Can Essential Oils Be Toxic To Pets?
Sometimes, people use some essential oils to give relaxing massages or to relieve certain discomforts, such as swelling caused by some kind of blow. However, when it comes to using them on pets, some questions arise about how to use them correctly.
Can there be more recommended options than others? What are the essential oils that can be toxic to pets? We’ll answer these and other questions in more detail below.
What are essential oils?
According to a study published in 2004, essential oils are defined as follows: “they are a complex mixture of aromatic substances responsible for the fragrances of flowers”. To this, the following can be added: they are concentrates of certain parts of the plants that are extracted through the processes of distillation or cold pressing.
When using essential oils in an environment with pets, you should be careful as these scents can affect your sense of smell (which is much more powerful than that of a human).
Remember that “natural” is not the same as “safe” as you must keep in mind that essential oils are powerful substances. They are quickly absorbed by the body and metabolized in the liver, therefore, improper use can lead to serious risks for the animal.
Typically, topical oils can cause skin irritation, among other problems. Therefore, its topical use is not recommended in puppies, elderly dogs or dogs with liver problems.
It is convenient for a veterinarian to indicate which are the most recommended products, as well as their correct application to the dog. This will help prevent adverse reactions and complications for the animal.
What are the essential oils that can be toxic to pets?
Among the different types of essential oils available, not all are suitable for application or use on pets.
Below, we’ll discuss a number of oils that can be toxic to pets:
citrus oil
Citrus fruits contain characteristic components such as linalool and D-limonene. These two compounds have proven to be good insecticides.
Specifically, D-limonene has been applied as an insecticide on dogs and cats. However, if pure citrus oil or some formulas are used, it can be poisonous to animals.
Adverse effects have been reported in cats after application of an organic citrus oil cream. Among the effects were ataxia, muscle tremors that can lead to coma or death.
tea tree oil
The tea tree is called Melaleuca alternifolia and the Malaleuca oil is derived from it. It is a compound found in a wide variety of products, most notably shampoos.
It was also marketed in products for cats, dogs, horses or ferrets. However, it has been included in the list of toxic essential oils for dogs and cats.
mint
Mint is available as a volatile oil derived from two plants, Mentha pulegium and Hedeoma pulegiodes . Mint has been used throughout history as a flea repellent.
A case of poisoning in dogs by peppermint was reported in the literature. One dog was exposed to 2 g/kg of peppermint on its skin.
Intoxication began when the animal was observed with vomiting and diarrhea, among other symptoms. Unfortunately, the dog continued to have seizures and ended up dying. Autopsy, specifically histopathological analysis, revealed massive hepatocellular necrosis.
Guatemala
Gualteria is an oil extracted from the Gultheria procumbens plant . The oil obtained is applied to the skin to treat muscle pain.
This oil is applied in the form of methyl salicylate, and salicylates are harmful to dogs and cats. Specifically, cats can overdose by metabolizing salicylates more slowly.
An intoxicated cat shows varied symptoms, such as anemia, liver or gastric problems, and depression. On the other hand, other symptoms of intoxication have been reported, such as an increase in temperature above 41ºC (hyperpyrexia) or respiratory problems.
What does the toxicity of essential oils depend on?
First, the important thing to mention is that not all oils are toxic to pets. There are certain oils, such as lavender oil, that are beneficial to the animal, although improper use can lead to poisoning.
Furthermore, dogs’ sense of smell is much more powerful than that of humans. Therefore, care must be taken when choosing natural oils and scents to use at home.
The use of essential oils in flea repellent products can be problematic in animals. These products are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency as low risk pesticides.
However, adverse effects and cases of poisoning from the use of repellents with essential oils in dogs have been reported. It is worth mentioning that most cases of poisoning were caused by misuse of the product.
First of all, you should always have an expert opinion, who will indicate which oils can be used on dogs. When using these products, you should ask yourself: what are the essential oils that can be toxic to pets?
