Many people or better said most dog owners like essential oils. They like the scent, perks, and benefits. This brings a question. Are these oils good or bad for dogs? Is Eucalyptus Essential Oil Safe for Dogs? This will be answered today and we are going to stay focused on eucalyptus oil only but you will soon realize that the same matter applies to most essential oils. Without further ado, let’s begin.
How To Use Eucalyptus Oil For Dogs Safely
Eucalyptus Oil: Main Things To Know
The main question here is interesting and requires a lot of time to explain. But, before that, we must start with the basics. Eucalyptus oil for dogs. How to use it safely is just a part of the question. First, we must explain what this oil is.
In general, this is oil that is extracted from the chopped leaves from the eucalyptus tree. The leaves are chopped into small pieces and put in a special machine. It will use steam to pass through the leaves and collect the oil that is coming from the pieces. The steam will then reach a cold surface and become liquid again. A person will collect that liquid. But, there are two elements here. You can see water and oil. The oil will be on top of the water and as such it must be collected.
The oil is collected and usually stored and then sold. Keep in mind that the eucalyptus tree is native to Australia but it can be found in all parts of the globe these days. This also means that the essential oil you got may come from a different country. Also, different types of trees can be used for making essential oil of this kind.
The main ingredient of eucalyptus oil is eucalyptol. This ingredient has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used by various people for centuries. It is potent and effective. Don’t forget that this ingredient is also known as cineole so regardless of which term you see used you should know what it is.
Is Eucalyptus Essential Oil Safe for Dogs?
First of all, there are not a lot of studies and research done regarding the topic. There is simply not a lot of information out there. But we were able to discover that this essential oil is not safe for dogs and as such, it should be avoided. As a matter of fact, most essential oils are toxic for dogs and not something you should expose your pet to. It isn’t extremely dangerous as soon as you start using it, but long use can lead to some issues.
Most people will use diffusers to diffuse the essential oil. This creates a loving scent all around the house. Well, this is not something you should do. You and your dog will inhale the water vapor containing the oil and it will affect your airways. It is a well-known fact that this essential oil can have a negative impact on the respiratory system. The situation is even more severe if you use a diffuser in a small area for a long period of time. It is like a huge problem waiting to happen.
One, additional, issue here is that dogs have a much stronger sense of smell and they can detect and collect essential oils from the air when we can’t. This also means that their respiratory system will be affected much sooner and more severe issues may occur. The situation is almost identical with many other pets you may have.
The Bottom Line Is Simple
A diffuser and essential oil such as eucalyptus essential oil combo is not a good idea. The risk is just too high for you to get a pleasant scent in the house.
Many of you will use eucalyptus essentials oil to solve the issue with fleas on your pet. This is actually a more common action than you may believe. However, once again we cannot see proper scientific research done and give you accurate answers. The best thing you can do is to ask a vet about the process and he can help you understand should you do this or avoid it. In addition, fleas are not going to stay on your dog all the time.
They can spend days in your carpet and find a dog back when the essential oil perishes. As such this treatment doesn’t look promising and you will need a much better option. Also, you will have to use extremely potent eucalyptus essential oil that will be very dangerous to your pet. Don’t forget that this affects most pets, not just dogs.
Precautions You Need To Take
When it comes to eucalyptus essential oil and your dog there are a few important things to keep in mind. These are precautions you need to take and each one is extremely important!
The first thing to know is that if a digested essential oil can kill. It can kill an adult human and obviously a small dog or a large dog. That’s why you need to keep the essential oil far away from your pet. Keep it in an elevated cabinet where your dog cannot reach it.
Never Apply This or Any Other Essential Oil to Broken Skin
This means that the essential oil will come in contact with the blood and can cause severe issues. It is actually similar to when your dog drinks essential oil. Yes, this is life threatening. Although we are focused on eucalyptus essential oil, the same thing applies to other oils as well.
Those of you who have puppies or small dogs must avoid essential oil like this at all costs. You must not apply the essential oil to the skin, fur, or orally. Keep in mind that eucalyptus essential oil may be harmful to small children in large amounts so the same thing applies here. While large dogs can withstand some amount of eucalyptus essential oil, puppies and small dogs cant.
Cats Are Even More Affected by Eucalyptus Essential Oil
This also means that you must not use the oil on your dog if it can come in contact with your cat. It is a severe problem that can affect the life of your cat and cause liver damage, kidney damage and so much more.
One, a better known fact because we have revealed it earlier is not to use a diffuser in a small area where your pet spends time. This can be a huge issue and the one that will affect your dog in a negative way.
Concentrated Essential Eucalyptus Oil Must Not Be Used, Period.
This is an extremely potent solution and one that can be fatal to your pet and a cat. You always must dilute it properly before use. It is a much better option to look for pre-diluted essential oil.
This essential oil should not be applied to the fur either. Some dog owners may believe that it will help their pets by keeping the fur in pristine condition. This is not the case.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil Poisoning
Sadly, it can and may happen to you. Your dog has found eucalyptus essential oil and he has come in contact with it. Here you can see what will happen and what you should do in that case scenario.
There are a lot of symptoms of essential oil poisoning. However, the main and most common ones are:
- Watery eyes or a nose
- Redness that affects lips, gums, or skin
- Low body temperature
- Heart rate will be lower
- Tremors
- Lethargy
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Sneezing
- Wobbliness
We must add that if your dog has consumed eucalyptus essential oil you must take him to a vet immediately. Bring the bottle with the oil with you. Also, never use activated charcoal or try to induce vomiting in your pet. The essential oi8lk may reach the lungs in this way and cause even more trouble.
If your dog spends time in a small area where the diffuser is used, take him outside as soon as possible. Fresh air can be more than just helpful. Let your dog stay outside as long as you can. It will take some time to remove the essential oil from the airways.
If the essential oil was applied to broken skin, you will have to wash off the oil and the skin quickly. This is done to remove all traces of the essential oil. Once again, you can take him to a vet and get additional help.
The Final Word
Is Eucalyptus Essential Oil Safe for Dogs? Is it dangerous and how to use it safely? As you can see it can be. The risk of all this happening is not low and you should take a lot of care if you like essential oils. There are no proven and extreme benefits here so there is no actual need to use the essential oil in question. There are a lot better and more effective treatments out there that are safe as well. Those are much better to use.
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