What Pet Owners Need to Know About EOs
Essential oils (EO) are highly concentrated lipid soluble volatile aromatic compounds distilled from plants. It is important to note that not all essential oils are created equally. When considering whether or not to use essential oils for dogs and other pets, you need to carefully consider the quality of the EO. Has it been third party tested? Is it considered a verifiably pure essential oil? Many EO’s on the market today are what I consider “perfume grade.” While these may say that they are “100% pure” on the label, they often contain extenders or other substances in addition to the EO in it that are toxic to small animals like dogs and cats. These should be avoided.
If you are not sure as to the quality of the oil you are purchasing, it is best to consult with an expert, such as your local veterinarian. High quality EOs can greatly benefit your pets. Many essential oils for dogs and other pets have emotional benefits as well as physical benefits. Because EOs are lipid soluble, they can be absorbed into cells through the cell membrane. Since they are distilled from plants, and no two plants are the same, EOs do not show the same bacterial resistance as some of our synthetically made therapies.
This is very exciting as a scientist, knowing that we have one more tool in our toolbox to combat difficult to treat conditions, simply by enhancing an animal’s own immune system through a natural approach! There is a lot of research available that shows that many EO constituents have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumoral, and antioxidant properties.
Are Essential Oils Safe to Use Near Animals? EOs can safely be used around dogs and other pets and they can receive the benefit from them in many different ways. With large animal herbivores such as horses, cattle, llamas and alpacas and even sheep and goats, essential oils for pets applied topically directly to the area of concern, even without dilution or along the spine similar to how you would apply them to a human, is both safe and effective. With small animals such as cats and dogs, you do have to be a bit more careful.
BIRDS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
Birds are very sensitive to EOs and I typically only recommend using water diffusion with birds. Avoiding the hot oils may be prudent, but I tell bird owners and small animal owners what I tell all my pet owners: I think it’s really interesting that so many people will put a commercial, chemical filled air
freshener in every room in their house without thinking twice about it, but are worried about harming them with essential oils! I do love that people are cautious (as they should be) with their pets. In general, each individual animal has preferences and dislikes, and sensitivities, just like different people do… so I always tell people to just observe your pets behaviour – if it is behaving normally, all is well – if it is behaving abnormally, that may be an oil that they are sensitive to. They are very good at telling you!
ESSENTIAL OILS WITH CATS
Cats lack an enzyme in their liver that is important in the metabolism of many types of things. This makes cats susceptible to ALL kinds of toxicity, including plants, NSAIDS (like aspirin, ibuprofen and Tylenol), chocolate and caffeine (methylxanthines), lead, zinc, and many, many types of pesticides.
*The oils to stay away from, and use something different if you can, are the oils that are high in phenols or ketones as far as direct application (topical or internal) to your cat (basil, birch, cinnamon, clove, fennel, melaleuca, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, spearmint, and wintergreen.) They are also sensitive to d-limonene containing oils (bergamot, dill, grapefruit, lemon,
lime, orange, and tangerine).
USING EOs WITH DOGS
There are many different sizes of dogs and in general, the smaller the dog, the more you want to dilute the EO. Oils I tend to avoid with dogs include Melaleuca, Birch, Camphor, and Wintergreen simply because there are safer, less controversial oils that we can use that are just as effective.
POCKET PETS
With rabbits and many “pocket pets” such as guinea pigs, sugar gliders, chinchillas, hamsters, and the like, they are hindgut fermenters, so you want to be very careful when using essential oils with strong anti-bacterial properties around them such as cinnamon, cassia, and oregano, as they have a delicate
digestive flora that you do not want to inadvertently disrupt with the use of EOs.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ALL PETS
- Seizure Disorder – For animals with seizure disorders, there are some oils that are thought to lower the seizure threshold, so those oils should be avoided. That includes Basil, black pepper, Camphor, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Hyssop, Sage, Rosemary, Wintergreen.
- Bleeding Disorder – Also, animals with any bleeding disorders or that have difficulty clotting or are being treated with an anticoagulant, they should avoid topical application of oils such as Birch, Cassia, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Oregano, and Wintergreen.
- Pregnancy Caution – Caution should be used with pregnant or nursing animals, and hot oils should be avoided or highly diluted. Other oils to avoid include Basil, Cassia, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Wintergreen, and White Fir.
How EOs Can Help Your Animals
Behavioural issues such as separation anxiety, thunderstorm anxiety, and fear or fear-based aggression: I typically recommend either lavender alone or a combination of lavender and vetiver with great success.
