Good intentions, marketing, and misinformation have led to the improper use of essential oils for dogs, which is a dangerous movement for pet owners. Many people mistakenly believe that since essential oils are natural, they are safe. However, this is a misconception. Plants produce oils in minuscule amounts for specific purposes such as communication, reproduction, and protection. To produce more than a few drops of essential oil, it takes a significant amount of plant matter to distill, express, or extract the oil.
For instance, it requires 16 lbs of peppermint leaves to make one ounce of peppermint essential oil. This means that one drop of a plant’s essential oil is more than 75 times stronger than its herbal counterpart, making essential oils an extreme form of natural medicine whose potency should not be ignored.Safety is a significant concern, especially when using essential oils internally or in their undiluted state. While there are exceptions, such as for certain health conditions like cancer and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MRSA), where treatment with essential oils may be appropriate, advising people to give their dogs daily internal doses of undiluted essential oils is not only irresponsible but also dangerous.
All animals and humans react differently to essential oils, and caution is necessary. Robert Tisserand, a master aromatherapist and author of ‘Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals’, warns that ingestion can lead to various risks including gastric irritation, interactions with conventional medications, and fetal damage in pregnancy. Long-term use may also lead to accumulation in the body, possibly resulting in systemic toxicity.Tissue damage is one of the reasons why you should never allow your dog to take undiluted essential oils. For example, adding essential oils to a dog’s water is a common mistake. The oils sit on top of the water, and when the dog drinks, they can irritate the lining of the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. Prolonged ingestion can lead to headaches, nausea, vomiting, and even kidney and liver damage. Symptoms of toxicity include diarrhea, excess salivation (drooling), and lethargy. These symptoms may appear over time, so by the time they are noticed, significant harm may have already been done to the dog.
External use of undiluted essential oils on a dog’s skin is also risky, with a high likelihood of skin sensitivity, inflammation, or damage. If the dog licks the oil off its fur, it will also receive an internal dose. Therefore, it is crucial to always dilute essential oils before using them on your dog in any way.
Essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil to separate the oils into tiny particles, ensuring the most healing benefit with the smallest dosage. Good carrier oils include almond or apricot kernel oil.
For dogs, I recommend a 0.5% to 1% dilution, which means adding only 3 to 6 drops to an ounce of a carrier oil. This is important due to the safety issues surrounding essential oils. The FDA has classified certain essential oils as ‘generally recognized as safe’ (GRAS). However, manufacturers’ claims that GRAS status makes them safe for ingestion and undiluted use can give consumers a false sense of security, as the GRAS rating does not stipulate quantity or safety levels. Additionally, FDA approval does not equate to safety, as evidenced by the over 100,000 deaths per year from adverse side effects of FDA-approved drugs. The FDA also allows toxic substances in personal care products. Grading of oils is misleading, as terms like ‘High grade,’ ‘Low grade,’ ‘Aromatherapy grade,’ ‘Food grade,’ and ‘Therapeutic grade’ are merely descriptions, not regulated classifications. For therapeutic benefit and holistic care, you need pure, unadulterated, organic or unsprayed oils from reputable essential oil producers. Unfortunately, there is no authentic grading system for essential oils. Labels like ‘Grade A’ are merely marketing terms from the companies selling the oils and do not hold any regulatory meaning. The term ‘therapeutic grade’ has become a marketing buzzword, even though it originally identified oils for therapeutic purposes. Reputable companies now use these terms to compete in the market. When choosing essential oils, be cautious of companies claiming their oils are the best. Essential oils are natural products that vary from batch to batch and location. Factors like moisture, soil quality, and extraction process can affect their quality. For example, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil grown in Oregon near the sea is quite different from the same species grown at high elevations in France. Purity is crucial when using essential oils for health. Certified Master Aromatherapist Kristen Leigh Bell, author of ‘Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals,’ suggests looking for small companies that distill their own oils or have direct relationships with the farms that do.When purchasing essential oils, it’s crucial to know their country of origin, growing conditions, elevation, and extraction methods. Ensure the oils are stored in dark amber or blue glass to preserve their quality. Check that the label includes the Latin names, lot, and batch numbers for traceability and authenticity.
Each essential oil has a specific price range, which should vary based on the type of oil. Be cautious if the price is significantly lower than the average, as it may indicate adulteration. Choose a company with a strong reputation for customer service. They should be able to provide gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) test results to verify the oil’s purity. Remember, the essential oil industry operates on a ‘buyer beware’ principle due to the lack of regulatory standards. It’s essential to conduct thorough research before purchasing. If you’re new to essential oils or unsure about their safe usage, consult a certified aromatherapist or holistic practitioner with extensive experience in using oils with animals. Whether you’re using, selling, or creating products with essential oils, safety is paramount. Learn how to use them correctly to avoid harm. Essential oils should only be used internally or undiluted when absolutely necessary for specific health conditions, and even then, only under the guidance of a certified herbalist or experienced holistic vet. While they can be beneficial for both dogs and humans, misuse can lead to harm.
