WARNING: Essential Oils Dangerous for Pets, “Natural Flea Prevention” May Do More Harm….

*EDIT* I shared this post as a ‘anecdotal’ experience only. I urge all pet owners to become familiar with their own breed of pet and what that species is or is not sensitive to. Rabbits and cats and dogs and horses all respond differently to different chemicals – natural or manufactured. Please use care when administering ANYTHING to your pet – and please know that i am NOT AN EXPERT and can not offer expert advice in the comments. This post is quite old and time sensitive comments may not yield results. *
Today’s post is a very important message to all the skin-parents out there. A friend of mine recently sent me an email warning me about using essential oils on Pocket. As i posted recently, i have blended an essential oil mixture to use on Pocket to prevent fleas, ticks and mosquitos without relying on those nasty chemical treatments. I’ve been using it with good success, as an occasional neck drip but mostly as a “rub it around on her belly and tail feathers” barrier when we go hiking. She’s had no problems, but i was also careful to dilute the essential oils i used with a lot of jojoba oil. It’s very important to remember that essential oils must ALWAYS be diluted before use, for humans and pets alike. There are a few exceptions that can be used undiluted on occasion, but as  a general rule you should water down your essential oils in oil, vodka or witch hazel.
In my friend’s case, she was using a brand name treatment that is available in stores and across the internet. Please read her warning below and weigh your options carefully when choosing a flea treatment for your pet:
Be very, very careful when using essential oils on Pocket.  I honestly wouldn’t recommended it at all.
I used Sentry brand “Natural Defense Flea & Tick” squeeze-on treatment, as well as the same name carpet powder.  The ingredients are peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil, clove oil and thyme oil.
Within one day of treating Tres, he was having severe difficulty breathing.  I wondered if it was the flea treatment, but thought that it would be strange if any of those ingredients caused him harm, as I thought they were safe (which is why I used it, as opposed to a chemical treatment).  Well, three vets and four days later, we finally found a vet who had seen this before and read studies on it and, yes, essential oils can be toxic to dogs and cats.  Their bodies metabolize them differently than ours.  Tres’ rapid breathing was caused by his body being so acidic that it was toxic from the oils.  His body was trying to get lots of oxygen to help his liver and kidneys eliminate the toxins.  It has been nine days and his breathing is still not quite normal.  But it is better.  He wouldn’t eat, he could barely walk and he sounded like he was hyperventilating.  It was HORRIBLE.  I would just lay in his kennel with him and sob.  The vet said we are lucky that he is still alive.
The only thing we could do to treat him was wash him with dish washing detergent (4x) make sure he had plenty of clean water, high quality protein (he would barely eat though) and lots of rest.  And 12 mg of Benadryl twice daily.  We go to the vet next week to do blood work to see if there has been any permanent organ damage.  We’re hoping and praying that there isn’t any.
I’ve called the company and they refuse to acknowledge that their product could have done this.  I find that interesting, considering that I found 200 complaints about their products killing/harming dogs and cats at the Consumer Affairs website and there is a Facebook page of people with similar experiences who are gathering up in order to file a class action lawsuit against the company.
It is going to cost $400 to get our area rugs cleaned (I used the powder on them) and we’ve incurred a few hundred dollars in vet bills so far.  Sentry says that they will do an investigation and “possibly” refund us for costs incurred.
PLEASE pass the word on to all of your friends and family with beloved cats and dogs.  Products with essential oils are even more harmful to cats, as they clean themselves and ingest them.  The best flea treatment to use is Frontline Plus.
Josh made up a new slogan for Sentry:  “Works so well it kills your pet, too!”  :(
Scary stuff! Please be careful when using any medication on yourself or your pets, natural or chemical. Also avoid clove oil like the plague: it is intensely volatile and dangerous even to humans if undiluted. Use it on your gums, carefully, but keep it away from the pups! Prevention is always the best policy: plant flea and mosquito preventing plants in your landscaping like pennyroyal and catmint, brush and pick over your pet often to see if fleas are even a problem and always be careful when using a new product on your pets as they may respond differently than you’d expect. I like to mix a carpet powder for home use that should be safe for everyone involved: a blend of 60% baking soda and 40% diatomaceous earth plus a few drops of essential oils for the scent. The b.s. freshens the house and the d.e. helps kill unwanted pests. I’ve also heard from a reader that you can shake salt all over your house and let it sit for a day before vacuuming…. that sounds a little messy but very safe.
Be careful out there, everybody! -Miranda & Pocket

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154 Comments

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154 Responses to WARNING: Essential Oils Dangerous for Pets, “Natural Flea Prevention” May Do More Harm….

  1. To be fair lots of pets have also had terrible reactions from chemical treatments. Our friend’s dog had organ failure after being given heart worm medicine and sadly didn’t make it. Essential oils can be toxic if not diluted both for humans and pets and it’s always best to educate yourself before using anything at all, either herbal or chemical.

    We have to decide as pet owners what’s more important to us. Do we want a pet that has some fleas or do we want our pets to get cancer or have other complications from chemical or sometimes herbal control methods? Honestly I’d rather have to bathe my dog more often and have a few fleas around than put chemicals on her and have to deal with the health effects of that.

    I also have to wonder how bad fleas truly are. We have a tendency to overact to something that’s not really so bad in our country and use a treatment that causes more problems than what we’re trying to avoid. Seems to me the wild animals around here are thriving with fleas. The more I read the more I believe that a light parasite load is actually good for the immune system and the way nature works best.
    ChiotsRun recently posted…Jury Duty Again?

    • Jenny

      Because my cat frothed & foamed from the mouth from chemical flea control, I wanted to go the “Natural Essential Oil Way” & it killed one of my older cats and sent the other young one in to congestive heart failure w/a product labled to use on cats. Product has geranium, clove & peppermint. The manufacturer actually paid for a Vet visit! I also believe too much has gone into controlling fleas. I now use a flea comb on cats, that’s it & works great! My dogs are combed & bathed regularly w/oatmeal shampoo. I also believe a good diet free of artifical colors, flavors and grain free helps.

      • Judy Chartrand

        It is well know that peppermint oil and many others are toxic to cats it is extremely difficult to treat cats whether naturally, or with medicines. You can give a dog an aspirin, but not a cat…etc…

        • Jess

          Whats good on cats is 2 lemons w/ rinds, gently boil in 2 cups of water. Put in spray bottle, works on cats.

          • Corinne

            Just be aware that any citrus oils (that are contained in the skin) are toxic to cats. Use the juice and vinegar instead.

        • You can not give a dog aspirin. I had to take mine to the vet. Because I did. She became very ill. The vet said do not give aspirin.

          • Rink

            Yes you can.

          • Brian

            Actually baby aspirin and or tylenol in low doses is ok but never high doses or ibuprofen. Used with all my dogs for pain from arthritis surgery etc, over the years.as with anything individual animals can always be intolerant to nearly anything.

    • unfortunatly fleas are not good for your animals. On cats it can cause worms as they tend to bite at them and injest them. also it also compromises the immune system and makes them anemic and also can cause them to die. So think that over before you let your animal keep its fleas. But of course you have to be careful with the flea medicine. My kiki was given revolution and she was so sick she almost died. also she still had fleas. I give my cats advantage. I know all flea medicines arent great . But thats the only one my kitty’s will tolerate.

