Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category
Tea tree oil and cats
On October 15, 2008 in Animals, General
Tea tree oil has been know to have a harmful effect on cats, and in some cases may result in death. Whilst tea tree oil products such as shampoos can be used on dogs, it is not recommended to use tea tree oil on cats.
Here’s an excerpt from Wikipedia:-
Tea tree oil has long been used as a method of all natural effective flea control by adding the oil directly to dogs, horses and sheep fur or their bathing water. Use on cats has been known to make them sick and in some cases kill them, this is due to cats licking their fur and consuming the oil.
Tea tree oil can be toxic for cats
Show Cats Online have issued this warning on their website about tea tree oil being toxic to cats:
Tea Tree Oil poisoning have been reported in both cats and dogs when applied to the skin at too high a dose. If your cat is going to have a reaction to tea tree oil, you will usually see it within 2 to 8 hours following application. Symptoms include:
* loss of muscular coordination
* lethargy
* weakness
* shaking and tremors
* a change in behavior
Why is tea tree oil no good for cats?
Tea Tree Wonders has an article about tea tree oil being toxic to cats - here’s a quote from their website:-
Unfortunately, tea tree oil is not good to use as a flea preventative for cats. There are other essential oils that are just as dangerous, like peppermint and pennyroyal.
The main problem is that because of their small size and body weight, combined with a liver that does not easily process essential oils like tea tree oil, cats can have a severe toxic reaction to amounts that many other animals wouldn’t even notice.
I get questions about using tea tree oil shampoo on both cats and dogs, and although for large dogs it may be great, I would use extreme caution and preferably avoid tea tree oil altogether for small dogs and all cats.
Here’s another warning from the Tea Tree Oil Uses website on why tea tree oil is toxic to cats:-
Along with being an effective remedy for many human skin ailments, Tea Tree Oil is readily available at pet stores for treatment of our furry friends. However, if ingested, this helpful natural product can become the furthest thing from effective, a toxic poison. The use as a flea control on young kittens has been recorded as resulting in death in some cases.
Early in the 1990’s with the suggestion of Tea Tree Oil causing negative effects on cats with nerve disorders, it was recommended that the amount of oil contained in animal products, such as cat shampoo, should not exceed 1%. It was advised to owners of cats with diabetes, epilepsy, metabolic or neurological disorders as well as young kittens not to use products containing this substance on their pets.
Tea tree oil and bites
On October 15, 2008 in Animals, Skin, General
Dog bites - how to treat using tea tree oil
When you’ve been bitten by a dog, there are a few things you can do right away to minimise the seriousness of the injury, and to increase the possibility of infection. Tea Tree Wonders offers the following advice:-
When you are the victim of a dog bite the first thing you should do is to thoroughly wash the area with generous amounts of water, using preferably an antibacterial soap. The dog bite can carry one or more of some really bad bacteria, including staph and strep. Some studies suggest between 20 and 30 different germs that can be carried in a dogs saliva.
After the area is thoroughly cleaned, pat the wound dry, and apply several drops of tea tree oil three times a day for several days, and then continue once a day until it is fully healed.
Tea tree oil for insect bites
Michael Russell has an article published on Ezine Articles where he suggest the following tip on how to use tea tree oil for insect bites:-
For insect bites: Mix a 5% dilution of tea tree oil with aloe vera gel. Use this mixture to soothe bug bites or rashes. It will also help prevent infection.
Tea tree oil for flea bites (on a human)
Curezone has the following tips on how to treat flea bites with tea tree oil:-
Apply tea tree oil liberally in a circular motion surrounding the bite. Let dry and the pain and swelling should ease in two to three minutes. Re-apply if needed.
For information on how to treat a dog’s flea problem with tea tree oil, check out our article titled Tea tree oil dog treatments.
