Toxic Essential Oils to Dogs

Essential oils have become quite popular over the years. They are known for their power to naturally heal a wide range of conditions, including headaches, autism, acne, psoriasis, cancer, anxiety, and ADHD, among others. While essential oils have some proven benefits for humans, others are toxic to dogs. As pet parents, it is our job to make sure we keep our home free of toxic oils for the safety of our dogs.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are concentrated organic compounds derived from plants. These organic compounds give each plant a certain fragrance and taste. Dogs have a very powerful sense of smell. While humans have about 6 million olfactory receptors, dogs are estimated to have up to 300 million. So, the odor particles from essential oils affect our dogs much more. For instance, if you have an oil diffuser in your home, when you think your room smells great, your dog could be very overwhelmed.

Human bodies can process a variety of chemical compounds, while our dogs’ systems are much more limited. Many essential oils tend to be toxic to dogs because the compounds in them react with enzymes and hormones in dogs, messing up their natural body chemistry. If exposed in large quantities, it can cause a dog to show symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritations, loss of coordination, weakness, drooling, and more.

What Essential Oils are Toxic to Dogs?

  • Tea tree oil is perhaps the most toxic essential oil for dogs. If you expose your pup to a small dose of tea tree oil, expect drooling and vomiting.
  • Pine oil is a popular essential oil in many homes today. It is claimed to be a good odor neutralizer, natural disinfectant, and massage oil. Mild doses of pine oil can mess with your dog’s gut causing it to be irritated.
  • Sweet birch oil was originally used to train dogs to pick up scents. If undiluted, this oil can cause your dog to develop seizures, gastrointestinal ulcers, and death.
  • Juniper oil that comes from its roots, needles, and bark are not dog-friendly at all.
  • Peppermint oil may be a great flea repellent but it is not a safe product around dogs. If swallowed, peppermint oil may lead to vomiting and sluggishness.
  • Garlic whether used as an essential oil or consumed whole is toxic to dogs.
  • Pennyroyal belongs to the same family as mint. Although this is safe for humans, it is harmful to dogs.
  • Wintergreen oil is used as a natural solution for muscle aches and pains. But, it has been proven to cause a host of issues in a pup’s gut, kidney, and liver organs.
  • Citrus oils come from peels of ripe citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, and more. If your dog is exposed to concentrated amounts, he may have a seizure.

What are your favorite dog-friendly essential oils you keep around the house? We would love to hear from you!