      • Phylis

        Advantage was all I used on my cats up until a year ago. I had seven cats until two years ago, we fostered 5 more. They are now a permanent part of our family. When we first started fostering them, I put Advantage on them to get rid of the fleas. I treated our other cats as well. I thought the fleas were gone. One day I notice some of them with worms. I went to the vet and got medicine for the worms and talked to my vet about the fleas. She said the fleas probably got immune to the Advantage. Well by the time I found all that out, I had an infestation in my basement. It was terrible. I paid out lots of money for new flea medicine and getting my house sprayed. I’ve always used Advantage until the infestation. Now I am too scared to use anything other than what I can get at my vet (Cheriston). It works great, but it’s expensive.

          • Soup

            Wondercide should not be trusted. They outright lie about the safety of their products. For example, NO amount of peppermint oil is safe for felines, but they advertise their peppermint scented spray as 100% safe for felines because there are no phenols. DO NOT TRUST WONDERCIDE.

      • Judy Chartrand

        So true Marcie. Dogs can get worms from the fleas as well. My Schnauzer had developed worms after a flea infestation, and his continual chewing and digesting them. I used a worm treatment which did not work, and also realized it was a chemical that wasn’t good for him, so I did some research for a natural treatment, Raw Pumpkin Seeds, and it worked like a charm. No more worms. I am now still in the process of finding a natural flea treatment for my dogs.
        I am a former nurse, and dogs are like humans in the sense that medication has side affects. Chronic use of flea treatment most likely puts our dogs at high risk for many disorders, and no doubt cancer.
        When we choose a natural treatment, we need only to do a thorogh research of all the ingredients that we are not sure of.
        Natural is always better, however, if you give dogs or humans something that is toxic, it doesn’t matter if it is natural, or FDA approved.

        • Chaya

          I used Frontline Plus for years on my dog, until it developed a tumor right where I would apply the liquid.

        • maggie

          Cedarwood essential oil drops diluted in water. 1 cup water with like 8 drops. you can add lavender oil as well. Fleas die in contact with the cedar wood almost immediately. do not put essential oil on skin without diluting with water or carrier oil.

    • tami

      I use essential oils on my dogs & cats. they must not be used full strength. I didn’t start using them until I read about them on many many many different sites. holistic vet sites and anything to do with essential oils and animals. you just have to read

      • About “just have to read..”, Yeah, that’s what we are all doing, and it’s confusing. And for Vet’s Best to say it’s safe for cats and yet find out Peppermint Oil is toxic is a farce. What it SEEMS like is that you have to compromise, and put a diluted solution on your cat if you don’t want them to have fleas. But to flippantly say “Oh, just read”, Well la-di-friggin-da!. It’s not that simple Tami. And what is “full strength” anyway? You have to determine that yourself I guess.

        • Spirit

          It’s nice to give your opinion but it shouldn’t be rude. We’re all learning and sharing what we know. I found Tami’s post helpful by her saying that essentials oils must be diluted and that we must read and research many sites. It made me start researching and probably saved my cats from getting sick.

      • Sandra

        I too have been searching for a natural remedy for fleas on dogs. I have 5 dogs and it gets expensive. My niece is involved in Essential Oils. She researched also and has told me using Cedarwood and Lemongrass of course diluted is good for fleas. I have not tried this yet but will.

      • wing

        Can you tell me how you prepare the essential oils for your dogs? What is the portion? Thanks.

        • marip

          Wing; the standard is 1 drop essential oil for 10 drops of the carrier oil ( olive, or coconut oils are safe and best; don’t use sweet almond (dogs are sensitive to the toxin in almonds; or grapeseed oil…other oils are often mixed and too heavy to use effectively, and can cause irritation….I know some use jojoba oil, but I never have, so I can’t say about that one….if it is good for Humans doesn’t mean it’s good for dogs or cats)…..many essential oils are nervines, which mean they work on the central nervous system…..and so you need to be careful what you mix together. Spearmint is toxic to dogs, but peppermint is mild and safe, cammomile is also very mild and safe, and is good for not only topical sprays, but it also kills worms….just remember that dogs are seven times more sensitive than people, and that very nice smelling spray is probably way too strong for your dog ( it can even interrupt their sense of smell), so go lightly….I make a spray for my 25 pound pup and I only use 1 to 3 drops of oil diluted in either camomile or lemon grass tea; depending on day or night ( oils also can cause calmness and help them relax; or stimulate and make them feel fresh and lively, so depending upon your pet;make sure you research the oil before deciding to use….or, you can just use clean water) For instance, my dog is a pyr shep and very hype, and sensitive to many foods and although everyone says to use lavender (and usual doses are 10 drops or more); he hates it…it’s just too strong for him @ only 2 or 3 drops…..so I use it on my bedding, and me, and the furniture, but not him….. Essential oils are God-given healing remedies when applied and used correctly…but as others have said; they are medications and so must be respected as such.

          • Debra Coones

            The single most important thing about essential oils is that you use a pure brand not synthetic like most are which can kill your animals. Do your research don’t by them from an outlet or ones that come with your diffuser…those are garbage. Buy Quality know what you are getting research research Buy from small
            Family owned companies only. Then dilute coconut oil is perfect….and use the 1 drop to ten or 15 they are powerful. Medicine.

    • april reese

      “Chemical” operative word, meaning synthetically produced or natural with added synthetic stuffs.

      “Bioactive” or “natural”, you and your dogs will be fine. it’s about BALANCE. In our farm chickens, dogs and cats alike rub their bodies against the citronella located at our perimeter fences…. to ward of fleas and ticks.

      To achieve balance, dilute with another oil like coconut oil and mix with any liquid or solid soap. Done. And the fur…. the fur soooo soft! I like the citronella oil of Gold In Grass from the Philippines

    • My toy fox terrier became very sick after I put EcoLogic Lawn and Yard Insect Killer on my yard. It’s organic, with the main active ingredient being mint oil. He threw up all day, then has had almost no appetite for a week. I don’t know how I can get it out of the lawn, so I will only take him on walks for now. I hope he’s back to normal soon!

    • Ramsey Patton

      Are you kidding me? What a horrible, irresponsible and lazy pet owner. You think it’s good for your dog to have bugs crawling on it and biting it all over? 1 flea can and will continuously bite your pet over and over. And there’s never just one flea. So you poor pet has fleas crawling all over it and biting it all over, has no way of getting them off, because that’s YOUR job, but it’s ok because wild animals have them too? You are an idiot. You poor pet is probably in constant agony and is relying on you for help and you aren’t giving it. You are horrendous. Maybe you will end up with bugs crawling all over you and biting you and no one will help, then you will rethink how cool it is. Also dogs can get worms and become anemic from fleas. Educate yourself.

    • I like the idea that fleas aren’t “that bad”, but really… a severe flea infestation can devastate your pet’s health, especially if they’re already weak or extremely young.

      These little buggers suck their blood, making them weak and anemic and they transfer tapeworms. Honestly, there is no reason for us to be okay with our pets being itchy and miserable, ripping their skin to shreds.

