Just as we need to take care when using essential oils for ourselves within the home, we also need to be aware when we use essential oils around our pets. Although pure essential oils are entirely natural products, they are also powerful and concentrated substances. Certain essential oils are not recommended for use on humans or animals at all, either due to the possibility of skin irritation, sensitisation or toxicity issues, as outlined in my ‘Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils’: these include oils such as wintergreen, pennyroyal, cinnamon bark, sweet birch and mugwort. It is also important to keep in mind that each animal’s biological makeup is unique so essential oils will interact differently with specific species. Birds, for example, are very sensitive to powerful scents, and it is well known that cats and dogs have a much more highly developed sense of smell compared to humans. Small animals such as hamsters and rabbits are highly sensitive to fragrances and there is also a pronounced difference between a small dog and a big dog in the capacity of their respiratory system. We therefore need to use our common sense when we use essential oils around our pets, depending on their size, breed and individual disposition.
As part of the larger picture, we also need to be aware that many commercial perfumes, aftershaves, paints and other commonly used household products have strong fragrances and can be offensive to our pets, often without our being aware of this fact. Moreover, since the main way in which pets are exposed to essential oils as well as other strong smells within the home is via inhalation, it good to be conscious that our pets can react in individual ways to powerful scents and to certain essential oils, just like we can. It is therefore not possible to provide a definitive list of particular essential oils with specific safety requirements for all pets because of the individual nature of each animal. Generally speaking, using pure hydrosols and aromatic flower waters is a safe way of using essential oils at home around pets since they are much less concentrated.
Below are some basic guidelines to follow regarding using essential oils around pets in the home:
- Never administer essential oils orally to your pets. Leave medical treatment in the hands of your vet!
- Do not apply essential oils to the skin or fur of your pets directly, even in dilution, as your pet may lick the affected area which can be harmful.
- If your pet gets an essential oil on its skin or fur, wash it off as quickly as possible using a soapy solution.
- If you are using a diffuser in your home, it is best to place it in an area that your pets cannot access.
- Only diffuse essential oils in a well-ventilated area, and for limited amounts of time.
- Whenever you use essential oils in the home, ensure your pets have the option of leaving the area if they wish.
- If you have a pet with severe breathing problems, using essential oils or a diffuser anywhere near them is not advised.
- Store essential oils away from all animals to avoid your pet knocking over containers or licking up spills of essentials oils.
- Get to know your individual pet and be aware if they show any signs of distress or discomfort. If so, seek professional help.
With regard to humans or pets, always read the safety advice on the label of each essential oil before use: Aqua Oleum provides a list of safety data on the label of every bottle. Also if you are using a blended oil, in a diffuser for example, it is important to first check the list of ingredients first. The main way that pets are most likely to come into contact with essential oils is via diffusion, either by using an oil burner or via an electronic diffuser. In this case, it is good to be aware that the modern electronic diffusers tend to be a lot more efficient or ‘active’ than the more traditional ‘passive’ methods of spreading aromatic particles in the air. Using essential oils in the bath, in body or massage oils and even in household cleaning products, for example, are also ‘passive’ methods, through which aromatic vapours may be inhaled at low levels by your pets.
When it comes to using essential oils within the home around cats and dogs, being the most popular pets, there are a few essential oils which are specifically contra-indicated. The main factor regarding cats is that they should not be exposed to the constituent d-limonene, which is found in citrus oils, as seen below. A few common oils used in aromatherapy, including the tree tree family, is not recommended for use around either cats or dogs due their heightened sensitivity to the make-up of this oil, so niaouli oil (melaleuca viridiflora) and tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) are both contra-indicated.
Here is a list of oils as as basic guide which should be avoided or used with caution around cats and dogs in the home:
Cats: Bergamot, Citrus oils – including lemon, lime & grapefruit, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Niaouli, Oregano, Peppermint, Pine, Tea tree, Thyme Spanish, Ylang ylang
Dogs: Anise, Clove, Eucalyptus, Juniper Needle, Lemongrass, Niaouli, Oregano, Peppermint, Pine, Tea tree, Yarrow, Ylang ylang