A user alerted to the diffusion of an essential oil at home, which would have changed the behavior of her dog for a few days according to her words. A veterinarian from a poison control center wants to be reassuring, and warns rather about the direct application of an oil on the animal.
Are essential oils dangerous for pets? This was raised by a surfer, owner of a dog, based in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales). In a Fabeook post from May 1, she worries about her dog who doesn’t recognize her and refuses to go out.
behavior”odd“according to her, because”it’s a dog happy“. She takes him to the vet, and makes the connection with an essential oil that she diffuses at home: tea tree oil. In her post, she states that “the oil is toxic to dogs“, and “IThe vet and poison control say they see these cases often” because of “popularity of essential oil“.
The post has been shared many times on Facebook. But are these oils really dangerous for animals? We asked the question at Western Animal and Environmental Poison Center (CAPAE-Ouest), based in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique).
The oil in question”may be toxic to dogs or cats” indicates a veterinarian contacted by telephone, without further indications on the regulatory doses according to the oil used. But the ingestion of large quantities of this oil can create “nervous breakdown, hypothermia and muscle tremors“he warns.
The specialist assures us: the Nantes poison control center is not facing an increase in calls for the use of essential oils. “There is no big warning sign at the moment“he reassures.
Rather, it warns about the direct administration of an essential oil on the animal which is dangerous. Especially for the cat. “People try self-medication with oils. For the cat, the skin and respiratory tracts are quite sensitive. Non-veterinary administration is not recommended for this animal“explains the veterinarian.
Even if the dog is “less sensitive“, and that the “general prognosis remains good in case of poisoning for the dog“, veterinary advice predominates.”Be careful when using essential oils.” he concludes.
