Is it safe to diffuse Essential Oils around my pets?
Yes, but, you need to ensure that:
-
You are using Essential Oils that are tested as pure and therapeutic essential oils. You cannot use Essential Oils bought from a local chemist, grocery store, Amazon, Takealot or people who claim they are manufacturing safe and pure essential oils. Many essential oils are adulterated and may contain synthetic chemical substances which is very harmful for both your pet and yourself. I use and recommend dōTERRA Essential Oils and products. But, there are other safe brands out there. Please do your homework and ensure that whichever Essential Oils you are using or want to use are safe and certified as pure and that your Essential Oils come from a reputable company with a good reputation. You always want full documentation and proof of test results on the products you would like to use. Any company / person that cannot provide details or won’t provide details on test results cannot be trusted. Generally most good and trusted companies make their resources available online to anybody who would like to see the information. If you are still uncertain, please do feel free to contact me.
-
When diffusing, only use 3-4 drops of essential oil in a water based diffuser on an intermittent setting. The Petal, Lumo, Volo, or Brevi diffusers all have this intermittent setting.
-
Be sure your diffuser is in an area where your pet cannot knock it over.
-
Be sure to diffuse in an open area with the door open so your pet can leave the room if desired.
-
Yes, Tea Tree oil can be harmful to pets if you use WAY too much of it.
-
If your pet is sensitive to an essential oil you are diffusing, stop the diffuser and get your pet in to some fresh air. Contact your veterinarian if you are concerned.
It is good to be careful with using essential oils around animals, but let’s not get overly paranoid about it. Follow some common sense and guidelines and Essential Oils can actually help your pets. What you should be really concerned about is general synthetic and chemical based fragrances that are use around the house daily in the presence of your pets, such as Household Aerosols, Perfumes, Deodorants, etc..
Can I use essential oils with my bunnies? (hind gut fermenters)
Yes, but you need to be very careful. Rabbits are hind-gut fermenters and we don’t want to do anything to cause an imbalance or damage to the good bacteria. This bacteria is very important for digesting their food. Rabbits are very susceptible for digestive issues if that bacterial balance is interrupted with things like antibiotics and other things which may harm the good bacteria. Strong Essential Oils such as Cinnamon, Oregano, Clove, Melaleuca, and others may cause an imbalance and caution must be used if you are using those oils around your rabbits for whatever reasons. If you must use these oils around your rabbits, please give extra probiotics to help support their gut, but try to avoid and rather seek the help of a professional.
Rabbits love citrus oils some of the more soothing oils such as Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Helichrysum, and Frankincense. Water diffusing is recommended for around rabbits. If you need to give oils in water, please only use 1 drop per 4 litres of water. However, with this said, I would also recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified Veternirian or someone who is trained and certified in Aromatherapy for Animals for further advice. For topical applications: Please check in with your Veterinarian first.
Are Essential Oils Safe to Use Around Cats?
You will read and hear many things concerning this particular topic. Here is what I have learnt from Dr Janet Roark during my trainings and many other animal experts who use Essential Oils in their practices daily:
-
Cats lack an enzyme called glucuronyl transferase. This is important for the Cytochrome p450 liver metabolism pathway. This makes cats very susceptible to ALL kinds of toxicity, including plants, NSAIDS (like aspirin or ibuprofen), Tylenol, chocolate and caffeine (methylxanthines), lead, zinc, many types of pesticides, and many other things.
So which oils do you stay away from?
Most highly tested, therapeutic oils (not the ones from just any shop – the ones that are tested by batch) are so pure that you can use them topically on cats sporadically in a highly diluted form (just like you would for a baby – 0.25% to 1% maximum dilution). It’s not a good idea to use them topically or internally on your cat every single day (with some exceptions)
*Essential Oils to avoid for both topical and internal application with cats are the oils high in phenols and eugenols as far as direct application and these include:
-
Basil,
-
Birch,
-
Cinnamon,
-
Clove,
-
Fennel,
-
Melaleuca / Tea Tree,
-
Oregano,
-
Peppermint,
-
Thyme,
-
Wintergreen)
-
As well as Essential Oils which are high in d-limonene (all citrus oils ie: Lemon; Wild Orange; Bergamot; etc.).
With this said, take in to consideration, that just like people, every animal is different and you should consult your veterinarian if you are concerned anything.
As far as diffusion goes: I have diffused everything around my cats without any ill effects! But, I don't recommend you diffuse in a room where your cat's food / water bowl is and I have always made certain that a door is open in case my cat wants to leave the room while I diffuse. Please never, lock your cat in a room where you are diffusing. Cats will leave the room if they don't like what you are diffusing or if if he / she doesn't need the essential oils. It is recommended that you use a water based diffuser rather than one that pulls oils directly from the bottle. The ones that pull essential oils from the bottles are not just one very expensive hobby for no reason at all, but the neat oils diffused is way too strong for all pets.
