Guide to Safely Using Essential Oils and Aromatherapy for Pets
Learn How to Carefully Use Essential Oils to Treat and Support Your Pets' Minor Ailments
The right essential oils compliment the total wellness for your pets. They help with pain relief, arthritis, anxiety, hot spots and so much more. Dr. Bhatt uses it in combination with other non-invasive holistic treatments to provide pets in her care with the additional support they need. However, not all products are created equal, and not all essential oils and aromatherapy is safe. Cats, dogs, rodents, birds and reptiles all have unique physiology that reacts differently to essential oils than our human bodies. With some helpful guidelines though, you can safely enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy with pets!
Why Use Essential Oils with Pets?
Just like us humans, pets deal with anxiety, pain, skin irritation, digestion problems and more. Traditional medication can relieve symptoms, but if there are alternative treatments that are proven to work, you can help keep your pet from experiencing undesirable side effects. Aromatherapy utilizes plant extractions that work naturally with the body. Various scents trigger physical and emotional responses by stimulating the olfactory nerves. The limbic region in the brain processes these nerve signals, regulating phenomena like heart rate, hormone levels, mood, reflexes and memory. With such a profound mind-body influence, aromatherapy makes an excellent complementary or alternative treatment. Essential oils provide a simple, less invasive way to manage minor pet health issues.
Of course, improper use of essential oils poses serious risks for pets. Their keen senses of smell detects compounds on magnitudes far beyond humans. Always remember - if a scent seems faint to you, it likely smells extremely potent to an animal! Without proper precautions, inhaling or ingesting concentrated oils can cause respiratory issues, central nervous system depression, dermal irritation and internal organ damage. However, pet parents can avoid these dangers through appropriate application methods and common sense safety measures. Once understood how to use essential oils safely with pets, pet parents can proceed to enjoy aromatherapy benefits confidently.
General Safety Guidelines
Always consult with Dr. Bhatt before using a brand or essential oil - she will advise you. Be sure to choose a high-quality organic brand with farm-to-bottle production.
Before trying any essential oil, pet parents should consult their veterinarian, especially if the animal suffers any medical conditions or currently takes medication. Assuming the pet stays healthy, pet parents can follow these precautions:
Proceed slowly and minimize exposure until knowing how the pet responds.
Always dilute oils properly before topical use.
Keep oils away from eyes, ears, nose, genitals and broken skin.
Allow pets to retreat from diffused vapors freely.
Closely supervise interactions with oils.
Ensure the pet cannot access oils to ingest.
Discontinue upon any signs of distress or irritation.
With common sense and attentiveness, pet parents can avoid most hazards. However, each animal still may respond differently to a particular oil. Carefully observe changes in behavior during initial exposures. If the pet pants, squints eyes, excessively rubs face, shakes head or exhibits any unusual behaviors - discontinue use immediately. These responses indicate irritation or toxicity from the oil. Allow time to metabolize the oil already absorbed until symptoms completely disappear. Oils safe for some pets may bother others, so approach all applications cautiously.
With appropriate guidelines understood, pet parents must also know which essential oils generally suit animals. Always research beforehand since some oils not hazardous to humans could harm pets. Certain compounds remain harmless until concentrated into pure essential oils. Due to their physiology processing toxins differently, concentrations non-threatening for an average adult human may still poison pets.
Essential Oils Typically Safe for Dogs
Assuming appropriate usage guidelines, dogs generally tolerate the following essential oils well:
Lavender: Soothes skin irritation and relieves anxiety
Chamomile: Calms nervousness or hyperactivity
Peppermint: Freshens breath, soothes digestive issues
Cedarwood: Repels insects, alleviates anxiety
Frankincense: Boosts immune health, speeds wound healing
Copaiba: Pain relief, reduces inflammation, joint discomfort, arthritis
Many high-quality brands produce essential oils specifically for pets as well. Though not as potent, these oils come pre-diluted for safer topical application. Introduce these gentler formulas first before trying regular strength human oils.
Essential Oils Typically Safe for Cats
Felines require even greater precautions with essential oils due to their smaller size and uniquely sensitive physiology. However, cats still benefit from aromatherapy and tolerate the following oils better:
Lavender: Reduces stress and eases airway inflammation
Frankincense: Calms the nervous system, emotional health, cancer
Roman Chamomile: Calming for stress and anxiety, urinary issues
Cedarwood: Alleviates fear and helps with timidness, flea repellent
Copaiba: Anti-inflammatory, osteoarthritis, senior cats
Again, specialized pet blends provide a safer way to integrate these oils into a cat's routines. Compared to the average dog, cats have far lower tolerances for most compounds. Pet parents must exercise additional care and patience determining suitable oils for each individual feline.
