Awesome life hacks by ANGRY ORANGE
The Do's and Don'ts of essential oils use for pet owners
by Tracy Davis
We all love essential oils. They smell absolutely delicious and, depending on the oil you choose, they can have various calming and relaxing effects. Some people use them in diffusers around the house, to give a pleasant scent in the home and get rid of any unwanted bad smells.
That’s great if you don’t share your living space with any pets, but if you’re a proud meowmy or doggo owner, how safe are these essential oils for your furry friends?
Our cute little pets have noses that are way more sensitive than ours, so what seems like a pleasant scent for us, could actually irritate them and even cause health issues. More so, ingesting the oil or direct contact with their fur or paws could lead to:
- Tremors (especially in cats)
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Respiratory problems
- Fatigue
- Drooling
Source: Unsplash
Here’s a little list of DO’s and DON’TS when it comes to mixing up pets and essential oils:
DO’S
1. Talk to your vet in advance about the possibility of using an essential oil in the house.
2. Keep your diffuser in an area your pet can’t reach, to make sure they don’t knock it over and lick it up. Preferably use it only in rooms the pet does not have access to or air the room thoroughly before letting them inside.
3. If they somehow breathe in the essential oil, take them immediately in an open space with fresh air.
4. If the oil got on their skin or fur, wash it right away.
5. Take the product with you to the vet, so that they can see exactly to what your pet was exposed.
6. You could find alternatives for essential oils that can be used safely around the house to eliminate bad smells and some are specifically designed to be used when you live with pets. Angry Orange offers various options of Pet Odor Eliminators or Enzyme Stain Removers that will keep your house smelling great and your pets safe and sound.
Source: Unsplash
DON’TS
1. This is the most important one! Don’t expose your fluffballs to any of these essential oils that are toxic for them: cinnamon, d-limonene, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, wintergreen, ylang ylang, anise, clove, thyme, juniper, yarrow or lavender.
2. If they somehow ingest the oils, don’t try to make them vomit as the essential oils could stick to their lungs or airways.
3. Don’t use essential oils directly on their fur to calm them or to treat any kind of skin issue they might have.
I know it’s a bit of a bummer to not be able to use essential oils around your pet, but their safety and well-being always comes first. Also, it doesn’t mean you can’t use them at all, you just have to be extra careful about your pets’ whereabouts, so he doesn’t come in contact with the oil or breathe it in too much.
Have you ever had any problems with your pet and essential oils?
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