A review of web and social media sites selling and promoting essential oils for the well-being of pets.
Compilation of articles/
21.11.24
Due to the proliferation of misleading and dangerous information on most social media and some web sites, I have been asked to update my old newsgroup email from 2001 on this subject.
I have no problem with the use of the appropriate essential oils on animals for the appropriate condition. For example, the use of certain oils to disinfect a wound may be fine, but to not consider other issues associated with the use of powerful fragrances is bad. For example, is the animal intended for breeding where fragrances could block their olfactory sense and that of potential mates? Is a dog a hunter that relies on its sense of smell, or a cat a ratter that needs its sense of smell? Are other animals or birds in the vicinity that may be adversely affected?
Short term use for a specific problem may be fine but routine use may not be.
The other issue that I have noticed is the numbers of animal therapists that do not say what training they have had on using essential oils on animals. “Long experience” is not acceptable when dealing with issues of safety as often the numbers or species treated by an individual may be too low to be able to draw sound conclusions.
If a therapist does not say what their training is I would be wary of their products or suggestions. If they seem to be promoting oils of the multi level marketing companies then I would be even more suspicious of their lack of accurate knowledge.
You frequently see “you should consult a veterinarian before using essential oils”. Yet most such professionals have no knowledge of the subject, or have been on courses run by people with no or poor training on using essential oils on animals.
Many essential oil and animal products suppliers give the same uses for specific oils that are exactly the same as advised for humans. This indicates they have taken the descriptions from aromatherapy books taking no account of the huge differences between animals and humans.
After checking some marketing sites I noted:
1. Many are selling essential oils containing synthetic chemicals but without saying that.
2. Many are selling “pure essential oils” at such low prices they cannot possibly be genuine.
3. Many do not give what is in their oil blends.
4. Some sprays contain alcohol that may cause eye irritation in an animal.
5. Many make claims for what essential oils will do but give no references to be able to check if this is correct.
This is particularly noticeable on web sites promoting essential oils to treat birds.
All the above makes using these products safely on animals questionable.
-----------------------------------------
Now some specific claims made along with my evaluation of them.
KEY:
Distributor claims in black.
My comments in green.
“It is therefore essential to always consult a veterinarian trained in aromatherapy” This is just a 'cover my back' statement. There are very few vets that have taken a sound animal aromatherapy course, frequently they are just distributors of multi level marketing companies.
“Pure essential oils are distilled from plants as subtle volatile liquid, the life-force",
Marketing hype. Any 'life force' in plants is not to be found in cooked, essential oils.
"the regenerating and oxygenating immune defence properties of plants"
Any oxygen in essential oils has a negative effect on them by creating dangerous skin sensitising chemicals. In addition, plants use a variety of chemicals for defence not just their essential oils.
"Shelf life of pure essential oils is a minimum of 200 years"
This is VERY DANGEROUS ADVICE. Many essential oils degrade after 6 months or so and form substances harmful to the skin.
"as shown by the oils retrieved in King Tut's Tomb".
Essential oils were NOT retrieved, only aromatic unguents made with infused plant material.
"Essential oil frequencies range anywhere from 50 MHZ to 340 MHZ".
This is old invented fake science designed to lure the gullible.
"Every molecule of essential oils have the ability to:
increase oxygenation of the cell by 21%; Nothing but lies
take nutrients into the cells; Nothing but lies
remove toxins from the cells; Nothing but lies
increase the immune system within the body". Some might, but certainly not "every molecule."
"some constituents, such as aldehydes found in lavender and chamomile are antimicrobial and calming. Eugenol, found in cinnamon and clove, is antiseptic and stimulating. Ketones, found in lavender, hyssop and patchouli, stimulate cell regeneration and liquefy mucous. Phenols, found in oregano and thyme oil, are highly antimicrobial". This is all very faulty theoretical chemistry, as pointed out by other articles in my articles archives.
“I start summer with a good Liver cleanse in spring, so that the skin does not need to work hard clearing out toxins, making it more vulnerable to irritants. I offer essential oils of Carrot seed, or Juniper berry, Grapefruit, and Seaweed.” These oils will not work on the liver if used externally.