    • Deborah

      Geraniol is also NOT safe for most dogs and cats. We recently tried a ‘natural’ flea shampoo from PetsMart that had geraniol and peppermint in it, and it caused our dog to be sick for several days! We washed her 3 times with dish soap to get it off and took her to the vet. Thank God she is healed and back to normal now. Please put out on your social media and email list for people to not use a product with geraniol in it! This is very important information that most pet owners do not know: stay away from products labelled that they are only natural products.

    • melanie harper

      I give my dogs baby aspirin according to their weight. My 10 lb chihuahua gets 1 baby aspirin per 6-8 hours. I also use plain household salt on my carpeted areas to get rid of fleas. Leave down for approx 24 hours and then vacuum as usual. The salt suffocates the fleas and they die, the eggs also.

    • Steve

      There’s no such thing as a “light” load of fleas. A few fleas here or there will harm nothing, but a “load” suggests colonization and that will have a significant negative impact on one’s pet. Moreover, it only takes the ingestion of a single flea to cause tapeworm. Additionally, I don’t know what would lead you to believe that wildlife are “thriving” with fleas. Raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks, feral cats, etc. – some of the most common wildlife hosts for fleas – carry a host of deleterious/deadly diseases and have very short lifespans.

  2. Jim

    Essential oils must never be used on dogs, for their skin is not made up of human cells. Diluting the oils does nothing to protect the integrity of dog skin and can cause burning, itching, rashes and other uncomfortable conditions for dogs due to the highly volatile and potent oils.

    • Jim: i appreciate your comment. Could you please send some links to research/evidence?
      I rub the diluted e.o. mixture on my dog’s fur with great effecacy in repelling fleas – and i certainly don’t want to cause her discomfort. She hates the smell, but otherwise i see no signs of rash or anything else. I would think that very little of the oil would even get on her skin from the fur.

      Please share your thoughts and include some links to research based fact.
      Thanks!
      Miranda recently posted…Fiber Friday: BABIES!

      • shaelynnmoon

        We used to use an otc flea repellent on our dogs like advantage,I don’t remember the name because my husband always bought and applied it, butbut it to just quit working. I now only have one dog because I lost my beloved deer chihuahua Chica to complications from breast cancer surgery. Not a day goes by I don’t cry. So I wanted to go the natural route to protect the only baby I have left. I use lavender and lemongrass diluted olive oil with him. He’s a jack-chi. I mix it myself so I know exactly what’s in it and I just rub it in my hands then rub it on his fur. It doesn’t bother his skin cause it doesn’t get down to. Just bush or comb first or you’ll have sticky oily hands covered in hair. For my cat I make catnip tea from dried catnip i give her a good combing while it steeps and gets plenty cool. Then I just hold her in one arm and dip my hand in the tea with the other then Pet her gently with the wet hand. She loves it love and attention and CATNIP, she doesn’t even notice she’s getting pretty damp. I just slyly Pet all the necessary areas till I get’em all. As far as your friends Pet I’m not surprised he had trouble breathing I had trouble just listening to all those scents. That’s overkill! You don’t need that many and they’re not even compatible. Those scents clash. It’s like going into the perfume department after someone sprayed everyone. That’s why it’s a good idea to make your own products. It’s not difficult or time consuming it’s economical and I enjoy it. Good luck to you all and your dear pets be wise and be blessed

      • Amber

        Essential oils are perfectly safe to use on your pet as long as they are high quality and pure and also used in the correct dilution.look up Dr. Melissa Shelton. She is the forerunner in essential oil usage in animals and has a wealth of information as well as her own personal research and lab work.

    • There ARE safe, effective Essential Oils that can be used on pets of all species. MANY Essential Oil products available are made from cheap, non-organic, essential oils with fragrance factors added. I am leary of using many oils on pets. To be on the safe side, use oils from The Oily Vet, Dr. Melissa Shelton (www.animalEO.info). Her oils are all very safe, checked for purity, steam-distilled, and her website will clearly tell you which ones are safe for dogs, cats, bunnies and even pet birds. I use Feathered Blend as a mist over my Amazons and African Grey and they have the best plumage my bird vet friend has ever seen!! Dr. Becky Verna

    • Cattan

      I agree with Jim , this not using essential oils on cats I say one hundred fold, cats do not have a liver enzyme that all other mammals have, and cannot process essential oils, which is also why so many other things are so toxic for cats, please please don’t use even pure essential oils on your cat , and please remember that essential oils are hundreds if not thousands more concentrated than the origional herb or flower which in itself can be toxic to a cat or dog

  3. Randell Gentes

    Jojoba is a shrub that is grows in dry regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern US. Jojoba oil and wax are produced from the seeds and used for medicine. Jojoba is applied directly to the skin for acne, psoriasis, sunburn, and chapped skin. It is also used topically to encourage the regrowth of hair in people who are balding.,*,`

    Until next time <http://healthmedicinejournal.comel

  4. dee pews

    Sorry to hear about your horrible experience. I do want to speak out on essential oils. I have used them on my pets with complete safety, but only PURE oils. The source of the oils and how they have been distilled makes all the difference in safety. I looked up this stuff you used from amazon and though I don’t know the company, by the price alone would say there is no way these were pure oils. I would only buy oils that are certified to be pure therapeutic grade oils. There are only like two companies in the USA that would meet that standard. Anything less will have possible chemicals, pesticides, unknown contaminents, additives or possibly mixed with oils that are harmful .
    Essential oils can be safe, but your source is everything.
    Doterra or young living essential oils are two that are safe. Doterra is my pick because of the third party testing, and that they are all beyond organic,and come
    from country from where they grow indigenously. Young living also good,but grow in the USA for the most part.
    Just don’t want you to lump these oils all together.
    There are good ones available, the company that you obtained these from for your dog is tragically not one of them. Shame on them for selling anything but pure oils for someone to use on their pets!

    • rob J

      I’m looking to use some of these oils on my small yorkie/chihuahua mix dog. Which oils do you recommend that are safe on pets and what recipe do you use to mix them to spray or rub on your dog?

      In other words how do I go about using them on my dog in a safe matter and that is effective?

      • Hi Rob, I’ve been researching and researching to find out if these oils are really safe for pets. I noticed you relied to a dee pews back in July 2013. I was wondering if she responded to you and if so what was her recommendations and did you try the oils on your dogs? I have a maltipoo and maltipoo/yorkie mix. I appreciate and look forward to hearing back from you. Thx

    • rob J

      By the way thanks for the company recommendations. I will check them out.

    • I agree!!! I’ve used YoungLiving oils in my entire family and our dog Teddybear (Bichon Cross) now 16+ years. Teddy has had Valor that contains Spruce (Picea mariana), rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora), blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum) and frankincense (Boswellia carteri) in a base of coconut oil. Teddybear has anxiety and this has helped a lot thrust his life. I’ve used Pure undiluted peppermint oil when he eats grass, cypress oil for when he pull a ligament in his paw & Thieves oil which contains Clove† (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon† (Citrus limon), cinnamon† (Cinnamomum verum), Eucalyptus radiata† and rosemary. I used this when Teddybear picked-up a cough from the dog park. I never used more than 7 days as he always got better so quickly. I have however bathed him in pure Lavender and apply on him a lot to get the bugs off and because it’s make him smell great and he sleeps in my bed.

