Are common essential oils like lavender and tea tree safe for my dog?

Peppermint essential oil is toxic to dogs, so do not use that. As for lavender, while it isn't toxic, dogs can have negative or allergic reactions to it, so use only small amounts initially. If you have a cat, do not use any essential oils as many are highly toxic to cats. I hope this helps!

Unfortunately almost all your essential oils there, with the exception of lavender, are toxic to dogs. Tea tree oil is especially toxic to dogs. I would ditch the oil diffuser all together. Best of luck.

I would avoid using essential oils directly on your dog as it could cause skin irritation, or be toxic, depending on the oil. If you use diffusers in your home, making sure Hudson is in a well-ventilated area away from it can help prevent inhalation that could cause irritation or illness.

Tea tree oil is toxic to cats, and I would not use it at all in your home, as there is a chance Poe could lick the oils and become very sick. Lavender is also toxic, as are citrus oils (orange) and eucalyptus. Peppermint and lemongrass are the only safe ones you have to use around Poe, and I would restrict your use to those essential oils only. You can also use cedar wood and rosemary.

The "hot" oils are most toxic to dogs. These include peppermint, cinnamon, oregano, clove, wintergreen, thyme and birch oils. Tea tree (melaleuca) oil is also very toxic to dogs. A dog's skin pH is more neutral than human skin pH, 7.5 compared to human 5.5. For this reason, most dog shampoos range between 6.5 to 7.5 pH to prevent dry skin or irritation. The addition of conditioners and emollients also helps.

I will link a website below that has lists of the many essential oils that are toxic to cats and ones that are safe around cats. Just as a note, lavender , fir needle, and spruce essential oils are all toxic to cats. Safe essential oils include cedar wood, lemongrass, peppermint, and rosemary. http://essentialoilworld.com/essentialoilreviews/essential-oil-safety-with-cats/

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Our pets are very sensitive to the chemicals in essential oils (think how much more sensitive their sense of smell is!), and exposure to diffused essential oils can be dangerous. Cats are particularly sensitive, but it's best to avoid diffusing oils around dogs as well. If you must use diffused oils, do so in an enclosed room and keep the pets out to minimize their exposure. Hope this helps!