. After Reading Warnings and Horror Stories About Essential Oils Around Dogs
Jo Marshall CVT, NREMT
Senior Veterinary Information Specialist
It seems that there is a new horror story every day on essential oils and pets lately. Our Dr Benson addressed the concerns with essential oils and cats in her blog: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/ and at present information technology is fourth dimension to requite our canine friends equal fourth dimension.
The beginning thing that I will say about essential oils is that not understanding them or not being educated on appropriate utilize is what tends to cause the concerns that we encounter with dogs. If yous are going to use essential oils in your daily life, find a reliable source to gain the education that you need to proceed yourself, your family unit, and your pets safe.
What are essential oils? They are basically the volatile, organic component of plants that give each institute its distinctive fragrance and gustatory modality. These compounds are found in the roots, stems, leaves, basics, seed and virtually all parts of the institute. They are considered volatile considering their molecules rapidly go from a liquid or solid country into a gas or aroma. This is what makes aroma therapy possible. When you open a bottle of an essential oil, you very chop-chop smell the smell as the molecules escape the canteen in the course of gas.
We have certainly seen an increase in essential oil toxicity in recent years due to the increment in pet owner's desire to care for more holistically or with natural remedies. In dogs, the most common essential oil toxicities that nosotros encounter are to Melaleuca or Tea Tree Oil, Pennyroyal, Oil of Wintergreen, and Pine Oils. I want to break downwardly each i of these potential toxins to give you a better understanding of where the danger exists with each of these oils.
Melaleuca oil, also known as tea tree oil, is our most common essential oil offender in toxicities to dog. Tea tree oil originates from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. These exposures ofttimes occur with application or administration of the concentrated tea tree-oil past well-meaning pet owners attempting to treat their pet for diverse skin weather condition or external parasites such as fleas. It is as absorbed with both dermal or oral administration and both result in toxicity. These toxicities are not caused by the very low concentrations of tea tree oil in the various shampoos made for dogs. The full-bodied products are the principal culprit. Nosotros can see signs of depression, ataxia (very uncoordinated gait), paralysis of the rear legs, vomiting, hypothermia (low body temperature), and dermal irritation. These exposures will require veterinary intervention. The signs can be present for up to 4 days with aggressive care and treatment.
Pennyroyal is an oil from Mentha Pulegium, more commonly known as European Pennyroyal or squaw mint. Pennyroyal has a long history in folk medicine with use as an insect repellent. It can exist used by unsuspecting pet owners to care for flea infestations or to attempt to forestall flea infestations. Again, oral or dermal exposures can both issue in toxicity. The short answer on the toxicity with pennyroyal is that it causes hepatic necrosis or liver failure. We tin run into the dog become ill after exposure with vomiting, diarrhea, both of which can be encarmine, sluggishness and death due to hepatic necrosis. Again, aggressive veterinary intendance is needed to attempt to support the liver and forestall liver failure. Pennyroyal is a known toxin to dogs and all forms of it should exist avoided in dogs.
Our tertiary essential oil of concern is Oil of Wintergreen. It is derived from the Gaultheria Procumbens or the Eastern Teaberry. Long story brusk, Oil of Wintergreen contains methyl salicylates, more commonly know as aspirin. It is many times used topically as a pain reliever for musculus aches and pains but may as well be used in holiday candies with bakers having bottle of concentrated product. Dogs can show signs of aspirin toxicity and we can see signs of airsickness due to severe gastrointestinal upset and ulcers, along with potential renal and liver failure. Aggressive veterinary intendance is needed for gastrointestinal protection and renal and hepatic support.
On to Pine Oils. Pine oils are derived from Pinus sylvestris or the Scots Pine located in Europe. In fact, it is the national tree of Scotland. Pine oils are used every bit a natural disinfectant, deodorizer, household cleaning products and massage oils. The touted benefits of pine oil include increasing circulation, aids in decreasing swelling, tenderness and hurting in sore joints and muscles along with antibacterial backdrop. What we tin see in dogs with dermal or oral exposure tin be dermal or gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting that may be bloody, drooling, weakness, ataxia, forth with affects to the key nervous system, and potential renal and liver affects. Again, aggressive care is needed to limit or decrease the exposure and prevent worsening clinical signs.
Some other element of concern with essential oils is with the risk of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia. Because of the viscosity of oils, we get concerned with the dog getting the oil in their lungs not just when ingesting it, merely considering of the irritation that it can cause to the gastrointestinal tract, we can see the oil be aspirated when it is vomited support. For this reason, we do not recommend induction of emesis with oil products and immediate veterinary care is needed with most of these exposures.
Prevention is the best medicine in limiting essential oil toxicities in dogs. Many of the exposures that we deal with are from well-meaning pet owners that accept used an essential oil without knowing the consequences or risks involved with these types of volatile oils. I would recommend discussing whatever use of essential oils with your veterinarian prior to use. If they do not have feel with essential oils, they will likely know someone in the veterinary profession that they can refer you to get the information that you need for condom use of essential oils.
If y'all have an exposure to an essential oil product in your pet, delight do not hesitate to contact us for information. We are hither 24/seven to help you and your pet!
Source: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-safety-tips/essential-oils-dogs/
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