Essential Oils
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This toxin is considered to be a moderate risk. However, your pet's medical history, age, weight, and breed could put him/her at higher risk. It is advised that you contact whiskerDocs or your primary veterinarian for further guidance about any steps you may need to take to ensure your pet's safety. If you choose to, you may monitor your pet closely, but the onset or worsening of any of the below symptoms warrants a trip to the emergency room.
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Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen and ylang ylang, are poisonous to pets. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic. Essential oils are used for aromatherapy, reed diffusers, or potpourri, but are also commonly found in lotions, shampoos, and other body products and pose similar risks.
Other names:
Potpourri, aromatherapy oils
Toxic to:
Dogs and Cats
Symptoms:
Ingestion can cause pawing at the mouth, vomiting, retching, lack of appetite, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing and possibe organ damage. In cats especially, additional signs include behavior changes like hiding, drooling, stumbling or difficulty walking, hypothermia, tremors and coma.