Don’t give oils to cats topically or internally *every* single day ( with some exceptions),
ALWAYS:
-
Dilute the essential oils
-
Use Therapeutic, Tested Essential Oils
-
When in doubt: Please ask.
Is Tea Tree / Melaleuca Essential Oils safe to use with Pets?
The use of Melaleuca alternifolia, or Tea Tree oil, is controversial topic in small animals. Most veterinarians will advise against it. But, the next question we get asked: Why does my expensive pet shampoo contain Tea Tree?
Dr Roark, the world known Essential Oil Veterinarian published a very well written piece on her website under FAQ’s and I am going to include this as an answer to you as this is really one of the best answers I have ever read and I do think, all pet owners must read this in Dr Roark’s words:
“ In January 2014, JAVMA (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association) published a study entitled “Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats: 443 cases (2002–2012).” This article took all of the toxic exposures to Melaleuca that were reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center of dogs and cats over a 10 year period and analysed them. This included reported toxic exposures throughout the US and Canada. The article concludes by stating that use of tea tree oil in dogs and cats is not recommended. And this is why your veterinarian tells you it is toxic.
They analyzed 443 cases – over 10 years… a little over 44 cases reported each year. To put that into a little bit of perspective, it’s estimated that 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats are owned in the United States alone. Granted, not everyone uses essential oils. Of those cases, only 31 were classified as major illness.
The brands of the essential oils that caused toxicity were not disclosed in this study, it is likely that they are not known. Being that different purity levels and potency exists between brands, I believe this is a contributing factor in toxicity of this oil in most cases.
The amount of oils that caused toxicity was “dose dependent.” In other words, the larger the dose or amount of oils used, and the smaller the animal, the more severe the symptoms were. The animals ranged from 0.2 kg (less than 0.5 lb newborn/ juvenile kittens) to 71 kg (156 lbs dogs). The toxic dosage ranged from 0.1 mL to 85 mL – in terms of standard sized essential oil bottles, that is 5 drops to over 5 Bottles worth of essential oil. Two dogs were reported with applications that resulted in death – one was accidently given 0.4 mL of this essential oil IV (in the vein) which is about 20 drops. The other was a small dog (miniature poodle) that was given 28.5 mL (that’s a little less than 2 full bottles) topically for 3 days straight. None of the cats that had toxicity died from exposure. There were no reports of toxicity from diffusion.
The symptoms of Melaleuca toxicity in dogs include depression, lethargy, listlessness, somnolence, or appearing subdued, paresis, weakness, or hind limb weakness, ataxia, muscle tremors and fasciculation, and rarely: coma, collapse, recumbency, dermatitis, pruritus, rash, stiffness, increased salivation, and high serum liver enzyme activities. In cats symptoms include salivation or drooling, ataxia, coma, recumbency, unresponsiveness, unconsciousness, or a semicomatose state, muscle tremors or fasciculation, dermitis, pruritus, or rash. These symptoms will develop within 2-12 hours and may last up to 72 hours. If you think your dog or cat has had a toxic topical exposure, wash your animal with mild dish soap and rinse thoroughly. If you think your dog or cat has ingested this oil, do not induce vomiting. They can be fed activated charcoal. Contact your veterinarian if either of these is the case.
Interestingly, in one year (2003), the American Association of Poison Control Centers recorded 787 exposures to Melaleuca in humans; 518 of these were in humans less than 6 years of age, 57 in those 6 to 19 years of age, and 212 in those over 19 years of age. Based on these numbers compared to those in the 10 years of reported dog/ cat cases, Melaleuca may actually be safer for pets than humans! (If you were basing it solely on reported cases).
All of this is to say, that Melaleuca / Tea Tree should not be feared and avoided at all costs the way it seems to be around animals. If you have a newborn or young kitten, I do not recommend using it on them, or small dogs less than 20 lbs, or even large dogs in large amounts, or animals with liver disease. Because this oil is so common, we tend to think it is very safe to use on ourselves, but the truth is it is very potent and should only be used in small amounts or diluted, even with people. Be knowledgeable about the information that is out there. Be sure to look at all the facts and ask questions.
The margin of safety for this oil may be larger (or smaller) than what you may have originally thought. That being said, there are other oils that are equally as effective as Melaleuca / Tea Tree that have an even higher margin of safety for small animals.” Feel free to visit Dr Janet Roark’s Website at https://essentialoilvet.com