How did the rumor get started?
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So many of you are struggling with the confusing, conflicting, and often controversial information when it comes to using essential oils safely, so I'd like to set the record straight.
As a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, people come to me when they want to know the truth about essential oils - and when it comes to using Tea Tree with your pets, you want to make sure you're getting the right information.
I can just tell you that Tea Tree is safe for dogs, but I'm actually going to show you how the rumor got started, links and all, and you can see if you agree with me or not...and I'll let you know which part of the rumor that I do agree with.
Skipping this information will keep you wondering "is Tea Tree essential oil really safe?" and potentially miss out on using a useful essential oil with your dog. Let's dig in... |
Tea Tree Essential Oil IS Safe for Dogs!
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I'm going to be as open as I can with you without throwing any of my peers under the bus. Yep, even professionals disagree sometimes!
I could list my aromatherapy credentials for you, but my credentials have nothing to do with knowing Tea Tree essential oils is safe for dogs. I believe anyone can read the evidence for themselves and conclude, like me, that Tea Tree essential oil is safe for dogs - as long as they look at the references!
I grew up with Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie - so I'm not one to ignore clues like reference citations.
The first quote (where this rumor got started) reads, "There are certain essential oils that should not be used with animals: one in particular is tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), which for some pets can cause poisoning and other serious health concerns [2, 3, 4]."
Notice the reference citations of "2, 3, and 4"
Citation 2 is a link to this page which states: “As little as 7 drops of 100% oil has resulted in severe poisoning, and applications of 10-20 mls of 100% oil have resulted in poisoning and death in both dogs and cats. Products containing tea tree oil concentrations less than 1-2% are generally considered non-toxic if used according to labeled directions.” [bold mine]
If you have my book or have followed this series on essential oils with pets, you'll have learned we need to dilute before exposing our dogs to essential oils - so 7 full, unconcentrated drops is too much! And 10-20ml is 2-4 teaspoons - is way too much, no matter how you're using it, even for humans! So I think we can all agree using that much of any essential oil is not cool!
And this citation does state a 1-2% dilution is not toxic, which is much closer to what my own recommendations are.
Citation 3 is a link to this page which states: “Tea tree oil and pets: Veterinary toxicologists have reported that large amounts of tea tree oil applied to the skin of cats and dogs caused poisoning. Symptoms have included muscle tremors, weakness, difficulty in walking, low body temperature, and excessive salivation. With pets, as with people, following label instructions is essential.” [bold mine]
We'll address labeling in a future episode, but did you catch the wording they used? "large amounts" and "applied to skin." Not "safe amounts."
So, what is the final citation - and which part do I agree with?
Citation 4 is a link to here which discusses that it is unsafe around cats - and this is the citation I do agree with!
This doesn't state it's unsafe for dogs, though.
So do these citations show the dangers of using Tea Tree essential oil with dogs?
To recap:
Quite honestly, using 7 drops - 4 teaspoons of any essential oil with your dog is not wise and can cause a wide variety of adverse reactions.
So what do you think - did "they" scare us away from using Tea Tree for no good reason? Or is the warning valid? I'd love to hear from you. |
If you'd like to download and print this info, scroll to find the yellow box and let me know where to send it!
These tips are just the beginning...go deeper with my book Using Essential Oils Safely with DOGS!
In upcoming episodes we'll continue to explore using essential oils safely with your dog and other pets, buuuuut if you don't want to wait you can grab my book, Using Essential Oils Safely With DOGS.
In this book, I've included safety profiles for 250 essential oils clearly marked, so you know which essential oils are safe to use with your dog and which ones to avoid.
You'll also find recipes designed specifically for use with dogs with the same detailed information I include inside Recipes Lab™ for humans, the essential oils best to use for the health issue, specific dilution, exactly how to use, and more...
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DISCLAIMER: You may have a serious health issue that requires medical attention. The information provided is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking care because of something you have read here. Read full disclaimer here.
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