The tranquility of essential oils being diffused into the air may be relaxing for many, but for your pets, it could be quite the opposite.
"Dogs’ sense of smell are about 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than ours, so something that might smell very pleasant to us might be overwhelming for your dog," said Dr. Michael Rickwald.
With the trend of diffusers and essential oils on the rise, more pets are being exposed to oils that can in some cases be toxic for them.
"It really is dose dependent with essential oils, it also matters what the grade is, how pure they are and the route how they're exposed to the pet. Is it inhaled, it is ingested is it topical? So those are all different factors that play a role in ‘are they toxic?’" he said.
Certain kinds of oils can be more harmful than others. According to Veterinary Centers of America, oils with tea tree, cinnamon, peppermint, citrus and others can be toxic to pets. If you think your pets have been exposed to these kinds of oils, be sure to watch for any unusual signs.
"Usually they're going to become lethargic; they can have a drunken look to them, the uncoordinated look. If inhaled, it could cause difficulty breathing or coughing and if you're using a diffuser, obviously stop and take your pet to the veterinarian."
Rickwald says like with anything you have around your pets, do your homework first.
"I think people assume that if it's safe for you, that it's probably safe for your pet," he said. "It's not something I see very often but it is something that I think people should be aware of."