      • Teddybear celebrated his 16th birthdate Feb 14th. Besides his eyesight getting bad and walking slower he still loves to run for his toys when I come home. Hoping only for a peaceful transition to the other side when it’s his time. One more note for the ‘watch-out’ folks; teddy has never been on dog food and rarely went to the vet except for nurturing and had to get teeth pulled couple years ago. He has lived a great life always w/ essential oils and
        Laminine as his supplement.

      • Cris

        Hi I was wondering how much lavender you out in the bath water thank you!

      • Steve

        A number of the oils you reference are scientifically proven to be toxic to dogs. I hope others will educate themselves rather than relying on your dangerous post and anecdotal “evidence.”

    • Von

      Youngliving tests with 3rd party not Doterra. DoTerra actually was started by Dr. Hill who worked for Youngliving only to learn then steal from Youngliving. Stealing ideas and copying is the biggest form of a compliment, but Youngliving is still the first and the best!:)

      • Dr. Debra

        Von,
        Everyone who works with oils is perfectly aware of this nonsensical attack that is going on.
        This site is not a place to trash another EO company that turns out top quality therapeutic grade oils. You have every right to your opinion but you are using an educational site to spread gossip. For rebuttal purposes, it is perfectly ok for what is natural to this earth to be marketed by another individual or company and do their own research and educate others. You cannot “steal” from mother nature and turning out pure therapeutic grade oils is not something one could claim “ownership” to. All are free to do work towards an edge over competitors. Education is essential so even though one company came first, it doesn’t make it better or worse than another. Interpretation of research is a whole other story. I differ in the opinion of what you feel is best, and I don’t need to trash or gossip about a competitor. I am confident others can make their own intelligent conclusions. If I didn’t enjoy the information to be so enjoyable on this site, I might be turned off by your comments and not bookmark. However, I have bookmarked this site and will return. Glad you enjoy your choice of oils, and I am happy with mine (dottera). Both have good reviews. Let’s leave the gossip out of this!

        • Jena

          Not every Quality Essential Oil producer is aware of and/or publishes on their product adequate warnings for side effects. Unfortunately most of these companies are not regulated by the FDA and can avoid testing and procedures.
          This site is for the Public to voice their experiences w/products concerning their pets. Therefore, I feel Von is not incorrect by posting his comments here. It appears there may be unpublished comments that you refer to. Animal pets can be a family member. A lot of EO producers are in for the $ as it is easy. I have a video of my cat dying & proof of the EO company paying the bills! Other animal went into congestive heart failure. I am very MAD & yes, this is the place to speak out!!!!!!!!!!

          • Toni

            You made a video of your cat dying????

          • If you read everything I posted, you may understand. This company killed two of my cats and I did the video so when it comes to speak up Animal Rights in the future, I have a evidence. Be careful what you say
            Pagan worshiper, it is not the lords way of belief!

          • Taharaa

            Sentry Natural Defense KILLED my corgi on 4/30/15. 2/3 dogs were foaming, can’t use their back legs, shaking. I am heartbroken. I trusted this product because it said NATURAL SAFE and effective! even said its safe if ingested. I am LIVID and sad.

        • jina

          Hi, while reading here after thorough research on oils and animals, it seems many people misunderstand the problems: Company quality has NOTHING TO DO with using certain oils on certain animals. Certain animals livers, skin, lungs including birds, cannot process the active ingredients in many oils, therefore NO BRAND SHOULD BE USED of any oil that can harm the pet! I suggest researching updated info on animal physiology and the toxicity of chemical compounds in the oils you want to use. Yes, diluted is less toxic. Some oils still shouldnt be used at all, esp. Long term. Cats will get liver failure because they cant process certain compounds out after just smelling them. So Please stop making this about company quality or names. You can have the purest oils made and still kill your pet, if the ones you use are harmful to their systems. Very simply, The animals dont like the smells of certain ones because they are not good for their body. We people can process them much better because our systems are different in physiology. BE WISE. And some we cant because they are toxic to us. It doesnt matter who makes them!

          • This educational site is to make consumers aware of dangers to pets. Why you are so defensive against prompting the Flea Flicker Tick Kicker product that killed my 2 cats is questionable? I also have all documentation from 2 different Vets along w/videos.. Other manufacturers of harmful products are also listed on this site. Upon doing your research, you will find that the composition of these oils should NOT be used on CATS especially w/in the application instructions. A can of worms has been opened and I intended to pursue justification of the unjust KILLING OF MY FAMILY PETS!!!! :{

      • oshonuf

        The REAL Story of Gary Young and Young Living Essential Oils by Eva F. Briggs,M.D. “In summary, Gary Young is a man who is uneducated and who has repeatedly falsified and exaggerated his
        credentials. He has been arrested at least twice for health fraud related charges. His inability to recognize his lack of
        training and the limits of his skills contributed to his own baby’s death. He purports to be a religious and god-fearing
        man, yet he assaulted his own family. His writings reveal a complete and utter lack of knowledge about even basic
        science, let alone a subject as complex as essential oils. A physician who pled guilty to manslaughter in the death of a
        longtime friend, falsified her death certificate, and attempted to cover up the crime heads his clinic.” The author of this statement posted 12/2002 has never been sued for liable.

      • Talking negatively about doterra is not a good form of marketing or business practices. It is frowned upon by doterra advocates who would say things like
        that about Young Living. I would never speak like that about Young Living. There’s nothing wrong with Dr Hill moving forward and finding ways to enhance and improve the essential oil business. Doterra does use 3rd party and is CPTG certified oils. Shame on you for your misleading statement. Anyone who chooses essential oils as opposed to traditional medicine when needed is benefiting whether it YL or doterra

        • Cherie Grant

          You do realise doTERRA IS CPTG???? They created it, they control it, they do the testing. There is no 3rd party. From their website:

          Without an accepted standard for essential oil quality, doTERRA created its own testing process, calling it CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®. The CPTG process certifies that there are no added fillers, synthetic ingredients, or harmful contaminants in their essential oils that would reduce their efficacy.

    • Klin

      This may be a little late, but I just wanted to clarify that oils sold by young living are not therapeutic grade. In fact, doterra was started when top scientists left young living bc they were unhappy with the way they were shady with their marketing. (There is a lawsuit going on about this right now if you want to check it ou) Put simply, oils that are all made in one place could not be therapeutic grade. Frankensense for example is not native to the us, so the final product will be weaker. Just wanted to clarify. Stick to doterra.

      • Health Advocate

        DoTerra is the highest of quality when it comes to purity. The owners split because DoTerra wanted a higher grade oil and Young living falls short in the level of integrity.

        With that being said, DoTerra has a line of oils made specifically for canines. Do look for the ones designed for our furry friends.There are many opposing viewpoints and opinions on what is safe and what is not. My experience with oils have been both positive and negative. I use lavender on my baby and it does calm him down beautifully. I did not dilute it. I used melaluca very small amount, not even 2 drops on a cotton ball and wiped the inside of his ears,came home after an hour and he could not walk, panting and scared. I used the lavender oil and it calmed him down. I had to take him to the vet and it cost me around $150 to get a hydrating shot under the skin and to test him for toxicity.