Tea tree oil for animals
On September 14, 2008 in Animals
Tea tree oil can be used in animals as a treatment for a number of conditions. Answers.com offers the following information about how tea tree oil can be used on animals:-
Because pets also suffer many of the same diseases as humans, tea tree oil can also be used as treatment for such diseases as arthritis, fleas, bad breath, gum disease, abscesses, dermatitis, lice, parasites, ringworm, rashes and sprains. Dogs in particular are susceptible to mange, a hard-to-eliminate skin disorder causing hair loss and itching. Washing a dog or cat using a mild soap and water, then clipping or shaving excess hair before soaking a cotton puff with tea tree oil and saturating specific areas twice daily will help treat mange. For overall application, mixing 1 teaspoon tea tree oil with 1/3 cup of water and spraying the mixture from a plant mister onto the mangy areas is advised.
When using tea tree oil for animals, it should always be diluted, as full strength can cause such reactions as muscle tremors and poor coordination. The oil should be kept away from the eyes.
Can I use pure tea tree oil on my animal?
As long as the tea tree oil is diluted, it seems to be safe to use on animals, especially dogs. Check out our previous post on tea tree oil for dog treatments for further information.
Tea tree oil toxic to cats
Here’s a quote from the Messy Beast website about whether tea tree oil is toxic to animals, in particular cats:-
Tea Tree oil (melaleuca, Melaleuca alternifolia) is a phenol-containing essential oil. Its active ingredients are cyclic terpenes which have a similar structure and action to turpentine (a known toxin) - in fact Tea Trea oil makes a good paint solvent! Cats are uniquely sensitive to phenolics and other benzene-based compounds. Benzyl alcohol (a preservative) is toxic to cats.
The acute toxicity for the major terpenic compounds (linalool, ocimene, alpha-terpinene, 1,8-cineole, terpinolene, camphene) is 2 - 5 g/kg body weight, which is considered a moderately toxic range. From a toxicologic point of view Tea Tree oil is comparable to oil of turpentine, which is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and skin. In addition, cats have relatively thin, delicate skin and Tea Tree oil is highly lipophilic (attracted to fats, solvent). This means that the oil is absorbed rapidly and enters the bloodstream. These factors may account for the poisoning cases reported to the NAPCC.
Symptoms of tea tree oil poisoning in animals
Show Cats Online have posted the following warning on their website about the potential hazards of tea tree oil animal poisoning:-
Tea Tree Oil poisoning have been reported in both cats and dogs when applied to the skin at too high a dose. If your cat is going to have a reaction to tea tree oil, you will usually see it within 2 to 8 hours following application. Symptoms include:
* loss of muscular coordination
* lethargy
* weakness
* shaking and tremors
* a change in behavior
Tea tree oil dog treatments
On February 07, 2008 in Animals
Tea tree oil to treat dogs
Tea tree oil has many uses when it comes to our canine pets - we can use it to treat fleas, wash their coats, or help heal wounds.
Botanical Dog lists a number of ways tea tree oil can be used on dogs:
Antiseptic Tea Tree Oil is an excellent natural antiseptic for many of your pets skin disorders.
The oil immediately penetrates outer skin layers and mixes with body oils to treat such conditions as insect bites, cuts, burns, infected wounds, bruises, boils, lice, hot spots.
Anti-inflammatory Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil has pain-numbing properties and can be used topically for sprains, arthritis, eczema. DILUTE with a carrier oil or shampoo since the pure essential oil would be irritating to sensitive areas.
Anti-fungal Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil is an excellent antifungal and can be employed as a pet medication of yeast infections, fungus, and ringworm. For ringworm apply a tea tree gel, cream, or essential oil (with almond oil) to the affected area, or add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to the bath water.
To fight plaque at your dogs teeth, brush with toothpaste containing tea tree oil.
For pet use, make a 15 percent solution of tea tree oil by mixing 2 tbsp. full strength Tea Tree oil with 4 tbsp 80 proof vodka, vegetable glycerine or sulfated castor oil. Shake well and continue adding liquid until no oil floats to surface. Add any combination of enough ALoe Verajuice or gel, herbal tea (such as comfrey or calendula) and pure water to fill container to the 3/4 cup mark. Also, keep the oil away from the pets eyes.
Using tea tree oil to teat eczema in dogs
Footprints recommends the following solution to treat your dog’s eczema:
Tea tree oil can also be used to treat eczema and mange, and flea and tick bites. Mix 5 to 10 drops of tea tree oil in with the lather when you wash your pet and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing.
