Essential Oils Harmful to Pets?!

Are essential oil diffusers toxic to your pet? Veterinarian Dr. Karen Halligan joins The Doctors to answer this important question.

About The Doctors:

The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon and OB-GYN Dr. Nita Landry.

The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Lamar Odom, Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June, and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors’ Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier.

Now in its eighth season, The Doctors celebrity guests have included Academy Award Winners Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Marisa Tomei; reality stars from Teen Mom and The Real Housewives, as well as Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Melissa Rivers, Sharon Osbourne, Tim Gunn and Amber Rose; actors Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Julie Bowen, Patricia Heaton, Chevy Chase, Kristin Davis, Lou Ferrigno, Harrison Ford, Grace Gealey, Cedric the Entertainer, Valerie Harper, Debra Messing, Chris O’Donnell, Betty White, Linda Gray, Fran Drescher, Emmy Rossum, Roseanne Barr, Valerie Bertinelli, Suzanne Somers; athletes Magic Johnson, Apolo Ohno and Danica Patrick; musicians Tim McGraw, Justin Bieber, Clint Black, LL Cool J, Nick Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Paula Abdul, Gloria Gaynor, La Toya Jackson, Barry Manilow, Bret Michaels, Gene Simmons and Jordin Sparks; and celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Guy Fieri and Curtis Stone.

[mummler]

My sister's cat was getting sick and they didn't know why and it turned out to be the cinnamon oil in her diffuser. Thank you for putting this on YouTube.

[BUDDAH.K]

I find it hard to find answers nowadays.. one specialist says ok (certain types) the other says no.. all accredited professionals and they all disagree and someone like me is getting nothing out of it but more n more confusion

[JackieEco]

After I started using essential oils - NO diffuser - sometimes just a couple drops at the bottom of my shower, my 6 year-old cat started getting MAJOR SEIZURES. I got rid of ALL the essential oils!!!

[CopperHueCollectionsChippewa]

I personally do not believe all essential oils are bad for dogs. App always use diffusers and my pets never had seizures or any other health issues due to them. I do believe certain oils could be toxic as like cinnamon because cinnamon is toxic to their stomachs. Commercial room sprays or more toxic than anything natural. I can’t even use commercial room sprays because it triggers my asthma. Since I’ve been making my own natural ones I haven’t had any issues.

[sotirialisa]

I ordered essential oils and a burner. After some hours I panicked that it might be harmful BUT I ASKED MY VET. I didn't watch random videos. She said that it's okay but it suld be out of reach. I'll have my room ventilated and dilute my oil. My family dog was always fine with it. These symptoms are extreme and it might happen if you overuse them. Just like a commenter said below chemical air fresheners are worse or at least even more "fake"

[charlene]

My cat 20 yrs old got very sick when i used a duffuser to help me sleep. I wish i had known about the dangers. I had to out him to sleep. I m sure with his age he was not able to recover. I wish he was still here with me. I miss him so much

[owtsideperspective]

I have my diffuser under a window next to my front door and keep the room ventilated and my yorkie and Pittbull have never had any issues. In fact eucalyptus heavily diluted seems to help my pitbull's breathing

[isabella.amroyan]

I really love essential oils, I have countless amounts of little bottles. However, I keep them all in one drawer away from my cats reach. I keep my diffuser in the living room where my cat hangs out all day and now I feel so terrible that I could have harmed him! I’m definitely moving my diffuser far away from him so my little baby never gets hurt!

[skywinder]

Hmmm so far my pets cat & dog doesn't have any negative side effects. I never use diffuser, only burner and use only 2 - 3 drops for 5 hours tea candle life. I notice they seems more relaxed & remain calm.

[shalandriadiggles]

Use essential oils out of your pharmacy not the candle isle!!!! Always still dilute them with water. I would use them once on a small spot and see what happens.

[robertolson]

The essential oil room idea can still spread the diffused oils around the house if that room has central air ducts.

[nikkilovell]

Please do NOT believe everything you see on the doctors. Yes, they have valid points but do your own research. The purity greatly matters and the kind of essential oils you are using.

[ryanshelby]

It’s so sad. A cat drinks their owners lavendar oil and gets sick. But nobody bothers to check its chemical composition. The brand is everything! If the oil is not 100% pure, then you can’t blame the actual oil for your pets demise. Because it wasn’t really lavender oil! If the oil does not pass all purity tests, you can’t blame oil.

[ryanshelby]

Not once did they mention purity test! If an oil is only 50% what it says it is and 50% synthetic chemicals, that’s not a fair claim. It’s important to note that most oils on the market are not even real. I, and my clients, use 100% pure oils on our pets all the time, for years, and they’ve never gotten sick. They are as healthy as can be.

[miekwavesoundlab]

I use diffuser about 2-3 times week with only 2-3 drops in a cup of water to diffuser. Been doing this years. Got two indoor/outdoor cats. Is this bad?

[stevedoerr]

Please help! I’m raising 6 quail in my small apt and love essential oils, am I harming my quail by diffusing oils? Thx for any help/advice!

[vanity]

I believe this definitely. Please don’t use any oils with a pet.

[DeeDee-gpwz]

The quality is important. I bet the pets who were affected were exposed to cheap essential oils.

[LaImagined]

In Australia stores sell tea tree dog shampoo to get rid of fleas, odour and such, why would stores be selling tea tree products for pets when it would be harmful????

[theomz]

Oh lady please. You should win an award for your acting. Haha sure most are not falling for this line of bull. But yes some oils are not ok for pets and quality counts. But I guess frebreeze and airfreshners with chemicals are ok. Essential oils can help a lot of things....