Can I Put Tea Tree Oil on My Dog
Tea tree oil, or Australian tree tea oil, has become a popular alternative treatment for many skin conditions affecting humans. Its popularity has resulted in some veterinary skin intendance products that comprise small-scale amounts of tea tree oil. In small concentrations (.one% to 1%), tea tree oil is tolerated and safe for cats and dogs.
Unfortunately, the oil'southward popularity has resulted in larger numbers of households with bottles of 100 percent tree tea oil, and accidental ingestion or improper dilutions of this highly concentrated oil tin be harmful to pets.
What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of a tree native to Australia that is similar to the myrtle tree. The tree has been introduced to America and is grown in the southern states, particularly Florida. The articulate to pale yellow oil has a camphor-like smell and has bactericidal and fungicidal properties.
It is used topically to treat acne, boils, burns and insect bites in humans and pets. It is too used for treating athlete's pes, gingivitis, impetigo, tonsillitis, and vaginal infections in humans. It is sometimes added to vaporizers to treat respiratory infections. The oil can as well be found in soaps, toothpaste, lotions, and pare creams.
Tea tree oil is toxic, to both humans and pets, if taken orally. In Australia 100 percentage tree tea oil is categorized as a schedule 6 toxin. Packaging there requires child-proof containers and cautionary labeling. Such packaging and labeling are not necessary in the U.S. and Canada. A 10 year long veterinary study of tea tree oil toxicity in pets institute that 89 per centum of owners who used 100 percent oil causeless that it was safe. The researches felt that the lack of labeling was a major reason for the feeling of rubber on the role of American pet owners.
Tea Tree Oil Toxicity for Pets
Tea tree oil contains various types of chemicals chosen terpenes. These are the chemicals that make the oil effective against bacteria and fungi. They are also the toxic agent. Terpenes are rapidly absorbed into the body whether taken orally or on the peel. This means topical application of concentrated oil can upshot in the same toxicity as accidental oral ingestion. Given the tendency of pets to groom, specially cats, the toxicity gamble of topical applications is amplified.
Symptoms of toxicity vary depending on the dose of terpenes ingested. Pocket-size symptoms like drooling or vomiting may be plant with mild doses of oil. Animals with moderate disease may announced weak, have difficulty walking, or seem partially paralyzed. Severely ill animals accept life-threating symptoms like tremors, seizures, greatly reduced level of consciousness, or coma. Symptoms follow 2 to 12 hours after exposure.
Treatment for Tea Tree Oil Toxicity in Pets
At that place is no antitoxin for terpenes. Treatment is based on the level of toxicity. Mild illness may just require skin decontamination with dish soap bathing. Inducing vomiting is not recommended. The neurological effects of the terpenes, as well as the thick quality of the oil, increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia if vomiting is induced.
The effectiveness of orally administered activated charcoal in binding terpenes after oral ingestion of tea tree oil is unknown. Vomiting control with medications is necessary before administering activated charcoal. Activated charcoal should not be given to pets with astringent symptoms due to the gamble of aspiration of the charcoal liquid.
Skin decontamination and support therapy with intravenous fluids is the standard treatment. Airsickness, musculus tremors, and seizures are treated with medications equally needed. Treatment may be necessary for up to 72 hours later exposure. Terpenes are toxic to the liver so the use of liver protectants like SAM-e and silymarin (milk thistle) for ii weeks is as well recommended.
Prevention of Tea Tree Oil Poisoning in Pets
Although tea tree oil is effective in treating certain peel weather in pets, information technology has non been proven to be superior to other traditional medications. In fact, the concentrations of tea tree oil suggested for many pare issues far exceed the concentrations found in most pet products (.1%-1%). The attraction of using a natural production as opposed to a man-made synthetic handling may non be worth the risk. The use of dilutions of 100 percent tea tree oil should be avoided in pets. It is too piece of cake to miscalculate the amount of oil to utilize. Finally, oil should be safely stored away from pet admission, peculiarly the ingenious, inquisitive true cat.
Dr. Ken Tudor
Prototype: Shutterstock
Source: https://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ken-tudor/2014/january/tea-tree-oil-safe-pets-31282
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