5 Festive Scents Toxic To Your Pets, And How To Protect Them

With the festive season finally upon us, seasonal scents from cinnamon to pine are used to fill our homes with cheer. However, they could be posing serious threats to our four-legged companions.

But which scents are safe for our furry friends this Christmas?

Intrigued to find out more, London rubbish removal company Clear it Waste have compiled a list of festive essential oils toxic to pets, guidance on the dangers of introducing scents in the home, and advice on how to spot reactions.

8 popular festive scents that can be toxic to pets

Popular scents that fill our homes with festive cheer may actually be posing serious threats to our furry friends. Certain essential oils can be toxic to dogs from ingestion, inhalation or skin exposure. Some of the most toxic include:

1. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a quintessential seasonal scent, but although cinnamon bark itself is considered non-toxic for dogs, the essential oil can be extremely harmful.

Potential symptoms of poisoning from cinnamon oil include liver disease, vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, and heart problems.

If you want to spread the warm smell of cinnamon in your home this Christmas, stick to using cinnamon bark and avoid the essential oil to keep your four-legged friends safe.

2. Pine

Though pine oil is often used to fill homes with a delightful clean winter scent, it can be highly toxic to dogs, even leading to central nervous system damage in some cases.

Symptoms to look out for include vomiting, drooling, lethargy, weakness, and loss of coordination.

3. Wintergreen

Primarily known for its topical pain relief properties with humans, wintergreen is also used for its minty fragrance in seasonal scented candles. However, wintergreen essential oil can be toxic for our furry companions.

Common effects of being exposed to the oil include stomach upset, ulcers, vomiting, diarrhoea, kidney and liver damage, and even seizures.

4. Clove

The smell of cloves immediately brings thoughts of Christmas and festivities, and placing cloves in oranges is a seasonal tradition. However, using clove essential oil to bring the quintessential festive fragrance into the home can pose serious threats to pets.

Exposing dogs to clove oil can lead to drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, and respiratory issues.

5. Peppermint

Another classic seasonal scent is peppermint, immediately sparking memories of Christmas candy canes. However, for our furry friends, peppermint essential oil can pose serious dangers.

Common effects of exposure in dogs include mouth irritation, ulcers, vomiting, and even central nervous system damage and seizures.

credit Shutterstock_Gorodenkoff

Alternative essential oils that are considered dog-safe include:

Myrrh
Ginger
Lavender
Rosemary
Chamomile
Frankincense

Cats are even more sensitive than dogs to essential oils, and most can be very toxic to cats, especially if undiluted.

Dangers posed when using any festive scents

1. Essential oils and liquid potpourri

Some of the most common methods for introducing delightful festive scents to the home utilise essential oils or liquid potpourri, however, these bring with them serious threats to the health of your furry friends.

With any vessel containing essential oils or liquid potpourri, there is a risk that they could be knocked over. This not only poses risks of poisoning already discussed if your pet manages to drink the oil, but can even cause irritation and chemical burns just from the oil coming into contact with your pets’ paws and skin.

2. Diffusers, air fresheners and humidifiers

Any item which diffuses tiny droplets of oil into the air risks causing harm to pets. As well as all the risks of essential oils already discussed, diffusers are known to cause negative respiratory effects and irritation, in both dogs and cats, especially if used in a small space with minimal ventilation.

If particularly toxic essential oils are being diffused, inhaling these can cause severe reactions in our four-legged companions.

3. Scented candles

Though scented candles are often considered less dangerous to pets than essential oil diffusers, they can still pose significant threats.

The most obvious danger to consider is the fire and burn risk if candles are within reach of curious pets. Any open flames should always be kept out of reach, and pets should never be left alone in a room with a burning candle.

Opting for flameless candles is a great option to avoid this completely, as well as removing any potential risks for respiratory system irritation caused by the smoke from burning candles.

How to spot the signs of a reaction and what you should do

If you suspect that your pet has come into contact with or ingested any essential oils, you should contact your vet for advice immediately.

However, it’s not always possible to keep an eye on our furry friends. This festive season you should be on the lookout for any signs of poisoning, especially if you use essential oils in the home.

Symptoms of essential oil poisoning to look out for include:

Difficulty breathing
Drooling
Weakness
Difficulty walking
Vomiting
Muscle tremors
Irritation or burns around the mouth

If you notice any of these symptoms, seek help from your vet or an emergency out-of-hours vet as soon as possible to be safe. It is also very helpful to provide information about what oils your pet may have ingested, in what quantities and at what concentration.

Information supplied by ClearItWaste