Golden Glow has the following information for using tea tree oil to prevent fleas in dogs:
Rinse all bedding (after routine laundering) with a strong dilution of eucalyptus or tea tree oil (cheaper to buy in larger amounts than neem) and hang up on the line to dry without rinsing, repeating at least monthly. Vacuum carpets well and frequently. Use a strong eucalyptus or tea tree oil dilution in the watering can to soak pet’s kennel and favourite sleeping patches on sand, paving or doormats etc. (DO NOT use eucalyptus or tea tree oil or citronella directly onto animals, ESPECIALLY NOT ON CATS, as insecticidal dilutions of these oils are likely to be toxic to animals). Salt can be sprinkled between paving stones to repel fleas.
Tea tree oil dog medication
Doggie’s Paradise has the following advice for using tea tree oil on your dog:
Because pets also suffer many of the same disorders as humans, tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) can be used for pet medication of arthritis, bad breath, ringworm, or ear infections. For external application, mix 1 teaspoon tea tree oil with 1 cup of water. When using tea tree oil for pet medication, always dilute it as full strength can cause irritations.
Do not use tea tree oil internally! Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) contains toxic cyclic terpenes. Thus, apply it only on areas where your dog cannot lick it off! Do not use it on open wounds.
Next time your pooch is suffering, you may just want to try one of these tea tree oil dog treatments.
Tea tree oil and fleas
On September 22, 2007 in Animals, Fleas, Shampoo
Fleas, a common problem experienced by many that has varied effects on pets and people. Tea tree oil as flea control can sometimes answer the question ‘how to get rid of fleas’ effectively and naturally.
Some of the different types of fleas include
• Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis),
• Dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis),
• Human flea (Pulex irritans),
• Northern rat flea (Nosopsyllus fasciatus),
• Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis).
Tea tree oil, fleas and pets
If you’re looking to get rid of the fleas your pets have, then take a look at this section of the article.
Tea Tree Oil Shampoo for Puppies, Kittens, Dogs and Cats
(This particular brand of pet control flea shampoo contains tea tree oil)
Fido’s Tea Tree Oil Shampoo is a mild, soap free shampoo containing Australian Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) - known for its natural anti-bacterial properties. It is ideal for all coats and skin types and may help soothe minor skin irritations.Particularly suitable for use with long term flea control products.
Organic pet flea shampoo – with tea tree oil
This organic shampoo from G&J Pet Care gives you the option to kill your dogs fleas whilst using a natural product that contains essential oils as well as tea tree oil to repel fleas.
A natural coconut extract based shampoo. Sulphate Free - it gently cleanses without irritating your dogs sensitive skin. Leaves coat clean without the use of harsh synthetic detergents. Helps keeps fleas and other pests away with Tea tree & Pennyroyal essential oils.
Features: Helps keeps fleas and other pests away with Tea tree & Pennyroyal essential
Sulphate free gentle non irritating formula
Tea tree oil poising
This is a fairly lengthy article about some of the dangers of tea tree oil when using it with cats.
Many cat owners claim to use Tea Tree oil without any adverse effect, however, there have been reports from the US that Tea Tree oil is toxic, to cats.
In the early 1990s, it was suggested that cats with nerve disorders were unable to tolerate Tea Tree oil and suffered ill effects from its use. It was recommended that the amount of the oil in a product such as a cat shampoo should not exceed 1% although even that small amount may be toxic to certain individuals
To read the rest of the article, click here.
Applying tea tree oil to pets
Zandella has this great advice for using tea tree oil kill to fleas
Help deter fleas by adding one capful of Our Organic tea tree Oil Melaleuca alternifolia pure essential oil. to the area where the flees are as well Shampoo the pet with our Organic tea tree Oil Shampoo. For Ticks apply two drops directly onto tick and gently remove tick with tweezers, apply one drop of Organic tea tree Oil to area to stop to any infection. Add 10 drops of Organic tea tree Oil to dogs sleeping blankets; this will help to deter fleas.
As you can see tea tree oil can be useful but harmful in some cases.