Cedarwood Oil For Hair Loss
Alopecia areata is a disease that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Cedarwood is one of several essential oils that may improve hair growth.
A small 1998 study reported in Archives of Dermatology indicated that people with alopecia areata experienced significant hair growth when given a daily scalp massage of cedarwood, thyme, rosemary, and lavender essential oils, along with a carrier oil. This mixture was applied directly to the scalp for a seven-month period.
Cedarwood Oil For Dogs: Is It Safe
Is cedarwood oil safe for dogs? The best answer isit depends. Using cedarwood oil for dogs may potentially help reduce the presence of fleas and other pesky insects. It may also help anxious pets relax and rest easier. However, there is limited research on using essential oils for pets, which means it’s important to do your due diligence before considering their use. For example, there are multiple types of cedar oil. When we talk about cedarwood essential oil for dogs, we are referring to cedarwood atlas essential oil. Some of the other types of cedar oil can be highly toxic to dogs, which is why we stress the importance of conferring with a vet before using oils. It is also almost important to note that essential oils should never be ingested, which we will discuss in more detail further on.
Cats And Essential Oils: What You Need To Know To Keep Your Pet Safe
by Elyse Hauser | Aug 2, 2018 | Safety
When it comes to cats and essential oils, do you know how to keep your pet safe? You might love using essential oils around the house, but these seemingly harmless oils can spell danger for your cat. However, not all essential oils pose the same risks some can even be beneficial for pets.
Before you decide to mix cats and essential oils, read this definitive guide on how to keep your furry friend safe. Well go over everything you need to know to use an essential oil diffuser around the house without putting your pets at risk. Read on to make sure your cats stay safe!
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Essential Oils And Cats: What You Need To Know
When it comes to using essential oils, whether it is for yourself or your pets, the quality of the oil is very important. Safe essential oils are unadulterated, genuine, and pure. Many oils are marketed as organic natural or even certified pure but you still need to be careful of the oils you choose, as there is no oversight for essential oils. Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA like some medications are. The brand of essential oils we recommend using is Young Living, as we know that these are high-quality pure oils that are very safe to use for yourself and your pets. The Doterra brand oils are high-quality that are safe to use as well.
For cats in particular, you need to be careful about what oils you use on them or expose them to because cats do not metabolize things the same way as dogs . A cats liver is different, as it lacks the P450 cytochrome metabolic pathway. This means that the liver in cats cannot break down or metabolize certain drugs, medications, and even some essential oils.
If you are interested in using essential oils for your cat, you should do so only as directed and/or supervised by your veterinarian. In general, the essential oils you should AVOID using with your cat include oils that are high in salicylates or phenols, such as:
- Basil
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense.
More Precautions Including Oils To Never Use For Pets
To be on the safe side, you can always talk to your veterinarian before using essential oils for animals. Cats are especially at risk for essential oil reactions. Its vital that you choose 100 percent pure, therapeutic-grade and certified USDA organic essential oils free of adulterants and additives for use with your pets.
Both cats and dogs have very sensitive senses of smell so essential oils should always be used in extremely small amounts and diluted with a carrier oil. Its also important to remember what oils you can and cannot use in an oil diffuser around your pet. When using aromatools like a diffuser, make sure to provide an escape route so your dog or cat doesnt feel trapped. Its also not recommended to force the use of any oils on pets when they clearly do not like them.
The list of toxic essential oils varies between cats and dogs. Its also important to remember that each pet can react differently to certain essential oils and could have a negative reaction even if the oils arent on this list below. The following two lists are not exhaustive but include some common essential oils known to be problematic for dogs and cats.
Which essential oils are toxic to dogs? Essential oils that are toxic/NOT recommended for use with dogs:
Signs and symptoms of essential oil poisoning in pets can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Pawing at the mouth or face
- Redness or burns on the lips, gums, tongue or skin
- Trouble walking or an uncoordinated gait
- Vomiting
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Essential Oils For Fleas On Cats
Essential oils have been used as natural alternatives for flea removal on pets, instead of traditional, chemical-based flea collars. Today, there are several flea repellent essential oils on the market. Safe, natural remedies for fleas on cats include marjoram and red cedar essential oils. Flea collars with low concentrations of these essential oils may be effective in eliminating fleas. Always talk to your veterinarian before using any essential oils for fleas on cats.
Essential Oils Toxic To Cats
When diffusing essential oils, there are some that pet owners should never use around their cats. Thats because diffusers emit microdroplets of essential oils into the air, and your cat could inhale or ingest them after the droplets land on their fur.
