Hope this information helps you. It’s obtained by distilling the leaves of the native Australian plant, Melaleuca alternifolia. I cleaned every bit of it off her, and that’s all that could be done and I stayed up all night with her until finally it was all out of her system. Annie Walther of Washington, Pennsylvania, recently learned of the danger after her 7-year-old cat, Pedro, started behaving strangely. Tea tree oil is an essential oil, also known as melaleuca oil. Sue Klimas' cat, Dinah, became sick after exposure to essential oils. "This was my first cat, and I wanted to do everything right for him," Jackson told TODAY. Tea Tree Oil poisoning have been reported in both cats and dogs when applied to the skin at too high a dose. She doesn't want to eat and is gagging slightly. Daily dosage recommendation is 1 tsp. These oils contain phenols which are especially toxic to cats. I’ve been told to make lemon water as it kills the little blood suckers; but don’t use lemon essential oil. They are not supposed to be fed tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites. They sold me this spray that was supposed to get rid of them. Cat licked tea tree oil off of my finger. So after I bathe the dog I wash the tub She began to appear thin and lethargic and would refuse food," Klimas, who lives in Lewisville, a suburb of Dallas, told TODAY. Tea tree oil can make a cat or dog sick, if more than a small amount is consumed. My goodness, I hope not. So.. She was stumbling and wouldn’t come near any of us which is SO out of character for her, normally she won’t leave our side. There’s an ingredient (possibly an animal ingredient) used in these things that some are attracted to. However, tea tree oil should not be taken orally. I spilt a bottle of tea tree oil on my kitchen floor and cleaned up as much as I could. Tea Tree Oil Cinnamon Bark Oil Wintergreen Oil Thyme Oil Birch Oil Please note that this list is in no way all-inclusive. by: Anonymous. I use it on cuts I find it heals them quickly. An average cat weighs seven to 12 pounds, or between 3 and 5.44 kg. My old cat used to be obsessed with licking soap and carrier bags. Some essential oils such as tea tree, pennyroyal and eucalyptus oils are particularly toxic. Now I’m not saying to use it on your cat, but quite frankly I can’t imagine why humans can use it (even full strength), but cats cannot. Tea Tree oil highly toxic to cats and can be absorbed through the skin or licked from the fur and ingested. That’s the only time I’ve used it on a cat, but it was diluted. She has stayed away from the tree since then, thankfully, but I immediately realized tea tree oil is toxic for cats. Thank you for reading my story. I was applying it and the lid was off, my cat jumped up onto the counter knocking the bottle over. As a general safety rule, try not to use any products with tea tree or tea tree oil on your pets. You should never use these oils on your cat. One drop of tea tree oil in your cat’s mouth per day for 3 days – well, if your cat swallows all of that essential oil then it’s a significant amount. For Erica Jackson, the wake-up call was sudden, and frightening. "I am no longer diffusing oils, and I don't plan to ever again.". Especially tea tree and lemon , they can kill your cat. Use tea tree oil to clear the air. Therefore, it's important to call for help as soon as possible, even if your cat ate eucalyptus but isn't showing poisoning symptoms. I was sick to my stomach and so worried, especially after I searched the net again for answers about the ingredients and all seemed safe but Tea Tree Oil!! She was vomiting and the list goes on. Small doses of tea tree oil, very carefully applied, may not cause immediate or long-term damage to the cat's health. Precautions for Safe Essential Oil Use for Felines. Hello. I use tea tree oil to help my acne prone skin and it works a lot. What's more, these concentrations are far lower than what would be required to repel and kill fleas. Petroleum Hydrocarbon Toxicosis in Cats. Tea Tree oil highly toxic to cats and can be absorbed through the skin or licked from the fur and ingested. Depending on the manufacturer of the oil, and other compounds that may be added to the liquids, there is the Well, I didn’t really have the extra funds to take her to the vet at that time, so, I mixed a few drops of tea tree oil in some warm water, soaked a cotton ball in it and wiped her eye. The lady at APCC then said that I should not make her vomit. "I moved my diffuser to the bathroom and make sure the door is closed when I use it," she said. Further, we recommend against using tea tree oil, and other potentially toxic ingredients, in your homemade cleaning products. Traditional uses: The National Library of Medicine (NLM) lists a number of traditional or theoretical uses of tea tree oil. Thank god, and I pray there’s no long term effects. As we discovered later, Carlotta had been chewing on one of her catnip-laden cat toys before the tea tree-licking, which explained the pants-chewing behavior. It doesn’t sting even on open wounds, a real advantage when dealing little kids’ and children’s scrapes and injuries. He was dead in a few days. For instance, tea tree oil is known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. "A holistic website I found said that tea tree oil was great for combating fungi...I applied tea tree oil directly onto each spot.". "I'm very happy to say that today, Kylo is as spunky and friendly as can be...we call him our 'little warrior' all the time.". Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites.Tea tree oil is available as an oil and in many over-the-counter skin products, including soaps and lotions. Klimas had been diffusing lavender and eucalyptus oils in her bathroom, where Dinah frequently slept on a fluffy bath mat the cat had taken a liking to. Step 1: Fill a 33oz (1L) spray bottle with water and add 20 drops of tea tree oil, 20 drops of eucalyptus oil or peppermint oil and one cup of witch hazel. "If you do, keep them out of reach and monitor your pets closely for signs of poisoning such as drooling, pawing at the face, difficulty breathing, lethargy, vomiting or muscle tremors. Idk if it’s how I worded my question but that’s what I found. Vet says out of all oils or what have you Lavender seems safe, I never heard lavender essential oil being toxic to cats but who knows. [9] The poor little things are very sensitive to essential oils. Toxicity has variable manifestations in cats and is sometimes delayed by hours or even days. Preventing Trouble 1 Keep your essential oils out of your cat’s reach. Naturally occurring salicylic and tea tree oil work to eliminate flaking, dandruff, and scaling skin associated with seborrhea. "My vet told me later to always call if I want to utilize holistic treatments, since they are better informed on the health of my animal," said Jackson. Some may say that it is safe when you stick to 1% to 2% dilution when using pure tea tree oil. So I applied it on a few areas and soon after she was a totally different cat, one that I’d never seen. As it were, an old cat from up our street had decided to take up residence at our house to get away from the owners dogs. for a large dog. Little did she know that this increasingly popular practice posed a problem. Coconut Oil for Fibromyalgia: Natural Cure or Scam. