the veterinary profession that they can refer you to get the information that you need for safe use of essential oils. Whether diffusing essential oils is safe for pets is slightly more complicated than a simple "yes," or "no," says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. We suggest a 9:1 ratio of carrier oil to essential oil. Over 1.5 million fans take my lifestyle advice and use products from my recommendations. If you have a domestic pet cat and you want to use essential oils, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure the safety of your pet. The essential oils not safe for dogs are garlic, clover, oregano, rosemary, thyme, tea tree, and wintergreen oil. Cats and dogs have an enhanced sense of smell, so using diffusers could become overwhelming. 3. You’ve probably asked yourself this question before if you’ve ever used a diffuser and if you typically like it when your home smells nice. For cats, small dogs, and other smaller animals, use a carrier oil—such as V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex—to dilute the essential oil before application. In short, there aren't any safe essential oils for cats; they all have the potential to be toxic to your fur baby. A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense. This oil is extracted from Helichrysum flowers which is a member of the plant family called Asteraceae. Somewhat similar to peppermint oil in terms of its scent and uses, spearmint oil can really come in... 2. It goes the same with diffusing the oil, which means you have to be careful in dispersing essential oil in your home when you don’t know what it would do to your pet. And cats that means one drop of essential oil to 100 drops of carrier oil like Fractionated Coconut Oil. Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)–Should avoid with pregnant dogs Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica or Juniperus virginiana) If you have a pet bird, you should know that you are advised to avoid using fragrance sprays, oil diffusers, or scented candles. These include: thyme clove cinnamon pennyroyal wintergreen sweet birch pine ylang ylang citrus peppermint tea tree oil In fact, exposure to some essential oils can cause liver failure, respiratory problems, or even fatality in the worst cases. For example, while oil of wintergreen can cause gastrointestinal problems, citrus oil causes muscle tremors, salivation, coma, and even death. Let’s look at which essential oils are toxic to dogs and cats and let’s also find out which of them can pose a health threat to birds, too. If your pet has come in contact with an essential oil, bathe your friend with dish soap to remove the oil from the coat. This is because animals are anatomically and physiologically very different from people, and the way they metabolize and eliminate undesirable substances from their bodies is very different as well. Unfortunately, some dog parents apply it directly to their pet’s skin. As I mentioned before, cats and dogs, as well as other pets, have a better sense of smell. Before using products containing essential oils on their pets, she said, owners should make sure that they are labeled for use with that specific … •Avoid internal use of essential oils in cats, avoid tea tree oil for cats in any form. This product is manufactured from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant. But the truth is that essential oils that are safe for human use might not necessarily be safe for dogs and cats, and even other household pets. In her spare time, she’s always in the company of her cat and a good book. As the ASPCA pointed out, "In their concentrated form (100%), essential oils can absolutely be a danger for pets," including when the oil is placed on their skin, fur or paws. Cats are sensitive to changes in air quality, especially if they suffer from asthma, for example. Cats Are Not Dropping Dead from Essential Oils. A wide variety of products for humans contain it and they range from antiseptics and fungicides to skin care agents, and even products for respiratory disorders and aromatherapy. Can I Diffuse Essential Oils Around Pets? When essential oils are inside an animal or a human body, they sometimes have to go through metabolism before they can be excreted. It is … Learn how your comment data is processed. This popular method has so many health benefits, but what most people don’t realize is some oils can harmful to our pets. Over 1.5 million fans take my lifestyle advice and use products from my recommendations. If you have the suspicion that your dog ended up ingesting TTO and you take him or her to the vet, what you should expect is some blood work, the beginning of a treatment where the liver is protected and supported, and even some activated charcoal as it could remove the toxins from your dog’s body. Cats have a unique genetic make-up that gives pause to the use of aromatherapy around them. Frankincense Oil. If your cat or dog already has asthma or another breathing problem, it is best to avoid oil diffusers. They're a brand that is easily accessible in big name stores such as Walmart. The common safe oils to diffuse are chamomile, clary sage, cedarwood, marjoram, and myrrh oil. For those who plan to use essential oils safely around their dogs or are looking for products containing safe oils, the following is a list of oils that are generally considered safe to use around dogs. Take your pet to a vet clinic or at least call the pet poison control center. Many pet owners fail to recognize that some essential oils aren’t safe to use directly on their beloved pets. Some essential oils are toxic to all pets, or only some dog breeds, or species such as cats, rabbits, birds, aquarium fish and other small animals. But where does tea tree oil come from? A variety of ways you maybe already are incorporating essential oils into your daily life, include herbal remedies, aromatherap… Keep these things in mind to ensure the use of essential oil won’t harm your beloved pet. They suggest that using a diffuser in an area inaccessible to your pets for a short period is "not likely to be an issue." Both cats and dogs are equipped with highly sensitive noses, so essential oil fragrances, whether they are safe or not, aren’t really good for them. As for cats, the essential oils that aren’t safe to use are eucalyptus, clove, lavender, spruce, cassia, lemon, birch, and more. But it’s not only humans who use essential oils since many pet owners use these substances on cats and dogs as a natural flea repellent. 