Wismer advises that you only use an essential oil diffuser in a room completely separated from your cat. However, she notes, if your cat has a history of breathing problems, you should avoid using a diffuser at all.
This list contains many common essential oils that are toxic to cats, but its not exhaustive. Ask your vet before using any essential oils around your cat.
- clove essential oil
- eucalyptus oil
- tea tree oil
One other important note: many of these oils are also used to make liquid potpourri, which should also not be used around cats.
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Are Cedar Chips Bad For Cats
Cedar chips are not bad for cats.
Since cedar trees are not bad for or toxic to cats, cedar chips are also not bad for cats. Chipped cedar might have even more of a smell than cedar trees. Therefore, the smell of cedar chips may deter your cat from coming near them.
The biggest concern about your cat being around cedar chips is that your cat may ingest them. The cedar chips arent toxic to your cat, but the small pieces could cause your cat to choke. Your cat may also get splinters from the wood in its mouth or scratch its gums if your cat attempts to eat them.
Are Any Essential Oils Safe For Cats
In short, there aren’t any safe essential oils for cats they all have the potential to be toxic to your fur baby. As the ASPCA pointed out, “In their concentrated form , essential oils can absolutely be a danger for pets,” including when the oil is placed on their skin, fur or paws.
However, there are precautions you can take if you wish to use essential oils in the home. Using diffusers instead of concentrates is one way to help avoid toxicity. CatHealth.com recommended using a diffuser in an open space and keeping kitty away from it and its cords . Cats are great at getting onto high surfaces and into small spaces, so you can never be too careful when storing essential oils.
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I Consulted My Veterinarian
Lets get back to the tail of Boudica. After doing some online research, I realized that fleas were more difficult to get rid of than I had thought. And I knew I didnt want to put my precious furball through any more grief. It was bad enough she was suffering from fleas.
As Wismer recommended, I took my cat to the veterinarian, and he gave me a free sample of a prescription flea treatment he assured me would keep her safe and flea-free.
However, Im glad I did my research first. Now I know that most essential oils, even in a diffuser, may annoy or even harm my cat. Since then, I have set up a designated meditation room in which to enjoy my essential oils.
If your cat is exhibiting breathlessness, ataxia, or any of the symptoms listed above, be sure to get her checked out by a veterinary professional as soon as possible.
Symptoms Of Harm Or Toxicity
Whether youre using essential oil products on yourself or for your dog, keep in mind that any oil can be harmful if its not properly diluted or used incorrectly.
In its pure, undiluted and concentrated form, essential oils can cause harmful reactions for animals, just like it can cause reactions in humans.
When using products containing essential oil, a few factors determine its effect on your dog. These include the type of oil, concentration level of the oil, and additional ingredients mixed with the oils which can cause varying reactions.
Topical or oral exposure can cause any of the following reactions:
- Skin irritatione.g. itchiness, burning, sloughing
- Respiratory irritatione.g. panting, coughing, wheezing. If your dog has underlying respiratory conditions such as asthma or allergies, certain essential oils can also exacerbate those conditions.
- GI upsete.g. vomiting, diarrhea
- Other potentially severe, less common symptoms also include gait unsteadiness, depression, lethargy, weakness, ulcers, hypothermia, rear leg paralysis, seizures,
In rare cases, if the oil is absorbed into the bloodstream, liver and kidney damage can occur.
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Is Lavender Safe For Cats
Do cats like lavender essential oil? Most cats appear to be just as fond of the scent as we are. Unfortunately, lavender and cats are not a safe combination and is not recommend. The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists the lavender plant itself as toxic to cats.1 Being sourced from the lavender plant, this means that lavender essential oil is also toxic.
Using lavender oil for fleas on cats may cause severe, life-threatening side effects if your cat is allergic. Make sure to check with a veterinarian before using any lavender essential oil products on your feline friend.1
Which Essential Oils Are Safe For Cats
April 23, 2018
Recently, there has been a lot of excitement, varying opinions and strong emotions surrounding the use of essential oils around cats. Organic Aromas wishes to remind everyone to be calm and approach this very important, yet sensitive, topic with caution, prudence and always using a practical approach. To avoid subjecting your beloved kitty to something unhealthy we remind everyone to go slow, use your essential oils sparingly and start in a place where your cat is not located.
Furthermore, please note that Organic Aromas strictly discourages the ingestion of any essential oil regardless of human or animal. Likewise, we never promote or condone the use of essential oils directly applied to the fur or the body of any animal ever.
We defer the decision to use essential oils for cats to the cat owner and his or her veterinarian.
