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 dogs. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
Anything more than one or two peppermint plant leaves causes irritation of the mouth and nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, says Amber Karwacki, DVM and partner doctor at Heart + Paw veterinary clinics.
How safe are these essential oils for our pets? Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
Peppermint oil is toxic for dogs. Whether you're using an oil diffuser, applying it to their skin, or adding oil to their food, it's unfortunately harmful to our four-legged friends.
No. Peppermint oil is not safe for dogs, or other pets for that matter.
Mint can inhibit bacterial growth in his mouth and it is a natural flea repellent. The tasty treats containing mint are a great way to appease his palate, clean his mouth, and protect him from parasites all at the same time. Mint can also come in the form of an essential oil.
Some of the creams and shampoos, smell appealing to wildlife.) Castor, peppermint, and spearmint oils are odors that digging and burrowing animals dislike. (This can include groundhogs, mice, moles, rats, skunks, voles, and others.)
Peppermint oil is known for its calming effect. However, it may also cause some negative effects. The side effects of peppermint oil include rashes, headaches, dizziness, and blisters in the mouth and nostrils. It may also interact with certain medications and may exhibit toxicity if used in higher amounts.
Peppermint Candy
"Many of the hard candies contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs," Karwacki says. "Xylitol causes their blood sugar to drop, which leads to seizures and coma if not treated properly." Additionally, if dogs eat peppermint candy with the wrapper on, it can cause intestinal blockage.
Since the peppermint oil contains 6% menthofuran, this means that one would need to consume 233ml of the peppermint oil per day to reach the safety limit.
Inhaling diffused oils can be harmful for your pet and could result in aspiration pneumonia. While you might be able to use a diffuser in a room that's off-limits to your pet, if your furry friend already has a breathing problem, then having one in the house is not a safe option.
Use Essential Oil to Add a Mint Smell to Your Space
You can diffuse peppermint oil in an essential oil diffuser or even make your own air freshener spray with it.
Peppermint oil is an effective method for keeping mice and rats away. These rodents cannot stand this oil's robust and minty smell, so a few drops around your home can go a long way in keeping them away.
The term "mint" is an umbrella term for the Mentha plant family that includes spearmint, peppermint, orange mint, apple mint, pineapple mint and more.
The scent of peppermint oil and some other essential oils is very strong for dogs which they cannot tolerate and thus this may impact the normal breathing of dogs. Dogs can also start wheezing. Ingestion of essential oils can impact the respiratory and nervous system of dogs.
Most dogs generally won't enjoy the smell or taste of it, but there are some exceptions. If your dog is drawn to peppermint, you may have to remove their access to the plant or product so they can't ingest it and become sick.
If you decide to include mint in your dog's diet wither for breath freshening, for its health benefits, or both, you will be able to tell very quickly if they enjoy this minty or if they are not a fan. Not all dogs are going to like the taste of mint, so your dog's reaction will either be a hit or miss.
Essential oils as dog pee repellent
Some such smells include peppermint, citrus, and lavender. This is why a great number of homeowners are considering using essential oils made from such plants to repel dogs from peeing.
Can dogs eat lavender? No, never feed your dog lavender buds or essential oil. They both contain linalool, a compound that is toxic to dogs in large amounts.
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 dogs. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
However, some scents are safer than others to diffuse. For example, lavender essential oil, orange essential oil, and lemon essential oil are considered relatively safe to diffuse around pets, but you should monitor your pet when diffusing oils in your home. Keep your diffuser up high where your dog can't get to it.
Jasmine oil is safe to use around pets, considering its popular scent. Jasmine is most commonly sought after for its wellness benefits that support mental health.