Essential oils and dogs: what dog owners should know
Donna SmithMany people use essential oils at home and want to know whether they can keep using them when they have a dog.
There is no single answer that applies to every dog or every oil. The risk depends on the product, its concentration, how the dog is exposed, how long the exposure lasts, and the dog's size, age and health.
Some essential oils have recognised poisoning risks for dogs. For other oils and blends, reliable dog-specific information may be limited. Essential Oils QLD does not currently hold complete pet-safety information for every product we stock.
If a product page does not include a specific pet warning, this does not mean the product has been assessed as safe for dogs.
How dogs can be exposed to essential oils
Dogs can be exposed through swallowing an oil, getting it on their skin or coat, or breathing concentrated vapour or airborne droplets.
A dog may be exposed by:
- licking an essential-oil bottle, spill or diffuser
- drinking diffuser liquid
- walking through spilled oil and later licking its paws
- having oil placed on its skin, coat, paws, collar or bedding
- breathing concentrated vapour in a small or poorly ventilated room
- chewing a bottle or container
Dogs may also lick oil from their coat after accidental contact. Active diffusers can release small droplets that settle on nearby surfaces and fur.
Can you use a diffuser in a home with dogs?
Animal Poisons Australia advises that animals exposed to diffuser fumes are generally at lower risk than animals that swallow concentrated oil or have concentrated oil applied to their skin. However, prolonged exposure to high concentrations of fumes can still make a dog unwell.
There is no universal number of drops or running time that can be guaranteed safe for every dog.
If you choose to use a diffuser:
- use it in a well-ventilated room
- make sure your dog can leave the room freely
- avoid running it in a small or enclosed space
- keep the diffuser and its liquid out of reach
- keep it away from food, water, bedding and sleeping areas
- clean spills immediately
- stop using it if your dog appears uncomfortable or unwell
Dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than humans. A fragrance that seems light to you may be overwhelming to your dog.
Speak with your veterinarian before using a diffuser around a puppy, an elderly dog, a pregnant dog, or a dog with a respiratory, liver or neurological condition.
Do not apply essential oils directly to your dog
Do not apply pure or diluted essential oils to your dog's skin, coat, paws, collar or bedding unless your veterinarian has given you specific instructions.
Concentrated oils can be absorbed through the skin. Dogs may also swallow the oil while licking themselves or another animal.
Do not add essential oils to your dog's shampoo, grooming products, food or drinking water unless the finished product is specifically authorised for animal use or your veterinarian has directed you to do so.
Essential oils associated with poisoning risks in dogs
Animal Poisons Australia identifies several essential oils as particularly toxic to pets, including dogs:
- eucalyptus
- tea tree
- camphor
- clove
- wintergreen
Tea tree and eucalyptus oil can cause drowsiness, confusion, poor coordination, seizures and coma when swallowed. Severe poisoning and liver damage have also been reported in dogs after concentrated tea tree oil was applied to the skin.
Camphor can affect the nervous system and cause seizures. Clove oil has been linked with nervous-system depression and liver injury. Wintergreen contains methyl salicylate, which can cause vomiting, panting, confusion, seizures, coma and potentially death.
This is not a complete list. An oil being absent from this list does not prove that it is safe for dogs.
Blends also need care because they may contain several essential oils and other concentrated ingredients.
Why we do not publish a list of "safe oils for dogs"
Safety depends on more than the name of the oil. The amount, concentration, method of exposure, length of exposure and the dog's weight and health can all affect the outcome.
Reliable information is not available for every oil and blend we stock. We would rather say that clearly than label a product as dog safe without enough evidence.
Where reliable information identifies a recognised concern, we may add a specific pet warning to the product page. Other products may carry general pet-awareness guidance.
Neither type of notice means that the product should be applied to a dog or used as a veterinary treatment.
Possible signs of essential-oil exposure in dogs
Symptoms vary depending on the oil, concentration and method of exposure. Possible warning signs include:
- drooling
- vomiting
- panting, coughing or breathing difficulty
- weakness or unusual tiredness
- confusion or unusual behaviour
- poor balance or unsteadiness
- tremors or seizures
- collapse or coma
Some essential-oil exposures can also injure the liver. Do not wait for several symptoms to appear before asking for advice.
What to do if your dog is exposed
If your dog has swallowed essential oil, had oil applied to its skin or coat, walked through a spill, or developed symptoms after exposure:
- Move your dog away from the source.
- Prevent further licking where possible.
- Do not induce vomiting.
- Do not apply another oil, detergent or home remedy unless a veterinarian tells you to.
- Contact your veterinarian or the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline promptly.
Practical steps for homes with dogs
- Keep essential oils in a high or locked cupboard.
- Keep diffuser liquid out of reach.
- Do not leave an operating diffuser unattended.
- Use good ventilation and allow your dog to leave the room.
- Clean spills immediately.
- Do not apply oils directly to your dog.
- Do not add oils to food or water.
- Ask your veterinarian before using oils around a dog with a health condition.
Does purity make an essential oil safe for dogs?
No. Purity relates to an oil's composition or quality. It does not establish that the oil is safe for animals.
Pure essential oils are still concentrated botanical extracts. Some naturally occurring compounds can be harmful depending on the oil, dose and method of exposure.
Terms such as "natural", "pure" and "free from synthetic fragrance" should not be interpreted as meaning "safe for dogs".
Can essential oils be used to treat a dog?
Do not use the essential oils sold on this website to calm anxiety, relieve pain, treat skin conditions, repel fleas or insects, support digestion, or address another veterinary concern unless your veterinarian has specifically directed their use.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority considers product labels, websites and other promotional material when deciding whether a product is represented as suitable for veterinary use.
Products promoted as treating, preventing or modifying an animal's health, behaviour or performance may be regulated as veterinary chemical products.
The essential oils sold by Essential Oils QLD are supplied for their labelled human uses unless a product is specifically authorised and labelled for animal use.
A practical approach
Having a dog does not mean you cannot own or enjoy essential oils. It does mean that you should store and use them with care.
Prevent ingestion and skin contact, use good ventilation, and make sure your dog can move away from the fragrance.
Check the individual product page for any pet-awareness information we currently hold. If no product-specific information appears, do not assume the product has been assessed as safe or unsafe for dogs.