“Many essential oils are bug repellent”. In fact most are not. Those that are can be specific to which bugs they will repel. This is why aromatic plants can be subject to all kinds of pests. One oil may deter one type of insect but not have any effect on a different type. There is no such thing as an essential oil that can deal with all pests.
“Even when making a fly or flea spray, if you offer the oils so your animals can choose, you will get better results. Apart from that, how much more pleasant it must be for your horse or dog to smell good to himself.” This is really stupid, their lives revolve around smell and could be a way to stop them breeding. Offering oils for animals to “choose” is also unreliable. A horse will happily munch on a peppermint candy but that does not mean the oil is going to fix a problem, it just means they associate the smell with the candy they like.
"Research the constituents of the essential oil and consult with an Aromatherapist or Natural Animal Health Practitioner before you use it". Most aromatherapists are not trained in animal aromatherapy and thus do not have a clue on these issues. I attended a lecture given by two "qualified" animal aromatherapists. They were telling people to rub benzoin oil onto the paws of a dog to "detoxify its liver". These people had no idea that benzoin essential oil does not exist, or that benzoin is a terrible sensitizing agent in humans let alone on dogs. So the recommendation by this distributor is simply to cover-their-back.
"PLEASE do not just start applying oils to your cat, especially if they are not therapeutic grade". Marketinghogwash there is no such definition of what makes an essential oil “therapeutic grade” Adulterated oils were/are widely sold using this definition.
"Cats need just a fraction of an amount of essential oils that a dog would". Not true, even small amounts of applied tea tree oil have poisoned certain breeds of dogs.
“I combine essential oils that cool, repel bugs and calm skin, add them to a bucket of water and slosh on liberally”. No essential oils cool the skin, this is a long held fallacy. A fundamental issue these people do not get is that you cannot mix essential oils in water. All that happens is the oil forms small droplets that will reassemble into a film of undiluted oil.
“A few drops of lemongrass hydrosol in a bowl of water for your dog to drink. This inhibits fleas and mosquitoes”. A hydrosol is mostly water and has a different chemical composition to the essential oil. It also contains only a tiny amount of oil. So being further diluted I have my doubts this will work. In addition, so called 'artisan produced' hydrosols can be full of viable micro organisms that can cause acute illness. So unless a supplier can guarantee the product has undergone microbiological testing, or has a preservative, giving hydrosols to an animal to consume is risky.
“Essential oils have a great potential to overwhelm a dog's system and cause him to become allergic”. The skin of a dog is far thinner than humans and so the oil could causes skin sensitisation which is nothing to do with“overwhelming a dog's system”.
“Please note that undiluted essential oils should never be used on cats”. There is little reliable safety information for essential oils used on cats. Such use could cause more harm than good.
Various recipes:The biggest error I find is telling people to mix essential oils into water. Even if first diluted in a gel base, once mixed with water, they will separate into oil and water. This can only be done with the use of a surfactant which is never mentioned by such people.
“Peppermint oil: just the smell is cooling, especially good for dry irritated summer coughs, also as a body coolant after work, there is nothing like peppermint hydrosol for heat stroke”. This is wrong and dangerous, peppermint oil does NOT cool the skin and will not cure heat stroke.
“Lemongrass Insect repellent, especially good against mosquitoes” No evidence provided. “cooling”, it is NOT. “(dilute well before using on sun-exposed skin)” Never use this oil on sun exposed skin.
“Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): skin soothing, anti-irritant, bug repellent”. There is no such thing as an all embracing bug repellent, it depends on which oil and which bugs.
“Avoid spraying such products directly in the vicinity of birds and ensure that they are not exposed to excessive amounts of these scents.” One of the few bits of good advice that I have seen.
Summary:
In the case of dogs, It has been shown that the enzymes which influence the bioavailability of drugs and other substances vary enormously among the different breeds. Therefore, when using essential oils on dogs the results will be unpredictable and potentially harmful. As both dogs and cats tend to groom themselves by licking their fur, the ingestion of any externally applied essential oils is guaranteed. What any effects or side effects might be will depend on the volume of oil ingested and the oil/s and on the metabolic pathways of the particular breed of dog or cat. Some will have no problem while others can be poisoned.
