Are Essential Oils Safe for Dogs and Cats?
Let’s be honest: we all love the idea of all natural products, especially essential oils! Who doesn’t love the calming effect that lavender oils have or the warm crisp smell of clove in an oil diffuser? The use of natural oils as treatments for common ailments (e.g., arthritis, anxiety, cold symptoms) is not particularly a new trend, it actually dates back to biblical times.
With more Americans incorporating these products into their everyday lives, a new conversation has emerged: How do essential oils affect pets? Just like plants themselves, oils have pros and cons too.
Things you should know:
- Cats and dogs have an enhanced sense of smell, so using diffusers could become overwhelming.
- Cats’ livers cannot metabolize some of the compounds in essential oils. Therefore, they may be more susceptible to toxicity.
- Always keep oils stored away from pets and children.
- If a pet accidentally ingests essential oils, owners should call their veterinary office or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Do not add essential oils to your dog’s food or drinking water.
- Avoid using essential oils with puppies under 10 weeks of age.
- Do not use around eyes, ears, nose, or genitals.
- Exercise caution with pregnant or nursing pets.
- Some oils could cause chemical burns if applied directly to the skin for pets and humans.
- Adverse reactions to oils include squinting, excessive drooling, scratching, increased breathing rate and lethargy.
- All oils should be diluted by water or a carrier oil as pets absorb oils differently. According to the Young Living website, your animal's size affects the amount of oil that can be topically applied. For smaller animals like cats, the company recommended using three to five drops that have been diluted 80 to 90 percent prior to application (e.g. one drop of oil would be mixed with four to five drops of a carrier oil). Larger animals, like dogs, can handle three to five drops and don't require dilution unless the label indicates otherwise.
- The use of essential oils with pets also comes down to the quality of the oils you choose. "We don’t outlaw all pet food because there are low quality brands on the market — we just pick a better food," Dr. Melissa Shelton noted in a Healthy Pets article. When you are choosing essential oils, you'll want to be sure to read the labels, check the cost (e.g. if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is), and look into the kind of testing that has been done on the oils, noted the Herbal Academy.
Below are a few specific oils you may want to take caution with.
Important note: Pets may react differently to certain oils; this list is not all-inclusive.
For dogs:
- Clove
- Garlic
- Juniper
- Rosemary
- Tea Tree
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
For cats
- Cassia
- Cinnamon
- Citrus
- Clove
- Eucalyptus
- Lemon
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Spruce
- Tea Tree
- Thyme
Now for the positives of essential oils for pets.
- Lavender: is a big hit in the pet world. It helps soothe irritated skin. It is also a great preventative for skin infections, and helps heal wounds, burns, and ulcers. Lavender is perfect for dogs with itchy, dry, or sensitive skin, as well as dogs prone to hot spots. On top of that its amazing to help sooth and calm dogs with anxiety. Many vets and boarding facilities defuse lavender to keep clients calm during their visit.
- Cardamom: Diuretic, anti-bacterial, normalizes appetite, colic, coughs, heartburn and nausea.
- Chamomile: Anti-inflammatory, non-toxic, gentle and safe to use. Good for skin irritations, allergic reactions, burns.
- Spearmint: Helps to reduce weight. Good for colic, diarrhea, nausea. Helps balance metabolism, stimulates gallbladder. Not for use with cats.