        Check everything before you administer essential oils. Find out as much as you can from people that have done more than Internet research. Find experts that make this their life’s work and then you can rest easy knowing you are keeping your dog safe.

    • Tiffany

      Certified pure therapeutic grade is a term that young living coined to make their oils seem superior. If you look, you will see a trademark symbol at the end of CPTG. DoTerra branched off from Young Living to form their own company. There are only a handful of actual distilleries in the world. You can purchase the oils directly from the distillery instead of young living and doterra, who mark up the prices as the middleman. I purchase florihana oils. The distillery is in France but you can purchase them at tropicaltraditions.com. They are a company in Minnesota that you can purchase them through at cost so you don’t have to make a foreign transaction. I used to use DoTerra until I did research and found out these alarming facts. Do not use inexpensive oils from the drug marts. Those are for automatic use only and is why they are so cheap! Florihana oils are extracted the same way as DoTerra describes their oils to be manufactured. I honestly believe DoTerra purchases their oils through Florihana French distillery.

    • Eu Jin

      My dog just had a reaction to essential oils and they were actually from Young Living. We did not dilute it and used the ones that we bought for ourselves (humans). It maybe too potent for pets. Am assuming their pet products are much more safer and diluted or is there a difference? In this case, am not sure whether it’s an issue of purity or brand quality. We do have to becareful about it’s potency when applying on pets. Dilution is probably necessary. At this point, our dog is not breathing normally and seemed almost paralyzed or not being able to move. We just noticed this today. A very similar experience to what to the author, Miranda & Pocket experienced.

    • I use doTerra PURE OILS, they may seem high, but you are not getting watered down oils, you can dilute them if you like, THEY ARE PURE OILS

    • frea

      Not true that only two companies in the USA have trustable essential oils.
      Some more good companies are Liberty Natural who important and test their essential oils. used them for over 19 years.
      MountainRose is not an importer but their products are trustworthy.
      Follow Valeries Worwood,a British aromatherapist who’s a safe authority on essential oils.

  5. Jenny

    I used a natural flea essential oil product that I purchased at a natural pet store. Used as instructed and it killed my older cat and gave my younger cat rapid breathing. Took him to the vet, she ran blood tests, xrays and gave antibiotics. No change in the breathing. NOW WHAT????

  6. Aloha and peace

    I am sending love and healing to your sweet doggie as well~

    I am a naturopath physician, certified essential oils practitioner, wellness educator

    Essential oils are the natural anti-viral and anti-biotic and also bug repellent properties of the plants. When the plants are distilled to reduce down to the ‘essential oils’ vast amounts of plant matter make up even a single drop. Somewhere around 50-100 rose petals for one drop of oil (for example).

    Some of the oils are VERY hot – cinnamon, and clove are two examples – personally i would not put either of these oils directly on my skin or anyones for that matter. Thyme can be hot.

    Peppermint is a either cooling or heating depending on the situation. I am appalled that Sentry makes a blend for animals with a combination of these essential oils.
    They are either negligent or mis-informed or both.

    I like 1 drop of Peppermint in my water and my sweet filly loves to smell the peppermint and even licks my hand but i would not put it on her skin…she is a 600 pound animal and we work with 1-2 drops to help cool her on hot summer days. And I ALWAYS give her the choice as to whether or not she licks it…

    There are definitely reputable essential oil companies on the market – Young Living and DoTerra as well as Floracopeia and some smaller ones as well.

    With all essential oils and natural medicines in general, I like the motto
    ‘less is more’

    empower yourself with education and informed choice

    health and peace to all of you
    tarah

    • Mary Jo Matey

      Hi Tarah… so happy to have found you .. My animals, two sweet persian cats and a VERY furry Golden/ Charpai were completely flea free.. until a visit form animals w fleas . I like to do 100% natural .. so what would u recommend .. they just became infected a week ago ,, they are ALL SCRATCHING !!! :( .. they faster I take care of this the better it will be ..
      Thank u in advance ..~~

      Namaste’
      MAry Jo

    • Kathy Hanley

      hi I am new. Is Cedar Oil and Lemongrass by

      wondercide good for fleas? Is there a good flea shampoo to use ? help and thanks I use revolution but am having a flea problem. First time…OMG I am going nuts. treated the house and the yard. I have 5 shih tzus

  7. cathy

    I used Frontline on my cats.It made not one, but BOTH cats act strange for 2-3 days. They acted like they were sick. They were so sluggish acting and did not eat. I thought maybe it was just coincidental so when it came time for treatment again, I used it again. Same strange response by both cats. I won’t use it again. A pesticide cannot be good for a cat to absorb either.

  8. I’m a healer and I have witnessed essential oils both in my own family and with many of my clients over a long years. I use essential oils for my Giant Schnauzer Baldur too,and it always works…
    Love, Light and Healing to your doggie!
    Irmina
    Irmina Santaika recently posted…Are Bio-Energy Therapy Proven by Science?

  9. I mix Clove oil (best for fleas), Lemongrass oil, the absolute highest quality Melaleuca oil (Tea Tree) & Lavender oil together, pretty much equal parts, I do not measure. Melaleuca oil soothes itchy or irritated skin & heals with antiseptic & anitfungal properties. Contact me to learn more, happy to help our four legged friends! Note that these essential oils are of the highest quality & only are harmful if diluted or mixed with impurities. Anyone posting here interested in Wellness or chatting about Wellness please message me on Facebook I’m always looking to make new friends with similar interests :) http://www.GreenEarthForAll.com

  10. carlo

    Tea tree should be avoided when it comes to using to dogs. there have been many reports with dogs having bad reaction to that oil. lemongrass is however good for them, but just make sure to dilute them

  11. zoe

    In regards to top comment about the company being sued and the consumer reports it is not for their natual product. The complaints are for their pesticide products. Misinformation and out of context due no good

  12. Ginger Young

    I just purchased essential oil of cloves to dilute with water to spray on my carpet because my Rottweiler is licking holes down to the knap in my new rug. After reading these posts it sounds like a bad idea. Anyone have another one? The stuff sold in pet stores doesn’t work….he likes the bitter apple taste.

  13. christy

    i am terrified and am still really worry about nmyvdog. all i have to say is… be really careful when using essential oilvfor your dog. myndog almost couldnt make it, after i put peppermint and lqbon in his water… in his water..i still dint knuw wht?ether therenis permanent demagentongis organ.. but he was lethargic and his heart beakvia very weak… insobbedn … hopefully he will recover soon

  14. Amanda

    Being informed is key, I am a massage therapist and took a class for rain drop therapy. It is a type of therapy with essential oils. There are two books out there I highly recommend anyone using essential oils for pets or humans. The first is the reference guide for essential oils by Connie and Alan Higley. It lists all the oils and blends, properties, common uses and how to use properly. This book also has a section in the back for ailments and lists the oils to treat them. The second book is the Animal desk reference: Essential oils for animals by Melissa Shelton DVM. This also gives aliments and the oils to use in pets ranging from house hold pets to farm animals. Both stress the importance of quality essential oils, as posted earlier Young Living or Doterra are the only producers of oils that are truly pure and safe to use. Other companies may use plants treated with pesticides or herbicides to get the oils from and most likely chemically distill their products instead of steam or mechanical distillation. All those toxins are now in the oils you are using. If you choose to use essential oils research the company you are buying from, make sure they tell you how they distill their oils. If they don not I wouldn’t buy from that company. I personally use oils on myself and my 70lb mutt, we use the young living brand and have had no problems. Luke had a mouth abscess that popped, turned out he had a piece of wood stuck in his gums like dental floss. He was put on antibiotics for two weeks but the vet was worried the infection had gotten in his tooth. About two weeks after he finished his meds the area started looking infected again. I made a mix of three drops thieves, and one drop clove mixed in olive oil, very diluted. I put it on a cotton ball and rubbed it in the area that looked discolored. Two times a day for about a month and his gums are completely fine, no infection can back and no problems with the oils. I have the books to inform myself about what to use, not to use and how to use. Tea tree should never be used with dogs or cats, rosemary can cause seizures in small pets so be wary of products with either. Please inform yourself before using oils on pets, they can be safe and effective when you have the proper information.