The skin of dogs and cats can absorb substances far more readily than humans. While the volumes of oil absorbed this way will be relatively low, it adds to the volume they will absorb via licking their fur and paws. If expressed bergamot oil or lime oil for example, were used on an animal with thin hair, and it was running around in the bright sunlight, the chances of photo sensitization skin reaction are high. If the animal got even a smear of expressed citrus oils on their nose, then severe skin irritation or even burns are a possibility.
Animal aromatherapists also use essential oils on which there is not a hint of human safety data and on which there is a good deal of oil trade suspicion about their authenticity. Seaweed absolute is about the best example. Several analysts have told me they have never seen a genuine sample of this material. The therapeutic claims are based on the herbal and food use of seaweeds. The claimed effects on animals are never published in veterinary publications, nor as far as I know are they consistently documented or appraised.
Beware of sites that link to aromatherapy organisations. Rarely do these bodies validate courses on animal aromatherapy but their individual therapists may run such courses without official recognition.
On many social media and marketing sites the main objective is to make cash, not to provide good information. The validity of the claims made is rarely checked by people that use them.
I am certain many of these animal aromatherapists are good caring healers, but their lack of real knowledge on what they use and how is mind boggling. However, they also have this dreadful attitude that their teachers are such holistic gurus they are not to be questioned.
A few references
Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Knight, M.J. & Villar, David. Vet Human Toxicol 36(2): April 1994, p139-142.
Melaleuca oil toxicosis have been reported by veterinarians to the National Animal Poison Control Center when the oil was applied to dogs and cats. In most cases, the oil was used to treat dermatologic conditions at inappropriate high doses. Villar D, Knight M J, Hansen S R, Buck W B. PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE. PMID: 8197716.
Report on poisoning in three cats treated with undiluted tea tree oil. Bischoff and Guale. J. Diagn. Invest. 10: 208-210 (1998).
Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats. han SA, McLean MK, Slater MR. Khan SA, et al. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Jan 1;244(1)
Adverse reactions from essential oil-containing natural flea products exempted from Environmental Protection Agency regulations in dogs and cats. doi/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00780.x
@ 2024 aromamedical.org
I have no problem with the use of the appropriate essential oils on animals for the appropriate condition. For example, the use of certain oils to disinfect a wound may be fine, but to not consider other issues associated with the use of powerful fragrances is bad. For example, is the animal intended for breeding where fragrances could block their olfactory sense and that of potential mates? Is a dog a hunter that relies on its sense of smell, or a cat a ratter that needs its sense of smell? Are other animals or birds in the vicinity that may be adversely affected?
Short term use for a specific problem may be fine but routine use may not be.
The other issue that I have noticed is the numbers of animal therapists that do not say what training they have had on using essential oils on animals. “Long experience” is not acceptable when dealing with issues of safety as often the numbers or species treated by an individual may be too low to be able to draw sound conclusions.
If a therapist does not say what their training is I would be wary of their products or suggestions. If they seem to be promoting oils of the multi level marketing companies then I would be even more suspicious of their lack of accurate knowledge.
You frequently see “you should consult a veterinarian before using essential oils”. Yet most such professionals have no knowledge of the subject, or have been on courses run by people with no or poor training on using essential oils on animals.
Many essential oil and animal products suppliers give the same uses for specific oils that are exactly the same as advised for humans. This indicates they have taken the descriptions from aromatherapy books taking no account of the huge differences between animals and humans.
After checking some marketing sites I noted:
1. Many are selling essential oils containing synthetic chemicals but without saying that.
2. Many are selling “pure essential oils” at such low prices they cannot possibly be genuine.
3. Many do not give what is in their oil blends.
4. Some sprays contain alcohol that may cause eye irritation in an animal.
5. Many make claims for what essential oils will do but give no references to be able to check if this is correct.
This is particularly noticeable on web sites promoting essential oils to treat birds.
All the above makes using these products safely on animals questionable.
-----------------------------------------
Now some specific claims made along with my evaluation of them.
KEY:
Distributor claims in black.
My comments in green.
