Spread the knowledge - I wish I didn't have to learn the hard way!


Last night my dog, Doogy, was itching his hot spots more than usual. I remembered that tea tree oil was very helpful for my son's mosquito bites last summer and thought it would be the perfect stuff to help Doogy feel more comfortable. Ignorant to the fact that tea tree oil is toxic to pets, I put some tea tree oil on Doogy's hot spots.  This morning when I saw Doogy he could barely stand. He was wobbly and weak. Knowing the only new thing introduced to Doogy was the tea tree oil I used on him the previous night, I did a quick search online for tea tree oil and dogs. I found that tea tree oil is toxic to pets.  


I immediately called the vet and got Doogy in as soon as I could.  He was lucky. He just needed a strong bath to make sure no more tea tree oil would be absorbed through the skin. I found other stories online that were much more serious. 

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Tea Tree Oil poisoning can happen in both cats and dogs when applied to the skin at too high a dose. Tea tree oil is absorbed through the skin. If your pet 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 behaviorTea tree oil toxicity ranges between 2 and 5 g/kg body weight.  This is why, it is common for uninformed pet owners to accidentally poison their own pets -particularly small cats and dogs.


If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned, contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 immediately.  They are available all day, every day.
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