Search for: Essential oils

The term “essential oil” may conjure thoughts of relaxation and natural smells, but for your pets these oils can create a dangerous health concern. What are essential oils? Essential oils are volatile, organic compounds in plants that quickly become gases that produce a unique smell or taste. There are a wide variety of essential oils…

As the popularity of essential oils in human medicine rises, so has the essential oil poisoning cases in animal medicine. Fads in the human health industry often spill into the animal health industry and can occasionally lead to detrimental health injuries in our pets. Animals are both being willingly given essential oils by their owners…

Jo Marshall CVT, NREMT Senior Veterinary Information Specialist It seems that there is a new horror story every day on essential oils and pets lately. Our Dr Benson addressed the concerns with essential oils and cats in her blog: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/   and now it is time to give our canine friends equal time. The first thing…

Kia Benson, DVM Associate Veterinarian, Clinical Toxicology Download our Essential Oils and Cats handout! Essential oils are volatile, organic constituents of plants that contribute to fragrance and taste.  They are extracted from plants via distillation or cold pressing. Essential oils are utilized in a variety of ways: as insecticides, in aromatherapies, personal care products (e.g.,…

Kia Benson, DVM Associate Veterinarian, Clinical Toxicology Pet Poison Helpline® Download the article here. Natural. Organic. Healthy. These are some of the thoughts that come to mind when one hears the words “essential oils”. However, though they are derived from natural sources, essential oils are not always safe for dogs and cats and their presence…

  5 Important Pet Toxins to Know for Valentine’s Day Chocolate Being surprised with that heart-shaped box of chocolates could figuratively make your heart skip a beat, but this could become a reality if your pets ingest them! Chocolate contains theobromine, a strong stimulant to dogs and cats. It causes a dangerously elevated heart rate,…

The time to start making New Year’s resolutions is just around the corner. Our journeys to better ourselves would not be complete without our furry companions. While we make choices to live healthier lifestyles, these choices can lead to toxin exposure for our pets! Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking…

Oh, by gosh by golly, it’s time for mistletoe and holly…. except when your pets are involved. Christmas is a time of not only holiday cheer but also holiday plants. If you bring these plants into your home, be wary of keeping them in your pet’s reach: Holly (Ilex): The holly plant contains saponins, which…

Our mission at Pet Poison Helpline® is to make the world a safer place for animals and to save pets’ lives 24/7. We also pride ourselves in providing you with the most accurate and relevant information in order to help keep your pets safe, healthy, and happy! 2020 was a difficult year in many ways…

Susan Shaw, CVT Veterinary Information Specialist Pet Poison Helpline® Cats. Online, in real life, and on social media, there is certainly no shortage of them. They’re known far and wide for their odd behaviors, fear of cucumbers, adorable toe beans, and insatiable curiosity (and appetite). Sometimes, however, that curiosity can get our feline friends into…