“It is therefore essential to always consult a veterinarian trained in aromatherapy” This is just a 'cover my back' statement. There are very few vets that have taken a sound animal aromatherapy course, frequently they are just distributors of multi level marketing companies.
“Pure essential oils are distilled from plants as subtle volatile liquid, the life-force",
Marketing hype. Any 'life force' in plants is not to be found in cooked, essential oils.
"the regenerating and oxygenating immune defence properties of plants"
Any oxygen in essential oils has a negative effect on them by creating dangerous skin sensitising chemicals. In addition, plants use a variety of chemicals for defence not just their essential oils.
"Shelf life of pure essential oils is a minimum of 200 years"
This is VERY DANGEROUS ADVICE. Many essential oils degrade after 6 months or so and form substances harmful to the skin.
"as shown by the oils retrieved in King Tut's Tomb".
Essential oils were NOT retrieved, only aromatic unguents made with infused plant material.
"Essential oil frequencies range anywhere from 50 MHZ to 340 MHZ".
This is old invented fake science designed to lure the gullible.
"Every molecule of essential oils have the ability to:
increase oxygenation of the cell by 21%; Nothing but lies
take nutrients into the cells; Nothing but lies
remove toxins from the cells; Nothing but lies
increase the immune system within the body". Some might, but certainly not "every molecule."
"some constituents, such as aldehydes found in lavender and chamomile are antimicrobial and calming. Eugenol, found in cinnamon and clove, is antiseptic and stimulating. Ketones, found in lavender, hyssop and patchouli, stimulate cell regeneration and liquefy mucous. Phenols, found in oregano and thyme oil, are highly antimicrobial". This is all very faulty theoretical chemistry, as pointed out by other articles in my articles archives.
“I start summer with a good Liver cleanse in spring, so that the skin does not need to work hard clearing out toxins, making it more vulnerable to irritants. I offer essential oils of Carrot seed, or Juniper berry, Grapefruit, and Seaweed.” These oils will not work on the liver if used externally.
“Many essential oils are bug repellent”. In fact most are not. Those that are can be specific to which bugs they will repel. This is why aromatic plants can be subject to all kinds of pests. One oil may deter one type of insect but not have any effect on a different type. There is no such thing as an essential oil that can deal with all pests.
“Even when making a fly or flea spray, if you offer the oils so your animals can choose, you will get better results. Apart from that, how much more pleasant it must be for your horse or dog to smell good to himself.” This is really stupid, their lives revolve around smell and could be a way to stop them breeding. Offering oils for animals to “choose” is also unreliable. A horse will happily munch on a peppermint candy but that does not mean the oil is going to fix a problem, it just means they associate the smell with the candy they like.
"Research the constituents of the essential oil and consult with an Aromatherapist or Natural Animal Health Practitioner before you use it". Most aromatherapists are not trained in animal aromatherapy and thus do not have a clue on these issues. I attended a lecture given by two "qualified" animal aromatherapists. They were telling people to rub benzoin oil onto the paws of a dog to "detoxify its liver". These people had no idea that benzoin essential oil does not exist, or that benzoin is a terrible sensitizing agent in humans let alone on dogs. So the recommendation by this distributor is simply to cover-their-back.
"PLEASE do not just start applying oils to your cat, especially if they are not therapeutic grade". Marketinghogwash there is no such definition of what makes an essential oil “therapeutic grade” Adulterated oils were/are widely sold using this definition.
"Cats need just a fraction of an amount of essential oils that a dog would". Not true, even small amounts of applied tea tree oil have poisoned certain breeds of dogs.
“I combine essential oils that cool, repel bugs and calm skin, add them to a bucket of water and slosh on liberally”. No essential oils cool the skin, this is a long held fallacy. A fundamental issue these people do not get is that you cannot mix essential oils in water. All that happens is the oil forms small droplets that will reassemble into a film of undiluted oil.
“A few drops of lemongrass hydrosol in a bowl of water for your dog to drink. This inhibits fleas and mosquitoes”. A hydrosol is mostly water and has a different chemical composition to the essential oil. It also contains only a tiny amount of oil. So being further diluted I have my doubts this will work. In addition, so called 'artisan produced' hydrosols can be full of viable micro organisms that can cause acute illness. So unless a supplier can guarantee the product has undergone microbiological testing, or has a preservative, giving hydrosols to an animal to consume is risky.