    • jina

      This is not true. Both companies have good and bad oils. Send them to an independent lab yourself and you will see. Most companies have good oils if you do this you’ll find variances, even at different times of year. Doterras peppermint tests out to be another mint type, not true peppermint, thats why the flavor is so minty, and why it cant be used on babies. Real peppermint can be for them when diluted properly, the other type is deadly for them. Again, using oils on animals is about physiology, not about company quality. And in real tiny doses, like the lady with the horse did. Two drops for a huge horse worked yet we give a smaller animal more than that?… Thats why they are dying or ill, plus, we give ones to them they shouldnt ever even have or smell!

  15. Lynne

    So upsetting, I have 3 maltese dogs and 2 are up in age but very healthy. I was referred to an alternative vet and was told it was a remarkable thing to do for our pets as its all natural and that it would keep my pets in tip top shape as they continue to age. I was also given a soap to wash my dogs in with no chemicals, all essential oil blends and many of the things in the above article are in this soap blend. Why, if this is toxic to our pets, are they giving it to us. I will not be using again but did notice my small maltese was doing a honking sound after his bath that continued through the day. It stopped and I never attributed to his soap though. Thank you for this post.

  16. Liz

    Does anyone know if Bulk Apothecary a good company for essential oils?

    • I have ordered from Bulk Apothecary for several years. I’ve found that their description and sources for their ingredients, such as coconut oil, bentonite clay, etc are lacking in depth info and they really do not have any good descriptions about the products they carry. They are cheap, for example the bentonite clay is dirt cheap. But think about it. Is it calcium bentonite or sodium bentonite? If you do in-depth research, you’ll find that you shouldn’t ingest sodium bentonite clay. Sodium bentonite clay IS cheap crap. They use it in cat litter! I won’t trust them for any ingredients until better descriptions come out. I only purchase soap molds and jars from them. (side note: I just went to their sight and noticed they just recently changed their description to say it’s not food grade! lol)

  17. Vickie

    I to am interested in knowing if Bulk Apothecary is a trustworthy company for purchasing essential oils? They market them as 100% pure high grade oils….

  18. cocnut oil is the best thing for fleas …feed it daily and see the results for yourself…it is also great for a hundred other things

  19. Wolfie

    There is soo much information available out there for essential oils. Do your research before you use.I have learned that essential oils for Cats is pretty much a no no. I would seek a Certified Aromatherapist if your looking to use oils on your cat. As for dogs.. There are Essential oils that can be toxic to your dog. Even safe oils can be toxic if your not using the correct dosage.If it says do not apply directly to your skin then do not to your dog. Most oils you can use on your dog must be diluted way down with ” carrier” oils.If In Doubt .. seek a professional :)
    As Far as Bulk Apothecary.. I Have just recently purchased oils from them. I have not personally used them other than for Aromatherapy candles. I use Young Living oils for consumption and skin.

  20. Cindy

    I was wondering if putting peppermint oil on cords would keep the puppies from chewing and if so will it hurt the pups to just be smelling it.

    • jina

      Use the wrong oil and if they chew they can get sick or die. Or grow up with health problems. Safety says if they wont eat it in the wild, dont give them the oil. Same with chemicals. They kill and damage too. Cover your cords or tape them down somewhere.

  21. Deb

    SALT is a toxin in cats if ingested in too high a quantity i.e. licking off coat after having it broadcast on a floor to kill fleas!!! It can cause their electrolyte balance to become unstable and it can kill them. I am, tragically, the voice of experience. DO NOT EVER PUT DOWN SALT TO PREVENT OR RE-MEDIATE A FLEA INFESTATION!!!! I would strongly suggest when researching the www for pet safe products that your search also include “toxin and cat” to get the rest of the story.

  22. Jena

    People that have posted here, do no like chemical treatments for flea control as these products are poison! I used food grade diatomaceous earth w/sucess for some areas. Since then, I don’t really have a problem & use flea combs & oatmeal baths for dogs. Flea combs on cats only

    • jina

      Awesome, very smart. Baking soda, white vinegar are safe too.

    • Sandra

      I haven’t had to treat my dogs or cats in 8 years for fleas or ticks.I switched to a all raw diet in 2007 after the melamine poisoning,decided I could do a better and safer job of feeding my dogs/cat.I even find it hard to believe at times and I am constantly combing through their fur looking and never find any, even though routinely exposed to infested areas the fleas and ticks just don’t get on them.All my animals are in excellent health according to their veterinarian.Ages 8,7,8 raised their whole lives on a raw meat bones organs diet.

  23. monica regan

    I am pleased I read comments about ceder wood oil.
    To think I have bought some and was going to use it on my cat.
    Do not think so now

  24. Thank you, Dr. Deborah, about your nonsensical attack comments. I am in total agreement with you. It does not help my cause by bashing other companies or people. I’ve learned that it only makes me look like a sad or angry person. I’ve learned that my energy can be spent more in caring about people whether I’m using one oil or another. I am NOT one to hold grudges and I don’t prefer to start now. If YL works great for you then I’m happy. If you are an all doTERRA person then that’s good too. The most important thing is is that we most truly be careful about our opinions or comments.

    God bless.

  25. erin

    Just to put in my two cents on the essential oils debate, make SURE any oils you (sparingly) use are organic!! Many essenstial oils, even “pure” ones, use chemical solvents to extract the oils and are VERY dangerous and contaminated (solvent molecules are small and easily absorbed thru skin or ingestion). Mountain Rose Herbs online sells high quality, certified organic products available mail order for a very reasonable (cheap!) rate compared to the young living oils I used to buy.

