In early 2018, a Facebook post went viral when a woman treating her cold with eucalyptus essential oils inadvertently poisoned the family cat. Though essential oils can make our living spaces smell better, evidence is scant for their health benefits. And active diffusers—including our picks—aren’t safe to use around pets: Some essential oils are toxic to dogs and cats, and none have been proven to be an effective treatment for animals.
Reliable research on the benefits of essential oils for pets is even scarcer than it is for humans.
The handful of studies that do exist are largely sponsored by companies that make herbal-infused pet products (including these studies from 2002, 2013, and 2016). Many essential oils should be avoided entirely, because they’re toxic to dogs, cats, or birds.
The largest danger essential oils pose to pets comes from owners who use highly concentrated oils to treat their pet’s skin conditions or to keep fleas away. The ASPCA cites essential oils as one of the most common toxic causes of tremors in cats. There are also issues with how essential oils are labeled—there are cases where a product can have a large number of low-concentration oils, which when combined mean the overall solution is highly concentrated and dangerous. Or it’s not clearly explained that an oil might be safe for one species of animal but not another, or the exact percentages of the oils in a blend aren’t specified, so it’s impossible to know if it’s safe. Given these issues as well as the lack of evidence for the efficacy of essential oils when treating pets, we think you shouldn’t treat your pet orally or topically with any concentration of oil unless advised to do so by a vet.
The ASPCA cites essential oils as one of the most common toxic causes of tremors in cats.
The eucalyptus oil of the viral Facebook post isn’t the most common essential oil poisoning culprit, but rather tea tree oil, which is sometimes used to treat hot spots or skin allergies in pets, is. A 2014 case series from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association examined 10 years of data on toxic exposure to tea tree oil from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and concluded high-concentration tea tree oil shouldn’t be used for cats and dogs. The ASPCA notes that only as little as seven or eight drops may be all it takes to cause issues.
Tea tree isn’t the only essential oil that poses a risk—the Pet Poison Helpline has guidelines about specific oils that are dangerous and should be avoided entirely even with passive diffusers.
For cats, the following essential oils are poisonous:
Cinnamon oil
Citrus oil
Clove oil
Eucalyptus oil
Oil of sweet birch
Pennyroyal oil
Peppermint oil
Pine oils
Tea tree oil
Wintergreen
Ylang ylang
For dogs, toxic essential oils include:
Pennyroyal oil
Pine oils
Tea tree oil
Wintergreen
If we’re not sure about our specific oil, we can refer to the APCC’s toxic and nontoxic plant list.
Even if the essential oil isn’t toxic to our pet, experts recommend the less concentrated the oil the better, and to avoid topical or oral use. Charlotte Flint, a senior veterinarian consultant with the Pet Poison Helpline’s clinical toxicology department said, “I honestly wouldn’t put a pure concentration oil on my pet.” She added pet products containing oils, like hotspot wipes and flea shampoos, are safer to use on pets than pure oils, and these tend to have oil concentrations in the single digits—but given the lack of evidence for their efficacy, consult your vet first to make sure the product you have in mind is safe.
While here are some Essential oils that are good for pets:
Essential Oils Safe for Dogs:
Cedarwood oil: acts as an insect repellant
Chamomile oil: elicits a soothing effect and helps calm the gastrointestinal system
Citrus oils (including lemon oil and orange oil): act as a mosquito repellant and deodorizer
Eucalyptus oil
Fennel oil
Frankincense oil: currently being evaluated as a therapy for bladder cancer in humans and dogs
Helichrysum oil: a member of the sunflower family with some potential in aiding bleeding disorders
Lavender oil: induces a calming effect; Dog parents may also wish to consider the calming line of Adaptil® canine appeasing pheromone products, such as collars, sprays, and diffusers.
Lemongrass oil
Certain mint oils (peppermint, spearmint): help calm GI upset
Rose oil
Essential Oils Safe for Cats:
Chamomile oil
Jasmine oil
Lavender oil
Rose oil