Remember that for Organic Aromas, the primary context and purview of our article on the use of essential oils around cats is strictly limited to diffusion of those oils from our nebulizing diffusers® only. Moreover, as cat owners and lovers ourselves, the following list represents essential oils that we have used around our own pets for many years without trouble or incident.
We note that the following recommendations are essential oils that are NOT found on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® list of plants known to be toxic to cats!
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How Essential Oils Are Made
Essential oils are made by placing herbs, leaves, and flowers through a steam process that involves using an alembic . Vapor from the plant is then passed through a coil where it is condensed into its oil form.
Because this process is very delicate and expensive to manufacture, you will notice that price may seem a bit much. Keep in mind that these oils are extremely pure and could last you several months depending on how you use them.
Quality is another reason why you are paying a premium. You will notice that lots of generic-branded oils in stores claim to be 100% pure but do not have the same potency and smell.
Most of the time, the reason for this is that their method of extraction was of low quality. Another reason could be that these oils have been diluted with something else, which is completely dishonest.
All oils mentioned in this article have been carefully researched and selected for their purity and company reputation.
Soaps And Skincare Products
Because of cedarwood oil’s natural deodorizing and antiseptic properties, it’s used in many skincare and body cleansing products. Many people have seen excellent results when they’ve used skin products containing cedar oil for skin issues like eczema and acne, due to cedarwood oil’s high volatility toward the bacteria that cause these skin problems.
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Essential Oils Safe For Cats +
Whether theres a fluffy Maine Coon leaving hair just about everywhere around your homeor you admit to conversing regularly with your sleek Siameseif youre like most cat parents, you want your furry kid to stay healthy and stick around forever. Todays vet medicine industry goes to great lengths to help you do just that, but theres a therapeutic area that falls outside the medicinal arena: essential oils. Theyve become as popular for pets as they are for humans. Time to extend a paw on behalf of your favorite companion by learning about this fascinating topic!
Cedarwood Oil Vs Neem Oil
These are both considered horticultural oils that are excellent to have at your disposal in the garden, but they work in different ways.
Neem oil, for instance, works primarily to ward off mosquitoes and aphids. Cedarwood oil, on the other hand, works mostly to kill mollusks and moths.
Read Also:Neem Oil Safety Guide & Fact Sheet
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Essential Oils For Fleas
In recent years, essential oils have been used as natural alternatives for flea removal on pets, instead of traditional shampoos or chemical-based flea collars. Today, there are several products that use essential oils for fleas and ticks on the market.
The most common essential oils for fleas on dogs are , cedarwood essential oil, citronella essential oil and thyme essential oil.9
Products using cedarwood essential oils for fleas and ticks do exist, but these must be sourced carefully. Users should ensure the product uses Eastern Red Cedar essential oil, as oil from White Cedar can be toxic.12 Be careful to check the label thoroughly before using cedar essential oil for fleas.
Lavender essential oil flea spray and tick control products are effective, but the concentration needs to be verified before being used. Lavender can be toxic for dogs, and should only be used in very low concentrations.
Things To Be Wary Of When Using Oils On Cats
Common scenarios reveal essential oils to cause toxicity in cats, and that is something that you should watch out for. Cats may show signs through changing their habits in sleeping and eating behavior changes such as tiredness, and lack of energy digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea or vomiting and light-headedness.
In conclusion, essential oils generate various effects on your pet, but the general conception is that, as long as you only choose oils acceptable to cats, and these oils are kept in concentrations and levels which are low to moderate only, chances are your cat will be safe from any possibility of toxicity.
Make sure that you store essential oils properly and unreachable by your cat. If your pet cat has a serious medical problem and you deem essential oils to be useful, it is necessary for you to check with a veterinarian first as they may know better and may even recommend professionally blended oils that you can use.
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Cedarwood Oil As An Aromatherapy Treatment
Try inhaling cedarwood essential oil directly from the bottle, or sprinkling a small amount on a towel or cloth and placing that under your pillow.
You can also add cedarwood oil to an atomizer bottle and spray it on dried flowers or a lightbulb to gently scent your home.
Try mixing cedarwood oil with other soothing scents, such as lavender.
What Essential Oils Are Dangerous For Dogs
Although cedarwood oil is safe for use on your pup, not all essential oils are. Some oils can be poisonous if ingested, or even dangerous to be applied topically or through breathing. It is easy to confuse natural substances with safe substances.
Some of the poisonous oils for dogs are cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang.
It is always important to know which oils are safe for your dog before using them in your household. Be sure to consult your veterinarian with any questions you may have.
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