- Allergies: This is complex, but with dogs and large animals, I recommend internal use of frankincense, lemon, lavender, and peppermint 2-3 times daily as well as Omega 3 supplementation. I always recommend working with your veterinarian in these cases to determine the source of the allergy, because addressing the root cause will help prevent the itchin Sometimes it takes a while to figure it out but it is well worth it, in my opinion.
- Ear Infections: cleaning the ears regularly with a natural ear cleaner is essential – you can make one yourself even! Then around the base of the ear, apply diluted lavender, Frankincense, geranium and basil.
- Neoplasia: uncomplicated cases can benefit from support with frankincense and sandalwood. I always recommend working with a veterinary oncologist in these cases.
- Seizures: frankincense orally twice daily as well as omega 3 supplementation.
- Transitions: bringing a new puppy home, or transitions between homes or adding a new animal to a herd, the combination of lavender and myrrh really help with the adjustment period.
There are many other uses for essential oils for dogs and other pets including liver support, kidney support, immune support, and general health
Applying Essential Oils to Your Pets
The most common thing you will hear are: topically, aromatically, and internal. Caution should be used when starting anything new. Just like you need to adjust a change in food for your animal slowly, introducing EO’s should be done slowly as well. Start with a small amount of a dilute EO, and observe your animal’s behaviour. If the response is neutral but you are not getting the therapeutic effect
desired, you can always add more EO or increase the frequency of application, but you do not want to start out with a large amount right from the get-go.
Since every individual is different and has a body chemistry unique to that animal, they each tolerate EO’s to a different extent. For example, my puppy absolutely loves EO’s, no matter which one I choose, whereas my older Scottish Terrier is much more sensitive and prefers diffusion. So just observe your pet’s behaviour – if it is behaving normally, all is well – if it is behaving abnormally such as trying to rub the oil off of an area that you applied it topically, squinting, rubbing their nose, or trying to get out of a room where you are diffusing, then that individual may be sensitive to that particular oil.
AROMATIC APPLICATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DOGS AND OTHER PETS.
1. Nebulizing diffusers or ones that pull oil directly from the bottle of the oil and disperse it into the air: only use open room diffusion where the animal can leave the room if you are using this type of diffuser in your home.
2. Water diffusion is highly recommended with any animal and the best way to begin to introduce EOs into your home or clinic. Start with 1-5 drops of oil in your diffuser. You can use water diffusion in different ways too, in an open room, a closed room, near your animal in a smaller space such as a
cage or enclosure, or even via tenting for short periods of time.
With any type of diffusion, monitor your pets behaviour during the diffusion and respond accordingly. They will tell you if it’s one they like or need or absolutely cannot be around or it’s too much.
TOPICAL APPLICATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FOR ANIMALS.
Again, start out with diluted oils and add more if needed when you are first starting out.
- Pet along the spine – this is the most common topical application I use as it’s the best tolerated.
- Ear tipping– applying the diluted oil to the tips of an animals ears. Some animals tolerate this, but many do not. Avoid using this type of application with long eared dogs as they may shake their head and get the oil in their eyes accidentally.
- Applying to paws – again this is not always very well tolerated in small animals. Be sure to get it on the skin between the paw pads. This is a fairly sensitive area so be sure to use dilute oils.
- Water misting – this is great for birds: add a drop of oil to several ounces of water, shake, and spritz on the animal. This is also helpful for large animals if you are trying to cover a larger area or they don’t tolerate regular handling.
- Large animals – where the hoof meets the skin, or the coronet band. Very helpful when treating foot conditions or lameness issues in horses.
- DIY – Adding to topical products such as shampoo or coconut oil.
- Indirect application – apply to bedding or an area your animal frequently comes into contact with.
INTERNAL APPLICATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FOR PETS.
1. In a capsule: 1 drop per capsule, top off the rest with a pet-safe carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil. The following are NOT recommended essential oils for cats to use topically or internally: cinnamon, clove, fennel, melaleuca, oregano, peppermint, thyme, and wintergreen) as well as oils high in d-limonene (citrus oils).
2. In food: usually wet food recommended either mixed with a carrier oil or mixed directly into the wet food.
Remember that with animals that groom frequently such as cats, birds, dogs, rabbits, and chinchillas, that topical application also means internal application. So, if this happens and the oil was applied topically, dilute it by applying a vegetable oil such as Fractionated Coconut oil directly over the area.
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