  26. Sue

    I’ve read the article and all of the replies. Excellent article. It made me consider things that I haven’t even considered about my dogs. I was so focused on killing the fleas that I haven’t put enough thought into the effects that EO’s would have on my dogs. I’m thankful for the information that is found in most of the replies. The back and forth regarding YL and DoTerra left me thinking that I don’t want to use either of them. All the while I was questioning my use of Mountain Rose. Mountain Rose will tell you the source and process of all their teas, herbs, spices, EO’s and absolutes. I love that company. (No, I don’t work for them) as for them being “cheap” I would say that they are reasonable, but I can get EO’s cheaper but the quality would be lacking. The only complaint I have with Mountain Rose is that it takes forever to ship (especially if you’re used to iHerb, Vitamin World or Amazon) And Mountain Rose’s customer service is a touch snarky. Not entirely unpleasant, just a little curt. I would still buy from them in a heartbeat.
    While I am by no means an expert on the uses of EO’s, I know it some. For the EO’s that I will use for aroma therapy and/or cleaning,or anything outside of the body, I buy my EO’s from iHerb. For any EO’s that touches skin or is ingested for me or anyone else, including my dogs, I go to Mountain Rose. I trust them completely.
    I’m not sure if the following matters, or not, but I’ll throw it out there anyway: I’ve been a RN for 25 years. I’ve also taught nursing. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked “You’re a nurse, right?” I have to know what I’m talking about. I have taught my students to do the same. As a nurse, I have to know what drug I’m giving, the proper dose and possible side effects. A lack of knowledge on any subject can kill people. This includes EO’s. I kinda’ take that seriously.

  27. Does anyone know of a safe non-toxic “perfume” alternative to EO’s and to most commercial colognes which are full of toxic fragrances? I would like something for personal use and for the home that I can feel is safe around my 5 cats. I use all non-scented personal care products and cleaning (vinegar, peroxide and isopropyl alcohol) but have been using small drops of EO’s, mostly rosemary, lavender and patchouli diluted with isopropyl alcohol when I want a little perfume for going out. Now, even this worries me. Also, what about the peppermint oil used in my Dr. Bronner’s bar soap I use in my shower and on my face and hands? Is that a worry as well?

  28. Ron Hall

    While I agree that EO’s shouldn’t be used unless diluted and many are toxic to our furkids. With proper research from multiple sources you can use them safely. I consulted several aromatherapist and veterinarians before using EO’s on my Bullies. My rescue Bulls had every kind of skin issue stemming from both their diet, living quarters and what was used as flea/tick prevention. I eventually began making my own formula of cold process soap with jojoba oil, lemongrass EO and eucalyptus EO. The results are soft shiny coats, no flea/ticks and a bathing experience that cannot be duplicated with pet shampoos. Easy to use, easy to rinse, good for my pups and I know everything that’s in it.

    • Mary Jo Matey

      Hi Ron .. what amount would u use if oils are added to shampoo?? And can the oils be used also on cats ??
      Thank u in advance
      Namaste’

      Mary Jo

    • Kathy Hanley

      ron hall hi how do you make what you are using ..does it repel fleas. does it kill fleas? does itmake a itchy dog stop scratching

    • Hi Ron, Thanks so much for your post!

      You have inspired me to make your soap recipe using melt-down glycerine. Can you recommend the 3 oil proportions for a pound mixture? I am so hoping this will work. Cheers!

  29. Hi, I just read about your nightmare with essential oils on your pet. I buy a flea and tick spray from Dr. Karen Becker who is a leading holistic vet out of Chicago, and one of the instructions in applying the spray is to cover their nose, eyes, and make sure that it does not come in contact with their mucous membranes, either yourself or the animal. The recommend that you spray a paper towel and apply to the head and ear area, and you don’t want to saturate their fur, but just spray it, then rub it in. We have done our dog, and three cats, and did not have a problem.

  30. Essential oils are safe to use dogs, however there are very specific dosages for leave in and rinse off products. Every business should do the proper research to ensure their products are safe but unfortunately this is not the case.
    Each essential oil is made up of naturally occurring constituents such as citral, linalool, limonene etc. These constituents can be harmful if used in high doses therefore each oil must be analysed to establish its constituents it contains in order to calculate a safe level of usage in a product. For example lemon essential oil is almost 100% pure limonene and this is toxic. As a general rule leave in products should only contain 0.1% of essential oils and rinse off approximately 0.5%. Essential oils such as clove and pennyroyal should never be used in any dog products. It’s a travesty that companies don’t do their research and end up killing poor animals – shame on them!

  31. Actually, essential oils ARE safe for dogs. Many people (including me) have seen dramatic improvement in mental and physical heath, and positive behavioral changes.I have done a ton of research on health in dogs, and essential oils are widely used, even by vets!-

    Have a nice day :)

  32. Jackie

    I think it is important to point out the fact that even though Sentry technically has what they label as natural products, they still put synthetics in the products.
    If you are going to use oils on your pet, please remember to use oils that are true therapeutic grade, with NO synthetics in them.
    One of the biggest problems people have is that if they see the word pure they assume it is synthetic free, but you only need 5% of the actual oil to call it pure. Be very careful, because not all oils are equal and your pets and family safety is very important!

  33. J Albert

    I believe the main focus to the post was not the horror horror story, but the fact that some pets have problems and others don’t when using essential oils. I personally have both dogs and cats. They are all inside pets, but the dogs do go outside a few times a day. Eventually they bring in fleas and they get passed around quickly. We have been successful with using essential oil and growing plants around the yard to keep the pest away.

    We grow Lemongrass around the doors and citronella around the yard in planters as well as in the garden. If the dogs are going outside of this area we use a mix of 4oz Distilled Water, 4oz Witch Hazel, and 10 drops each of Citronella, Lemongrass, and Lavender therapeutic grade essential oil. We also use this on ourselves when we are out and about in the great outdoors with no problem. For people we also add 1 oz Organic Vegetable Glycerin. For the pets, we will add virgin organic coconut oil once a month.

    For both humans and pets, try a little bit on skin area for a few time to see if there is a reaction. I would normally say “use common sense” here to end my post, but some get upset. So do what you know is best for you and your pets where it comes to essential oils.

    • Kathy Hanley

      J ALBERT..DOES THIS WORK TO REPEL FLEAS ON DOGS WHEN YOU WALK THEM.? wHAT IS THE COCONUT OIL…EXPLAIN MORE PLEASE AND THANKS.i AM GOING NUTS WITH FLEAS HERE IN FLORIDA WERE IT NEVER GETS COLD. AND THE FLEAS THRIVE…ITS AWFUL. I HAD THE YARD TREATED WHERE THEY GO OUT ITS FENCED IT. BUT THEY MUST BE GETTING THEM WHEN WE WALK THEM..ANY IDEAS FOR ME…I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE WONDERCIDE. ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THIS?

      • Taharaa

        Sprinkle Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth on their fur, in the beds on carpet. They are gone in a few days. Read about it. All natural, no chemicals. You and your animals can eat it. It’s a natural parasite detox too.

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  35. Shawna

    Hi just experienced a big seizure with our mastiff pit mix. He has never had a seziure and I just looked outside and saw it starting. We are cleaning our carpets wit windows and doors open, we are using baking soda and vinegar also treating with Dr.Bronner’s hemp peppermint castile soap. He wasn’t in the house but I’m sure the smell drifted outside. I gave him benedryl after I was sure the seizure was over and have put him in his room away from the other dogs. Anyone with any ideas? Very scarry for us, we lost our 3year old wolf husky cross to seizures a few years ago. I have other dogs and house cats one cat is very old and I’m not sure if he’s a cat or an angel long story. Should I be worried about my other guys?? Thanks for the help :)

  36. Randall Selinger

    Hmmm…seems some of you didn’t do your due diligence……lots of essential oils are toxic to cats…….I use them with good results on my dogs……I think the tendency is to overdose…..just a drop or two on the back of a dog is plenty……I am wary of anything vets post……they tell you one thing and do the opposite, like push kibble which is toxic junk….I have a 19 year old dog and an eight year old dog and the only time they’ve been to a vet was when they got spayed and neutered…….make your own food for your pets, they’ll live twice as long with way fewer issues!

