From providing quality foods to ensuring a comfortable lifestyle, pet owners have always wanted to be the best guardian their lovely pets will ever have. And that’s why they never slack in giving their little friends whatever they think is best for them, this is a good intention nonetheless but sometimes the outcome from the supposedly treat turns out bad because they end up giving their pets what will harm them instead, though out of ignorance.
Coming to things like essential oil for dogs, many have been confused on which is best for their pup, and fair enough some have been able to ask some questions on the Internet regarding eucalyptus oil for their dogs, so today we are going to look at one of these questions which says, Is burning eucalyptus oil safe for dogs? and I believe that you are here because you also need an answer to this question, so keep reading for i have given you some satisfying answers regarding everything you need to know about dogs and their safety around eucalyptus oil. Before we go further, let me explain what eucalyptus oil is.
What Is Eucalyptus Oil?
Eucalyptus oil was originated from Australia, it is a type of essential oil that is extracted from eucalyptus tree, the leaves to be precise, through a distillation or the cold pressing formula. Eucalyptus oil has this minty refreshing cool scents that makes one feel relieved from any kind of congestion right through the nose to the lungs.
What Is Eucalyptus Oil Used For?
Eucalyptus oil has been used in the past for different purposes, it has been known as cough and cold remedy, some add it as an ingredient when making pain relief creams and ointment. Overall it serves as a medicinal product right from the old days when they used it to heal wounds and kill germs. It is also an insect repellent which can protect our dogs from mosquitoes and other harmful insects.
Is Eucalyptus Oil Safe For Dogs?
For the love and good intentions which I know you have for your canine friend the answer to this question is NO, eucalyptus oil are toxic and therefore is not safe for dogs.
Eucalyptus plant contains eucalyptol which can cause liver or kidney damage, and this is found in eucalyptus oil making it as well harmful and dangerous to dogs when ingested.
Ingestion of eucalyptus oil is toxic both on human and on pets, it doesn’t really matter the amount taken, so it’s not worth trying as they can lead to depression, seizure, diarrhea, vomiting when ingested.
Can My Dog Smell Eucalyptus Oil?
Many essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, citrus oil, peppermint are simply toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all cost. Your dog can smell it due to its sniffing habit but that doesn’t stop it from being harmful.
Eucalyptus oil is toxic both when ingested and when it is applied to the skin, it can cause contact dermatitis to the skin even when diffused. So it is better to keep it far away from home, because your pets can mistakenly come in contact with it.
Can Dogs Be Around Eucalyptus Candles?
That same reason that made eucalyptus oil harmful to dogs and can cause different health issues for them if ingested also means that eucalyptus candle can release fumes that can be harmful to dog’s respiratory system if inhaled in a large quantity. So this simply mean that anything eucalyptus whether oil, diffused or in candle form can still be toxic to dogs and for this reason they should be kept far away from them entirely.
Benefits Of Eucalyptus Oil
It was discovered that eucalyptus oil has many benefits and can be used to cure some common diseases, it is believed to be filled with antioxidant and antiseptic properties which works amazingly well. Here are some of the benefits of eucalyptus oil listed below:
1. Clears Respiratory Issues
This is one of the best remedy for sore throat, cold and asthma, as it opens up the airways by breaking down the mucus. It has been referred to as one of the best homemade decongestant and cough reliever.
2. Chases Bugs Away
Mosquitoes and other insects carry about diseases that are harmful from one person to another no wonder why everyone is looking for what could wipe them away, and the use of oil from lemon eucalyptus does that job for you. This is preferred to most popular repellents that are made with strong chemicals which can be harmful to lives.
3. Encourages Oral Health
Many mouth wash products contains eucalyptus oil as one of their most effective ingredient because it is an antibacterial that helps to reduce dental plague and bad breath.
4. Relieves Joint Pain And Sore Muscles
Eucalyptus oil is present in various arthritis and sprains, it has anti-inflammatory properties that helps in healing any bone related diseases.
5. Decontaminates wounds
A diluted eucalyptus oil helps in fast healing of wounds and cuts, It fights inflammation and prevents infection through the help of the antifungal and antibacterial that it possesses.
6. It Heals Nasal Congestion
A blocked nostrils can be relieved by inhaling steams from eucalyptus oil, this oil clears the congestion by reacting with mucous membrane.
7. Remedies cough and cold
So many cough medication today have eucalyptus oil as one of the most active ingredients in them, and for many years this oil has also served as a relieve for coughs.
8. Gives Fresh Breath
Eucalyptus oil can serve as a mint, it has high concentration of antibacterial that can fight against germs that causes mouth odor, this is the key reason why most of the toothpastes have eucalyptus oil in them.
9. Lowers Blood Sugar
The evidence behind this claim is not yet proved, but experts believe that it can play a role of diabetes treatment. Not up until it is confirmed do not make eucalyptus oil your main hope to get a cure as a diabetic patient.
What Happens If My Dog Inhales Eucalyptus Oil?
Making researches about a new food before giving it to your pets is essential to their overall well-being, this will let you know if it will be safe for them or not. Eucalyptus oil has many side effects on your dogs when inhaled, and that’s what we are going to discuss here.
* It can cause upset in the dog’s neurological system and stomach if swallowed.
* It can result to caustic burns when applied directly to the skin, and then it turns into a very painful long term skin allergy if not attended to immediately.
* Diffused eucalyptus oil leads to serious behavioral change in dogs due to irritations suffered from the scents coming out of the oil.
Signs Of Eucalyptus Oil Poisoning In Dogs
Eucalyptus oil can turn to poisoning in dogs if ingested in excess, This is a neurotoxin and can cause different neurological symptoms as well. If symptoms persist don’t hesitate to contact the vet, further delay can lead to damage.
Below are some of the symptoms you can see if your dog has eucalyptus oil poisoning, they might not show up early enough so you have to be observant.
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Seizure
• Vomiting
• Loss Of Appetite
• Burning in mouth
• Muscle weakness
• Excessive drooling
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Shallow breath
• Itching
These are some of the symptoms you can see when your dog has eucalyptus oil poisoning, take action immediately you start noticing any of them, else it gets more serious by day.
Which Essential Oils Are Safe For Dogs?
While some essential oils are dogs’ enemies some actually go well with them while taken in moderation, but you still have to conduct proper search on any of them before giving it to them for the first time to avoid negative reactions, take a look at this seven below;
• Citronella
• Cornmint
• Rosemary
• Chamomile
• Bergamot
• Frankincense
• Geranium
Summary
Be mindful of what you give to your pups all in the name of giving them a treat, note that eucalyptus oil whether diluted or not are not safe for your dogs, the whole risks are not worth it so it is better you abstain from using it on your dogs.
