An essential oil is a “concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.” They can be used to treat wounds, balance hormones, reduce anxiety, and as a scent for your home. They provide many good things for the human body which is why people use it as aromatherapy. It seems as if essential oils are holy grails for everything, but if you own any pets, you need to be careful. They can potentially kill them.

When buying essential oils, you need to make sure that it is 100% pure. Some brands will claim they are, but they will contain other substances that will harm animals. On the contrary, high- quality essential oils can do many great things for your pets. The oils can benefit them emotionally and physically.  The question is: Do I use them orally, inhaled, or topically? Always ask your pet’s veterinarian.

According to The Happy Cat Site, Lavender is terrible for animals when used orally. Lavender poisoning signs are nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. The chemical Linalool is what makes Lavender toxic. But because of this, it can be used as a flea repellent. However, it is not advised to be used because not all the batches of Lavender are consistent and may include too much Linalool which will cause it to irritate their skin. Lavender oil may only be used as aromatherapy.

The human body and animal body react to chemicals differently. When using aromatherapy, humans make the mistake of using too much essential oil. We seem to forget that animals have a stronger sense of smell. In order to avoid using too much, you have to use a high-quality diffuser that controls the amount of oil released into the atmosphere of your home.

Protect your pets.