Essential oils are used in many households to make the house smell better, repel mosquitos or even improve sleep and mood. However, when used incorrectly on pets they can be dangerous and even deadly. Cats and dogs are more sensitive to essential oils than humans and the use of them in their homes can result in severe consequences, especially if the oil is highly concentrated or improperly diluted.
If your pet is exposed to high concentrations of essential oils, it can cause gastrointestinal upset if it gets on the skin or licks it off its fur or even liver damage. This is because cats and dogs lack the enzyme that metabolizes and eliminates essential oils. Inhalation of these oils can also lead to breathing difficulties and skin irritation.
It is also recommended that you keep any oils, diffusers or vaporizers out of reach of your pets so they cannot be ingested or inhaled. If you do decide to use the oils in your home, it is best to consult a holistic veterinarian who will be able to tell you which ones are safe for your pet and how to properly dilute them before application.
Most commonly, pet owners use essential oils to repel fleas and ticks, improve their dog’s sleeping habits and reduce anxiety, or for other afflictions such as separation anxiety, nausea, vomiting or depression. Unfortunately, essential oils can be very toxic to pets, causing everything from abrasions to burns to liver failure and death.
If a cat or dog inhales a highly concentrated essential oil, they may experience a variety of symptoms including vomiting, incoordination, and breathing issues. Cats are more susceptible to this effect than dogs due to their smaller respiratory tracts. Ingestion can be particularly harmful to cats because of their inability to break down the phenols in essential oils.
There are also several cases of dogs being burned by oil diffusers or directly on their fur, which causes skin reactions, burning, itchiness and bleeding. These injuries are usually mild, but can be more serious depending on the severity of the injury and the concentration of the oil.
There are a few essential oils that can be beneficial for dogs, such as lavender, peppermint and cardamom. These can help with indigestion, insomnia, car ride anxiety and motion sickness. They can also alleviate ear infections, reduce coughing, balance the pituitary, thyroid and pineal glands and freshen breath. However, before using any of these or other essential oils, you should always consult a holistic veterinarian who can recommend the safest and most effective oils for your pet. Regardless of the type of essential oil, it is important that it is 100 percent pure and organic, as well as free of additives. Also, be sure to dilute the oils before applying them to your pet. The general rule of thumb is three to six drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. This can be done with coconut, apricot kernel or almond oil.
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