Some oils, like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil, can cause serious health issues in dogs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and even liver failure if ingested. Burning candles or using diffusers can also release fumes that can be harmful to a dog's respiratory system if they are inhaled in large quantities.
“Scented candles are not necessarily bad for dogs to inhale, but just like some people there are certain animals that can be a bit more sensitive to smells,” says Dr. Pagan. “You should never apply or feed essential oils to an animal.”
Diffusing eucalyptus oil around dogs can also be harmful if it's used for a long period of time within a small space. Additionally, if your buddy has breathing problems, it's best to avoid diffusing essential oils of any type, as prolonged use can cause or worsen aspiration pneumonia.
Candles made using natural wax ingredients—such as beeswax, soy, and vegetables—may be a better bet for your dog. This is for two reasons. The first is that some types of wax can be dangerous to dogs if ingested—and we know some dogs will chew on anything they can get their paws on.
Candles can add to the ambiance and fragrance of your home. But many scented candles contain toxic chemicals that can harm dogs. Fragrances can cause an allergic reaction or irritate existing respiratory problems in dogs. If you burn candles, choose unscented candles made of soy, beeswax, or vegetable wax.
Some oils, like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil, can cause serious health issues in dogs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and even liver failure if ingested. Burning candles or using diffusers can also release fumes that can be harmful to a dog's respiratory system if they are inhaled in large quantities.
It's never a good idea for some pooches to be around candles, even if they're made with dog-friendly ingredients. “If your dog has a respiratory condition, such as seasonal allergies, bronchitis or asthma, it can be exacerbated by burning scented candles in the home,” explains Ostermeier.
Diluted lavender oil is generally considered safe for topical use on dogs. Lavender essential oil is extremely potent. Just like for humans, pure lavender essential oils should not be applied to the skin or ingested. Instead, they should be mixed with a carrier oil.
So, make sure your candle isn't positioned too close to a cage or tank so that your pets aren't over-exposed to the scent or heat. If your pet seems sensitive to fragrances, or if they have respiratory problems, try and keep candles in a separate room.
Some common essential oils that are considered particularly toxic include the following: Eucalyptus and tea tree oil – Ingestion can result in drowsiness, unsteadiness on the feet, confusion, coma and seizures. Severe poisoning in dogs and cats has occurred from skin application of concentrated tea tree oil.
If your dog does accidentally ingest eucalyptus oil, see your vet immediately or contact the animal poison centre. Some signs of essential oil toxicity in dogs include: Vomiting. Lethargy.
Whether applied topically or in oil diffusers, Eucalyptus oil irritates dogs, and you should avoid it. Pine oils extracted from the Scots pine naturally repel insects. Many people love them for spring cleaning. But they also have therapeutic uses.
Key takeaway. Lavender is toxic to dogs, especially when consumed. However, the scent can also cause respiratory symptoms in some dogs because they have a stronger sense of smell. Both the lavender plant and essential oils can be dangerous for your pet.
Key Takeaways. Lavender contains a small amount of linalool, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Mild exposure to lavender is not generally harmful and may help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Lavender poisoning is possible and may cause vomiting, reduced appetite, and other symptoms.
You and your pet won't be inhaling any harmful chemicals when burning soy, coconut, or beeswax candles. In addition, natural candles often have longer burn times than paraffin candles. Candles with cotton wicks: Not only do 100 percent cotton wicks burn better, but they are also much safer than other types of wicks.
Watch Out for Essential Oils - Many candles achieve their scent by mixing different essential oils. Unfortunately, certain essential oils in the air can be harmful to pets, causing vomiting, seizures, paralysis, and skin irritation.
Oils that are harmful to cats include, but are not limited to: wintergreen; sweet birch; citronella oils and candles; citrus (d-limonene); pine; ylang-ylang; peppermint; cinnamon; pennyroyal; clove; eucalyptus; tea tree (melaleuca); thyme; oregano; and lavender.
According to APCC, not necessarily. Using an oil diffuser for a short time period in a secured area—one that your dog or cat cannot access—is not likely to be an issue. However, if your pet has a history of breathing problems, it may be best to avoid using one altogether.
It's best to avoid diffusing essential oils around dogs and cats. In addition to inhalation exposure to potentially toxic essential oils, microdroplets of oils could collect on your pet's fur.
Keep oils out of reach. Essential oils can do significant damage to dogs when ingested. For this reason, it's recommended that any essential oils or diffusers be completely outside of your pup's reach. Ideally, try to keep them safely away in a cupboard or on a tall shelf.
One of my favorite types of candles are made from Soy. Although natural beeswax or any other 100% plant or vegetable waxes are also safe. 100% beeswax or other plant/vegetable waxes for example soy. Use safe essential oils for the scent.
Burning incense can put your pup at risk. That's because the smoke from incense can be harmful to your canine companion. Inhaling too much of this smoke can cause respiratory problems, including bronchitis and asthma.
While an essential oil can be perfectly safe for use in candles, we only recommend essential oils that smell pleasant when burned. Exposure to a flame is the cause of the unpleasant smell, so essential oils that are not recommended for use in candles may still be good candidates for wax melts and other applications.