Are essential oils safe for dogs?

My Opinion on Essential Oils for Dogs

As I progress through my course on essential oils for dogs, it’s becoming increasingly clear that these products should only be administered by trained professionals—specifically those with degrees in natural medicine from accredited institutions.

There is a significant lack of accessible information regarding the complexity of essential oils, the environmental impact of their production, and their potential health effects on dogs and cats.

Multi-level marketing has downplayed the risks of essential oils, compromised their purity, and contributed to environmental degradation. The widespread use of cheap essential oils in plug-in diffusers, candles, household cleaners, and body care products has undermined their reputation and diminished their place in natural medicine. In France, for example, essential oils are still only available in pharmacies due to safety concerns.

To be clear, I believe there is a time and place for essential oil use in complementary medicine. However, even after completing my course, I acknowledge that I am not qualified to recommend their use on pets and would never attempt to do so without first consulting a veterinarian with expertise in complementary therapies.

This opinion extends to the use of essential oils via diffusion. Since starting my course, I’ve eliminated all oil-based products from my home, including diffusers, cleaners, and candles. Instead, I use simple alternatives like castile soap. I still use a few products formulated for dogs with small amounts of essential oils, but only after carefully researching the origin, quality, and type of oil used to ensure safety.

In natural medicine, essential oils should be a last resort. They are the most potent form of natural therapy and have been compared to using chemotherapy to treat common ailments. All other natural options—herbs, targeted nutritional supplements, flower essences, and homeopathics—should be tried first. Essential oils should never be a standalone remedy but used alongside other therapies for synergistic benefits.

Key Learning Points:

• Essential oils can interact with existing medications and affect the efficacy of other treatments when improperly combined.
• While two oils may benefit the same organ, one may be harmful while the other is not, depending on the circumstances. Only a trained professional can determine which is appropriate.
• The production of essential oils is environmentally taxing. For instance, 70 rose petals are needed to produce one drop of rose oil, and 6,000 pounds of lemon balm are required for a single pound of its oil. Some plants used for oils, such as sandalwood, frankincense, and cedarwood, are now endangered.
• Essential oils, being lipids, can cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning that when your dog inhales them, they can directly affect the brain. This is why diffusion can cause neurological side effects like seizures or disorientation.

While some essential oils can be safely used in moderation, they should always be the last resort and combined with other therapies.

If you are confident in the origin, quality, potential contraindications, side effects, dosage, and safe administration of an essential oil, then feel free to incorporate it into your regimen. However, be extremely cautious about unqualified bloggers, influencers, or salespeople promoting oils. Always check for proper certification, expiration dates, and origin disclosure, and be mindful of the neurological risks associated with diffused oils.

I’ve had multiple conversations with customers whose dogs experienced impaired motor function, sudden seizures, disorientation, vomiting, and other symptoms. In many cases, the common factor was an essential oil diffuser used in the home. Essential oil toxicity is serious and can be life-threatening.