Pets and essential oils

Animals are not small people. Cats in particular break down many of the compounds in essential oils slowly, so exposure that is harmless to you can build up in a cat. Dogs, birds, rabbits and other small animals have their own sensitivities, and birds in particular are very sensitive to anything in the air.

Cats

Do not put essential oils on a cat's skin or fur, and keep them away from where a cat sleeps and grooms. Cats lick whatever is on their coat.
Be especially careful with tea tree, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, cinnamon and clove oils.
Do not diffuse in a closed room with a cat in it.

Dogs

Do not apply essential oils to a dog's skin or coat without advice from a veterinarian. A dog's sense of smell is far stronger than ours.
Tea tree, pennyroyal, wintergreen, pine, cinnamon and ylang ylang are among the oils veterinary poison services list as dangerous when swallowed or applied.

If you diffuse at home

Ventilate the room, run the diffuser for short sessions, and make sure the animal can walk out of the room and get fresh air.
Keep animals out of the room, and out of reach of the diffuser's water, which holds oil and which a pet may drink or knock over.
Do not diffuse around birds, rabbits, rodents, reptiles or fish tanks.
Wipe up spills at once. Cats and dogs walk through them and lick their paws.

If your pet has been exposed

Drooling, vomiting, wobbling, trouble breathing, tremors, or a strongly scented coat after contact: take the animal into fresh air and call your veterinarian or an animal poison line right away with the oil's name. Do not wash or induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (+1 888-426-4435, a consultation fee may apply) takes calls from Canada.

Please note: this guide is general safety information. Your veterinarian knows your animal.

Sources

More guides

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