With essential oils rising in popularity as natural supplements for human use, it’s not a far leap to think that they could be used as a form of pet medication. However, remember that dog’s noses are much more powerful than ours— even a few drops on a dog bed can be overwhelming and nauseating to your pet. Below is a guide to understanding the connection between essential oils and pets.

Which Essential Oils Are Dangerous for Dogs?

As a general rule of thumb, do not use any essential oils as natural pet medication until you have talked to your veterinarian. Stay away from cinnamon, lemon, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, ylang-ylang, anise, clove, thyme, and juniper essential oils as these can be particularly dangerous.

If you want to diffuse oils safely in your house, talk to your vet about any safety measures you should take. Make sure to keep them out of reach so that your dog does not accidentally knock one over and try to lick the oil. This can be devastating on their intestinal tract.

How Can You Identify Symptoms?

If your dog does come into contact with your essential oils, they’ll start to express symptoms. First, you may notice that your dog’s fur and breath smells strongly of your fragrance. Then, you may notice some symptoms of essential oil poisoning, such as trouble breathing, excessive drooling, weakness, stumbling, muscle tremors, pawing at the mouth, redness or burns on their mouth, and vomiting.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Has Been Poisoned?

If you have identified the above symptoms of essential oil poisoning, take action. First, wash off any oil from their fur, paws, and mouth. The severity of the case will depend on how much your dog has ingested, but it is important to call your vet regardless.

Ask your vet about giving the dog any pet medication before doing so and take the essential oils with you to the appointment. This is so the doctor can quickly evaluate the situation and bring your pet back to normal health. 

For 24/7 emergency vet visits, take your dog to Animal Health Center in Enterprise, AL. The animal hospital offers a full range of services to keep your pet happy and healthy, including dental care, preventative pet medication, and surgery. Their team uses the latest medical techniques and equipment to ensure the best results. Visit their website for more information about services. To schedule an appointment, call (334) 347-0544.