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic. Based on this, we would not recommend using essential oils in areas where your pets have access, unless pets are supervised or the use of the oil is approved by your veterinarian.". In small concentrations (.1% to 1%), tea tree oil is tolerated and safe for cats and dogs. The bottom line for all pet owners? The most common recommended use for tea tree oil in cats is as a natural alternative to flea treatments, especially on kittens who are too young for medicated flea treatment. Cats are natural explorers. Tea tree oil can kill fleas alright, but it can also kill your cat. Has she thrown up since then? Tea tree oil has antifungal activity, which is why people have used it for their nail fungus and might try it for dog ear infections. But Good luck to all of us in this situation. Reply: Tea tree oil on my cat by: tammy I have used tea tree oil for years, on many different things, so I never really considered it dangerous. My first “go-to” essential oil for preventing infection is a 100% pure essential oil blend with Melaleuca (Tea tree), Rosemary, and Clove. Even though a particular essential oil may be perceived as pleasant smelling by you, it can overwhelm your kitty. "So if you notice they're acting sick or something just seems off — in any situation — contact your veterinarian immediately.". Laboratory toxicology demonstrate it to be poisonous. Garlic is known to ward off fleas. It didn’t work I also used Spot on; I tried giving her a shower and I’ve combed her hair but nothing is working. "Pedro sleeps with me again now and I couldn't be happier.". Cat licked tea tree oil off of my finger. Jackson says later that evening, Kylo began stumbling around her home and acting strange, so she and her boyfriend rushed the kitten to the animal hospital. We highly encourage you to involve your vet before trying any essential oil. It found that in all dogs, signs of central nervous system depression, paresis, ataxia, and tremors began to show within three hours. I put tea tree oil on my skin last night and my 40 lbs dog licked my face this morning, should I be worried? I picked it up but not before quite a bit had spilled out. He immediately jumped off and left. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic. Coughs and sneezes can often leave a lot of nasties floating around. Tea tree oil poisoning can be fatal in some cases, I know money may be tight but only a few millilitres of 100% tea tree oil can cause death in a dog or cat so you should visit a Veterinarian immediately regardless of cost. ", Klimas got rid of her essential oil diffuser and saw her beloved cat return to normal. This oil is a leaf extract that is often used as a natural, topical flea treatment. I completely broke down into tears. As Lorri & Annette have said, it’s really only toxic in the kinds of concentrations where if you put high-purity tea tree oil on your skin, and then the cat licked your skin. Erica Jackson says her cat, Kylo, was extremely sick after being exposed to tea tree oil. I know that to ingest the tea tree oil is very dangerous to any animal or person. Studies. Since Jackson's vet wasn't available to treat Kylo for a few days, Jackson searched online for holistic ringworm treatments that she and her boyfriend, Alex, could try in the meantime. Unfortunately, the oil's popularity has resulted in larger numbers of households with bottles of 100 percent tree tea oil, and accidental ingestion or improper … Even more alarming, four out of every five cases were in children. Tea tree oil is sold as a pure essential oil, in over-the-counter and herbal remedies for skin conditions, and as an ingredient in household cleaning products. After even more research I have found that it is also unsafe for dogs. Though your pet is not likely to lick or roll around on countertops or floors that have just been treated with tea tree oil-infused cleaners, it’s best to just play it safe. So, we let her stay, made places for her to sleep (outside, because I have 2 inside cats), etc. Guide to Taking Oil of Oregano by Soft Gels and Dropper... Health Benefits of Cod Liver Oil for Joint Pain. Through blood tests, ultrasounds and an eventual exploratory surgery to check for cancer, Dinah's veterinarian was unable to determine the cause of her failing health. I had purchased a bottle of “Miracle Oil” which is great for all skin issues, and I mean Great! Between 2011 and 2015, reports of toxic exposures to these oils -- such as tea tree oil -- doubled, the center said. In fact, small amounts of tea tree oil are being added to certain pet-safe products. Hi, I have a Persian cat and she has a history of a little bit of dry skin during summer/fall change. It can also be expensive, so you never want to treat a dog or cat with drops directly out of a tea tree oil bottle. into a spray bottle of water and sprayed it onto the tree. Tea Tree oil is toxic for cats. You’ll find hundreds of pages featuring in-depth research and articles for health-conscious consumers. It’s true that when diluted properly, tea tree oil can be less toxic, but it’s still tricky when using on pets as you cannot control their licking and nibbling. How much of the tea was ingested? Help for cats with dry skin Dr. Crimi offers these suggestions for taking care of your cat’s hair in the winter: Comb your cat’s hair often to remove dander and loose hair. Essential oil and aromatherapy diffusers, candles, liquid potpourri products, and room sprays are sources of airborne essential oils that cats can inhale or lick off their fur. 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