“Essential oils have a great potential to overwhelm a dog's system and cause him to become allergic”. The skin of a dog is far thinner than humans and so the oil could causes skin sensitisation which is nothing to do with“overwhelming a dog's system”.
“Please note that undiluted essential oils should never be used on cats”. There is little reliable safety information for essential oils used on cats. Such use could cause more harm than good.
Various recipes:The biggest error I find is telling people to mix essential oils into water. Even if first diluted in a gel base, once mixed with water, they will separate into oil and water. This can only be done with the use of a surfactant which is never mentioned by such people.
“Peppermint oil: just the smell is cooling, especially good for dry irritated summer coughs, also as a body coolant after work, there is nothing like peppermint hydrosol for heat stroke”. This is wrong and dangerous, peppermint oil does NOT cool the skin and will not cure heat stroke.
“Lemongrass Insect repellent, especially good against mosquitoes” No evidence provided. “cooling”, it is NOT. “(dilute well before using on sun-exposed skin)” Never use this oil on sun exposed skin.
“Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): skin soothing, anti-irritant, bug repellent”. There is no such thing as an all embracing bug repellent, it depends on which oil and which bugs.
“Avoid spraying such products directly in the vicinity of birds and ensure that they are not exposed to excessive amounts of these scents.” One of the few bits of good advice that I have seen.
Summary:
In the case of dogs, It has been shown that the enzymes which influence the bioavailability of drugs and other substances vary enormously among the different breeds. Therefore, when using essential oils on dogs the results will be unpredictable and potentially harmful. As both dogs and cats tend to groom themselves by licking their fur, the ingestion of any externally applied essential oils is guaranteed. What any effects or side effects might be will depend on the volume of oil ingested and the oil/s and on the metabolic pathways of the particular breed of dog or cat. Some will have no problem while others can be poisoned.
The skin of dogs and cats can absorb substances far more readily than humans. While the volumes of oil absorbed this way will be relatively low, it adds to the volume they will absorb via licking their fur and paws. If expressed bergamot oil or lime oil for example, were used on an animal with thin hair, and it was running around in the bright sunlight, the chances of photo sensitization skin reaction are high. If the animal got even a smear of expressed citrus oils on their nose, then severe skin irritation or even burns are a possibility.
Animal aromatherapists also use essential oils on which there is not a hint of human safety data and on which there is a good deal of oil trade suspicion about their authenticity. Seaweed absolute is about the best example. Several analysts have told me they have never seen a genuine sample of this material. The therapeutic claims are based on the herbal and food use of seaweeds. The claimed effects on animals are never published in veterinary publications, nor as far as I know are they consistently documented or appraised.
Beware of sites that link to aromatherapy organisations. Rarely do these bodies validate courses on animal aromatherapy but their individual therapists may run such courses without official recognition.
On many social media and marketing sites the main objective is to make cash, not to provide good information. The validity of the claims made is rarely checked by people that use them.
I am certain many of these animal aromatherapists are good caring healers, but their lack of real knowledge on what they use and how is mind boggling. However, they also have this dreadful attitude that their teachers are such holistic gurus they are not to be questioned.
A few references
Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Knight, M.J. & Villar, David. Vet Human Toxicol 36(2): April 1994, p139-142.
Melaleuca oil toxicosis have been reported by veterinarians to the National Animal Poison Control Center when the oil was applied to dogs and cats. In most cases, the oil was used to treat dermatologic conditions at inappropriate high doses. Villar D, Knight M J, Hansen S R, Buck W B. PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE. PMID: 8197716.
Report on poisoning in three cats treated with undiluted tea tree oil. Bischoff and Guale. J. Diagn. Invest. 10: 208-210 (1998).
Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats. han SA, McLean MK, Slater MR. Khan SA, et al. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Jan 1;244(1)
Adverse reactions from essential oil-containing natural flea products exempted from Environmental Protection Agency regulations in dogs and cats. doi/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00780.x
@ 2024 aromamedical.org
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