  37. mzdivine

    Why would they make products advertised for dogs and cats with oils like those mentioned, if they weren’t safe for dogs and cats? Don’t companies have to pass government rules on such? I have used a flea spray on my cat with no problem that had cinnamon oil and other oils in it, it’s a popular supposed to be natural brand that is sold on Amazon. And last week I just bought ‘Nature’s Best’, there’s a cat and dog on the picture, and it had cinnamon oil, and about 4 other oils, one is citronella, and another is cedar. I bought the spray and the shampoo. Spring is almost here, and I’m trying to get a jump on fleas. My cat is an indoor cat, and I really don’t need to treat her in the Winter months. I also don’t have carpet which holds those suckers. But last Summer, I guess we tracked in some fleas because she got them somehow. There are also a few stray cats around that come into my yard, so I treat the yard too. Fleas are I think are the hardest to get rid off! I can’t stand those things!

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  39. I’m so glad I ran across this post!

    I was writing an article on the best flea treatments and was looking for more information on natural options. I had no idea that essential oils could be so dangerous! Funny how something that can be good for us can also be harmful to our pets (like chocolate). Sometimes I forget that they aren’t people haha.

    Thanks again for the info, I made sure to reference it in my post (http://www.centralparkpaws.net/flea-medication/best-flea-treatment-dogs/)
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  40. Thanks for the tips, I will definitely keep a look out for what I am using to treat fleas in the future.

  41. Nanci T

    I didn’t see a reply to the question about Wondercide. I am seeing it a lot suddenly and I have two old cats I would use it sparingly on but also around the house to kill other bugs. Does anyone know if the ingredients in it have harmed cats? I have seen so many differing opinions, I’m not sure of anything anymore! Thank you!!

  42. Jonnie von Hellens

    I notice that she said she was using carpet powder. I wonder why it was assumed that it was the essential oil and not any other ingredient in the products she was using? Personally, I have found I have a huge problem with powders causing difficulty breathing for me; that is,
    most of them that I have tried, even the “healthier” options.

    A quick search shows that besides the EOs are: Peppermint Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Lemon Grass Oil, Clove Oil, and Thyme Oil, and the other ingredients are: Vanillin, Silicic Acid, Calcium Salt, Carbonic Acid, Monosodium Salt, Calcium Carbonate.

    I’m also guessing that the person who sent you this email is a trustworthy personal friend, otherwise you wouldn’t post this? It could be any of those ingredients in the carpet powder, or the other product, that could have set off a reaction that might either affect many other dogs, or be a rare reaction, but it might be of note that when I did the search, it shows that the carpet powder is discontinued.

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  45. Bonnie

    Help 3 days ago my 16 lb chi cross was in terrible tooth pain. I put about a pin head drop of clove oil on my finger tip and a bit of water and rubbed it on his gum and tooth. Stopped the pain but was surprised at how strongly I could smell the clove oil on hisome breath. He didn’t object at all. He is off his food lethargic and has to be coaxed to go outside and only does what he has to and then wants right back in. He is sleeping a lot. Good attitude but just wants to lay beside me and sleep. He is passing normal stools and peeing. I don’t have much confidence in taking him to vet and paying exorbitant fees for no results while at the same time worrying if he’s going to be OK.

  46. Florencd

    I bought a mist defusser. I placed essence of clove oil and cinnamon oil. The next day all my gold fish were dead as well as two large sucker fish I had for years. Seems like the oils poisoned them , did anyone else ever hear something like this? Heartbroken. Now I am afraid to use any oils. I have three cats and worry about the oils getting into their drinking water.

    • some animals are extremely sensitive to essential oils, rabbits and cats among them. I would assume since fish essentially ‘breathe’ the water, the oils killed them. Fish are very sensitive to environmental things. Sorry for your loss – i wouldn’t be afraid of the oils, but i would keep them well away from the fish.

  47. I am curious about the outcome of your friends story you posted above. My cat is currently experiencing the same toxicity from the same product. Had been on an Iv for two days and spent the night in the hospital. He’s home now and I bathed him to wash off the residual shampoo that I used on him over a week ago. However, I still smell the essential oils of clove, thyme and lemongrass. I washed him with a natural dish soap, but it is still strong on him and my hands. Does this mean there is still oil on him? Enough to relapse his toxicity? My husband says it’s just the odor/scent, but I assume that means the oils are still on his fur. Your friend bathed 4 times and I want to confirm that the odor was gone after that many times? Because he’s still cleaning himself and I’m terrified he’s just ingesting more oil that I stirred up by bathing him again, even if it was with the dish soap. Thanks for your help.

  48. Kimberly

    I use BioPel natural pest control products. I love them, and have never had any issue with any of them. I use the spray, and the leave-in conditioner. My pomeranian has NEVER had any fleas or ticks. I spray or rub the conditioner on him before we go out, and it has worked great, smells like lemon, and also has diatomaceous earth in it. I also use diatomaceous earth on his food to kill any internal parasites, or keep them away. The spray is also safe around food and water.

    Here is the website, but I have also purchased them on Amazon. https://www.innovetpet.com/collections/biopel-natural-pest-control Highly, highly recommend. It’s the only kind I will ever use now. I had a horrible reaction personally to the Sentry “natural” one mentioned many years ago, and found this, and never will use anything else. I have also in the past just rubbed food grade DE all over my pets fur too, but the BioPel products are fantastic.

  49. Jeannie archambeault

    Well,I don’t rub nothing on my dogs or cats but I’m using my oils in my mister,defused.so,don’t rub them on your pets.its in the air so it keeps spiders,ants n fleas away from there area.

  50. There are several essential oils that are safe and very effective for dogs as well as other animals. That said, I personally wouldn’t use any EOs on cats. As several other comments have stressed, oil quality is absolutely vital and it’s important to dilute them correctly.

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  57. Usually, it’s enough to monitor your pet’s skin regularly and after every walk. So no need to do some extra oil-buying-type of things

  58. Great information. Everybody raves about essential oils and how healthy they are. I had no idea that they could be dangerous for my pets. I always figured that using something that was all natural would be the best thing for me and for my pets.

    Thank you for posting this, now I know that the best thing to do is check with my vet before using something on my pet or even in my home as that can be unsafe for pets as well. Thanks again, hopefully your blog post will reach a lot of pet owners and keep a lot of pets safe!
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  61. Great article! Thanks for letting us know that essential oils are not good for the health of dogs and cats.

  62. I did not know that essential oils are dangerous for pets. Thanks for letting me know this useful information. I won’t make this mistake in my entire life and I will inform rest of my friends.
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  63. Thank you for this wonderful statement of facts.

  64. I was a little worried when I read this article, I have to review the oil I used until now

  65. I have been using neem oil as an flea and tick deterrent. I guess I should be more wary on using organic oils from now on. Thank you for sharing this.

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  67. I don’t think essential oils is dangerous for your cat until you read your article!

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