This causes a wide range of symptoms including fevers, organ failure, bleeding disorders, respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, seizures, comas, and even death.Īccidental ingestion (such as when a dog tries to lick the chemicals off the coat) can result in illness. However, as the product gradually enters the blood stream, the active chemicals can take over and other signs may develop. Pets that inhale oils may show respiratory distress, rapid breathing, and coughing.
#Nootka tree oil skin#
Dogs taking oral compounds may show gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea initially, while topical products may show irritation and skin rash. Symptoms of a problem depend on how the oil is administered. Because potency varies between batches, there is no way to know how much has been administered to a dog. In some cases, a tiny amount is enough to result in toxicity and in other cases, larger amounts are required to cause a toxic reaction. Some of the compounds involved may be familiar, such as limonene, eugenol, citronellal, menthol, and methyl salicylate, among others. Toxicity has been reported from topical use, oral use, and inhalation. Long-term studies are lacking, but the organs that seem to be most affected include the GI tract, brain and spinal cord, heart, kidneys, liver, and skin. Essential Oils Toxicity to DogsĮach essential oil typically has different compounds that can be toxic. Essential oils are not carefully regulated as pharmaceutical medications, and health claims are often not supported by independent, peer-reviewed medical research. However, that may not be doing any favors for your dog.Īlthough essential oils have been tried on dogs and cats, the potential toxicity can carry high risk, and many veterinarians discourage their use. Early uses of pesticides have given them a bad name (who doesn’t remember DDT?) and many of us are eager to do all we can to avoid them. One of the areas where essential oils have long been touted as a natural option to medications is in the arena of flea control. Can You Use Essential Oils for Flea Control? Citronella and peppermint, for instance, can cause vomiting at low doses-and seizure at higher doses.Įven though the history of essential oil use goes back to the ancient Egyptians, medicine has progressed significantly, and safer chemicals are now available for use. For example, wintergreen has caused coma and death in dogs while clove may cause seizures and damage the liver.
Many essential oils have been associated with toxicities of varying degrees, and some are quite severe. This is due to the wide variation from brand to brand, lot specificity, and vial volume.
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to compile good toxicology information on most of these products-and equally difficult to ensure safety when using them. Whether an essential oil is chemically diverse or simple will largely depend on its intended usage, type of plant, location, conditions under which the plant was grown, and how the chemical was extracted. Their makeup can be chemically diverse, meaning they may include many different compounds or distilled down to only a few chemicals. These chemicals include complex hydrocarbons as well as other compounds that have been derived from plant material and can be used as antimicrobials, pesticides, medications, and preservatives. Many people are surprised to discover that essential oils are still chemicals. Why use a pesticide when there are natural options available? It’s a good question, but essential oils are not quite what you expect and can cause more harm than good for your dog. When it comes to treating fleas and ticks on dogs, many pet parents inquire about natural options, including essential oils. Most of us have swapped our chemical exposure in products for safer alternatives throughout the years, so it makes sense why pet parents would want to find safe or natural treatment options for their pets. The following content may contain Chewy links.