Essential Oils to Avoid with Pets
Conversely, some essential oils pose substantial threats for pets, especially at high concentrations. All animals, especially cats, should avoid exposure to oils derived from:
Pennyroyal: Causes acute liver failure, neurotoxicity and death
Birch Trees: Toxic for cats' liver and central nervous system
Wintergreen: Kidney failure and severe gastrointestinal upset
Tea Tree (Melaleuca): Lethal blood cell destruction and coma
Ylang Ylang: Neurotoxicity, respiratory failure, hypotension
Cinnamon Bark: Hypothermia, liver damage and cardiac symptoms
Cloves: Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, aspiration pneumonia
Oregano: Vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
Never diffuse these oils in enclosed spaces shared with pets. Due to ingestion hazards, also keep bottles sealed securely after each use. Apply kid-safe caps over the dropper caps or store all essential oils inside locking cabinets. Though pet poisoning constitutes an emergency, pet parents can prevent terrible consequences through proper handling precautions.
Introducing and Using Oils with Pets
Once selecting appropriate oils for the specific pet, introduce aromatherapy gradually before expecting much therapeutic effect. Let the animal adjust slowly to the new scents in minimal amounts. Observe closely for any unusual behaviors initially that may indicate sensitivity.
Assuming tolerance to the aroma, here are some simple ways to integrate essential oils safely in a pet's routine:
Apply 1-2 diluted drops between shoulder blades where the pet struggles to lick. The slow absorption calms without risk of ingestion.
Add 1-2 drops of oil into an aromatherapy diffuser near pet beds or crates. Start with short 10-15 minute sessions, increasing duration slowly if no issues.
Rub 1 diluted drop between the pet's paw pads before car trips or vet visits for anxiety relief.
Massage 2-3 diluted drops over arthritis-prone joints to reduce inflammation.
Mix several drops into a shampoo for bathing itchy, irritated skin or just a healthy coat.
When relaxing at home with a diffuser, pets benefit as they ambiently inhale airborne oil particles. However, always give animals the option to remove themselves from any strong vapors. Also shut off diffusers before leaving pets home alone - prolonged, confined diffusion can overwhelm their senses.
Emergency: Essential Oil Poisoning in Pets
Even carefully and safely using essential oils, the risk for accidental over-exposure remains. Left improperly stored, a curious pet may still ingest oils when unsupervised. Any symptoms below after exposure requires immediate emergency veterinary care:
Panting, wheezing or respiratory distress
Drooling or difficulty swallowing
Gagging, vomiting or diarrhea
Lethargy, dizziness or inability to stand
Tremors, seizures or loss of coordination
Bright red skin, rash or chemical burns
Induced to vomit at home only under a vet's advisement. More aggressive decontamination depends whether exposure occurred topically or through ingestion. For skin contact, wash with soap and water to dilute oil. For oral ingestion, rinse the mouth out and wipe lips clean. Transport a potentially poisoned pet to a clinic without delay for oxygen, IV fluids, blood work analysis and further care.
When calling emergency vets or the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline, know details about which essential oils and what form caused the incident. Keep all product packaging on hand listing ingredients and the respective Safety Data Sheets. Timely, accurate information better helps veterinary staff determine toxicity levels and provide life-saving treatment for pet essential oil poisoning.
Check our home page for a list of Emergency Veterinary Clinics
Enjoy Aromatherapy Safely Together
Our cherished fur babies deserve to enjoy all the same comforting, healing opportunities as human family members. In fact, aromatherapy will benefit you and your family too. Essential oils provide that gentle means to naturally treat minor health issues when used conscientiously. Do the diligent research on pet-friendly oils and appropriate usage beforehand - again, ask Dr. Bhatt. Introduce new scents gradually while carefully observing all animal reactions. Avoid compromised respiratory function with proper dilution and periods of relief from diffusion. Store all oil bottles securely sealed and in access-restricted spaces. By understanding essential oil hazards unique to pets, we can readily modify approaches to instead allow them to thrive with aromatherapy.