1. The essential oils not safe for dogs are garlic, clover, oregano, rosemary, thyme, tea tree, and wintergreen oil. If you need an answer really quickly, we’ll tell you that some of the most toxic essential oils for pets of any kind are citrus oil, melaleuca oil (tea tree oil), pennyroyal oil, eucalyptus, and pine oil. link to Candleberry Candles Review: Are They Good? Cats are carnivores, and their digestive system differs from ours. Keep your beloved furry friend safe while reaping the benefits of pure essential oils… I have no doubt that pure essential oils can work wonders on our pets when used with care and as directed. If you’re using essential oils on medium-sized animals—like large dogs—dilute 3:1 carrier oil to essential oil. Are essential oils dangerous to our pets? link to Village Candles Review: Are They Good? It is a lot like trying a patch test when testing a product. Liquid potpourri could contain detergents that might be quite caustic and could cause severe gastrointestinal upset or skin damage. As for cats, the essential oils that aren’t safe to use are eucalyptus, clove, lavender, spruce, cassia, lemon, birch, and more. We don’t recommend using an essential oil diffuser with cats, rabbits, birds, fish and other small animals close by. Given the complications that could arise in such a situation, we advise refraining from using any homemade formulations and sticking to shampoos and repellents made by reputable brands. Essential Oils and Your Furry Friends. Welcome. Your animal’s size affects the amount of oil you should use and how much you should dilute for topical application. My name is Gege. Because of this, it is crucial that you first try out to see how your pets will react. @2020 - Pet Friendly House. Anything you read on the internet should be regarded with skepticism. A recent internet post claims “diffusing essential oils kills cats” and names many commonly used oils. I am a professional freelance lifestyle writer. The oils may be pleasant to you, but some can be very toxic to your pet—essential oils not safe for cats. by Pat Princi-Jones, aromatherapy expert and author of, A Scented life. When you're thinking about purchasing a candle, you're probably thinking about going to one of the big brands to spend your money. For medium sized dogs dilute 4:1 carrier oil to essential oil. It’s best described as … And that’s how the tea tree oil ends up in their systems. Cats’ livers cannot metabolize some of the compounds in essential oils. Most people have at least a seemingly harmless lavender oil in their home, right? Even essential oil diffusers could spill, and could potentially cause skin irritation, at best. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My name is Gege. While essential oils have a variety of benefits for people, their use around animals and pets requires caution. If the dog has licked the spot, it has basically gone into his system, so some of the first clinical signs that are noticeable range from coma and unresponsiveness to depression, inability to walk, shaking, or tremoring. It is, therefore, quite possible that essential oil diffusers lead to respiratory distress or an increase in coughing. Undiluted tea tree oil can cause real harm to a pet. Clients should keep oils stored away from pets. Even still, what your nose perceives as a pleasant smell may be overwhelming for your cat. But the truth is that essential oils that are safe for human use might not necessarily be safe for dogs and cats, and even other household pets. Pet metabolisms differ from ours and while there is a belief according to which ‘natural’ products can’t do them harm, in some cases this is not true. As an avid user of essential oils myself, I … Elderly cats, as well as kittens, can be affected by essential oils. Here's how to properly incorporate them into your household to keep your furry friends safe. Essential oils are a natural way to enhance your daily routine, boost mood and balance your life. However, over time, studies have shown compelling evidence that many essential oils are toxic to cats whether inhaled, taken orally, or applied to their skin. I am a professional freelance lifestyle writer. Essential oils are distilled organically from various plants. All Right Reserved. However, the oil produces an uncomfortable feeling on the pet’s skin, which is why most dogs will want to alleviate it by licking the area. Beneficial for anxiety, such as separation anxiety in dogs, or excessive vocalization in senior cats. Collapsed Trachea in Dogs – Clinical Signs &…, Lethargy in Cats – Causes, Treatment and Recovery, Collapsed Trachea in Dogs – Clinical Signs & Treatment, How Much is Your Dog Worth to Your Family. Have you recently noticed there have been several articles and Facebook posts popping up about essential oil toxicity in pets, so naturally, we have had many people asking us “Are essential oils safe to use if I have animals?” Essential oils can be used safely around your pets but they do metabolize oils differently so some extra precautions need to be taken. Essential Oils and Dogs & Cats: Which Essential Oils Are Toxic to Pets? This leads to lots of questions surrounding the safe use of essential oils around animals. For very large animals—i… 4. Essential oils may smell like a dream, but they’re a nightmare for pets. Just remember that for dogs and cats and small animals, the smaller they are, the more you want to dilute it. But is it safe to do that though? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Essential oils are likely more safe for cats than artificial fragrances and air fresheners. Some of the essential oils that can be toxic to them include oil of wintergreen, pine oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, sweet birch oil, as well as citrus oil. The topic of essential oils and our pets is controversial, particularly concerning our pets’ safety. Most essential oils contain phenols or phenolic compounds, so they cause an adverse reaction in cats, in addition to bothering their noses. Veterinarians don’t recommend it either. These range from animal nutrition and welfare to pet behavior, infectious diseases, and parasitology. Even though essential oils can be found everywhere nowadays, both in physical stores and online, they aren’t necessarily safe. Lavender. Some … Essential oils greatly help people in various ways such as relaxing and sleeping at night or treating a common cold. Fortunately, cats are very wary when it comes to heavily scented things, so they’ll usually do their best at avoiding potpourri containers. If your cat ends up at the vet clinic and receives treatment for essential oil toxicity, she will have to go through blood work monitoring and have intravenous fluids, pain medications, and liver protectors administered. Tea tree oil could cause hypothermia, agitation, trembling, dehydration, and coma, while pennyroyal oil can cause liver death in a record amount of time. With a PhD in Veterinary Oncology, Dr. Cristina Vulpe loves researching and writing about the things that she’s passionate about. Let’s look at which essential oils are toxic to dogs … Another essential oil safe for cats is Helichrysum. This article is a complete guide for cat owners to understand how to ensure the safety of their pets because essential oils are becoming an invaluable commodity in our homes. “You can diffuse essential oils around cats safely, so long as there’s good ventilation, you only diffuse small amounts for limited periods of time, and your cat has the freedom to leave the room if it wants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buxC9c3ldUY, Calgary Veterinarian discusses Essential Oils diffuser for Pets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buxC9c3ldUY). Universal oil, can use pure or diluted. Yet… Birds are also sensitive to aerosolized particles, but unlike cats and dogs, they won’t try to ingest any. Lavender is a fresh, floral and calm oil that is mainly used for relaxation in humans. Supportive treatments like administering intravenous fluids to maintain blood pressure and hydration are usually necessary, as well. Essential Oil Toxicity to Cats and Dogs It’s important to understand that dogs and cats are much more sensitive to essential oils than humans are. By doing this, you can protect your pets. If you notice such symptoms, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Cats and dogs have a keener sense of smell compared to humans, which means they smell essential oils better. If your dog has come in contact with tea tree oil or you’ve made the horrible mistake of applying some to his coat or worse, directly to his skin, there are a variety of symptoms that you could notice within 1 to 8 hours following the application. Oils used improperly can also lead to changes in behavior, adverse central nervous system effects, and respiratory problems — all of which can be serious. Essential Oils and Dogs. When using essential oils around cats, be sure to keep a scent-free room in your living environment for them to retreat to. As you can expect, since there are more oils that could harm cats than dogs, the symptoms you might notice also differ from one to the other. In animals, it can be found in pet shampoo, anti-allergy, and anti-parasitic products, and also in antiseptics. The common safe oils to diffuse are chamomile, clary sage, cedarwood, marjoram, and myrrh oil. Honestly, your other pet might have an even worse reaction to particular oil. Essential oils can be diffused around pets but it requires … Therefore, they may be more susceptible to toxicity. This plant is steam distilled to produce a yellow-reddish essential oil and is popular for its fragrance. There are very few essential oils that are safe for cats, but we can recommend Cedarwood oil so long as it has been sourced from a company that dilutes it properly, and removes the harmful additives. Because they're so accessible, you need to keep a... Candleberry Candles Review: Are They Good? 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). Here are some signs of reaction if your pet comes into contact with essential oil: If your pet developed these symptoms, bring it to your veterinarian immediately. Due to its concentration, tea tree oil can also cause skin burns or irritations but they are without a doubt less severe compared to the central nervous clinical signs that we’ve detailed above. Undiluted tea tree oil can cause real harm to a pet. Also, each pet is different than the other, which means their reaction might differ as well. With the increasing popularity of essential oils, many people diffuse them in their homes for therapeutic use. Tea tree oil toxicosis is one of the most commonly encountered ones in dogs. 2. What we found was a lot of contradictory information, with some sources claiming that all essential oils are toxic to cats. #1: Cons. Spearmint Oil. I'm here to tell you to reconsider. We typically use a one to 2% dilution for dogs. Tea tree oil is a natural product for getting rid of fleas. Welcome. Cats are more sensitive compared to dogs, both because they are smaller and as such, any toxic substance will be ten times more powerful than it would be on a 90-pound dog, but also because they have sensitive metabolisms. Many of the essential oils most frequently advertised in flea and tick products—eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree oil, etc.—are already known to be toxic to dogs and/or cats. Metabolism. The following oils can be safely used for Dogs and Cats •Lavender: The best one to start with. One of the big brands in the candle community is Village Candle. Using low-concentration products around the house (less than 1%) is generally acknowledged as being safe, but you should never apply them directly to your pet’s skin or leave them around for them to be ingested or spilled. Due to its heightened sense of smell, even the faintest scent of essential oil might be akin to sitting next to someone with dizzying perfume. You shouldn’t apply pure essential oils topically or orally to your pet because these oils can be dangerous (especially tea tree oil) and there’s not enough evidence that they’re effective. Because of this, we researched the toxicity of essential oils to cats. In that regard, while your dog might not have any reaction when you diffused an essential oil, it doesn’t mean that the other pet won’t have any reaction at all. Cats and dogs, and many other pets have a powerful sense of smell; much better than humans. 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