Essential oils are a versatile product to add a pleasant scent to a room, offer a boost of deodorizing power for your cleaning supplies, or provide extra relaxation in a bath. However, did you know that some essentials oils can be harmful to our pets? Certain essential oils should not be used around cats or dogs, and we will break this down further below!
What are Essential Oils?
First, lets discuss what exactly essential oils are. These oils are concentrated plant extracts. They are made from certain parts of plants such as the seeds, leaves, roots, or rinds. The oils are often obtained through distillation, usually steam or water, to capture the plant compounds. Essential oils are so potent because of just how much of the plant is needed to make it. For example, it takes around 16 pounds of rosemary of make an ounce of essential oil. Additionally, it takes around 250,000 jasmine buds to make an ounce of jasmine essential oil! With so much concentrated plant material, it is important that it is diluted when used.
Essential oils gained popularity through aromatherapy. Nowadays, people can enjoy the oils in a variety of forms, most commonly by using an oil diffuser. However, a variety of these oils can be toxic to pets. This may be the case whether it is diffused, given internally to an animal, or applied to their skin.
Oils to Avoid for Cat Owners
Did you know that cats are missing crucial enzymes necessary to process various compounds found in essential oils? Besides avoiding diffusing highly concentrated amounts of the oils, it's also important to avoid candles and room sprays with essential oils. These scents can easily be inhaled by the pet. Below we will list a variety of essential oils to avoid:
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Ylang Ylang
- Tea Tree
- Clove
- Pine
- Cinnamon
- Wintergreen
- Citrus
- Oregano
Oils to Avoid for Dog Owners
Dogs are known for their heightened sense of smell, which makes it incredibly important to use non-irritating oils near them. Like cats, it is important to not have your dog ingest essential oils directly. Avoid rubbing potent oils directly onto their fur. Additionally, you can always contact your vet if you want to confirm whether an essential-oil containing product is pet-friendly! Here is a list of essential oils to avoid with dogs:
- Citrus
- Wintergreen
- Pennyroyal
- Tea Tree
- Cinnamon
- Ylang Ylang
- Pine
- Sweet Birch
- Thyme
While this may seem like a long list, there are still plenty of oils that can be used! For dogs, safe essential oils include: ginger, lavender, chamomile, myrrh, and frankincense. Essential oils safe for cats include: chamomile, frankincense, and lavender.
*If you are ever confused about what may or may not be safe for your pet, it is always important to consult a vet for professional insight. Furthermore, if you do use an oil-diffuser around an animal, just make sure they have ample space to move around away from the diffuser if they so wish to.
We hope this helped breakdown the importance of using pet-friendly essential oils in your home! Do you have a favorite oil you use? Let us know in the comments below or visit us in-stores with any questions.
