Skip to Content

Is Peppermint Essential Oil Safe for Dogs, Cats & Other Animals?

Peppermint oil is a naturally extracted essential oil that is used for a variety of purposes. It has a sharp and strong smell that is sometimes used to deter animals.

In today’s article, we will discuss if Peppermint essential oil is safe for dogs, cats, and other animals. 

Is peppermint essential oil safe for dogs? 

Peppermint oil is not considered safe for dogs. You can say that peppermint oil is toxic to pet animals such as dogs and cats. In addition to that, the toxic compounds present in peppermint essential oil will affect when they are applied to the skin or licked up by the dogs.

Peppermint essential oil is considered one of the most effective naturally extract oil that helps to cure problems like headaches, muscle aches, joint pain as well as skin irritation.

It is used to cure a variety of problems for humans. But it is not safe for pet animals and can be very harmful if consumed or smelled. Peppermint essential oil can cause serious harm to your pets as they are considered straight-up toxic.

It contains toxic compounds that can cause serious health issues for the dogs if the peppermint essential oil is used in diffusers. or licked by them in the case of a spill.

Generally, the dog has a stronger smelling sense compared to the human. So, smelling the strong pungent aroma of peppermint essential oil will cause them to face respiratory system problems.

As a result, if you have an active diffuser in your home, using peppermint essential oils in it may bring stress to the dogs and change their behavior.

That is why, if you have a diffuser around your dogs, you need to make sure that you use such type of essential oil that is not considered toxic for the pets. In case of a spill, if your dog licks the peppermint essential oil, they may become sick.

Generally, the fragrant-smelling liquids tend to attract pet animals since they have a strong sense of smell.

In that case, you need to make sure that you never leave essential oils unattended. In addition to that, never apply peppermint essential oil to your dog’s skin. It may start to bring skin irritation and make the dog sick. 

Can dogs smell, inhale, or ingest peppermint essential oil? Are dogs allergic to peppermint oil?

No, it is completely prohibited for the dogs to smell, inhale or ingest peppermint essential oils. Generally, peppermint essential oil is considered toxic for dogs and other pets.

The toxic compound present in peppermint essential oils starts to affect them immediately.

So, they face different types of diseases and sicknesses. In some cases, the dog may face respiratory problems, which will cause difficulties for the dog when breathing.

In addition to that, inhaling or smelling the peppermint essential oil will cause it to get damaged due to poisoning.

Yes, dogs are allergic to peppermint oils. Some essential oils are considered poisonous to them.

Breathing the peppermint essential oil can cause the dog to face respiratory system issues. Below is a brief discussion on what happens if the dog breathes peppermint oil: 

Face respiratory problems: 

Since dogs have a strong-smelling sense, they can have respiratory problems if they smell, inhale, or ingest. The peppermint essential oil. 

Damage to the liver: 

Inhaling the smell of peppermint oil will cause a sudden burden on a dog’s liver to metabolize complex chemicals. As a result, it will face poisoning or liver failure. 

Skin irritation: 

In some cases, breathing in the smell of peppermint essential oil will cause the dog to face skin-related issues such as rashes or skin irritation. 

What happens and what to do if your dog eats peppermint essential oil? 

Peppermint essential oil is a naturally extracted essential oil that is harmful, toxic, and poisonous to pet animals.

Inhaling, breathing, or consuming peppermint essential oil can cause immediate reactions in them and let them face various diseases.

In cases of a spill, the pet dog may lick or eat the peppermint essential oil. It contains toxic compounds that will make the dog face liver and respiratory problems.

Eating it will make it difficult for the dog to breathe and will also cause liver failure due to indigestion due to chemical reactions in the liver.

If your dog ever eats peppermint essential oil, you should not waste time and immediately start to make preparations to ensure proper treatments for the dog.

Smelling or inhaling the peppermint oil may also cause weakness due to the poisoning inside the dog’s stomach.

It will start to bring changes in your dog’s behavior such as depression and fatigue. In some cases, your dog may start drooling or vomiting.

You need to immediately wash the oil of your dog using a detergent type of soap as soon as possible and take it to a veterinarian. Is important to provide the dog with proper treatment.

If the treatment is done correctly and early enough, the poisonous reaction will go away and the dog will become recovered.

Is peppermint essential oil safe for cats?

Peppermint essential oil is considered toxic for pet animals such as cats. The cats have a strong-smelling sense. If they smell the strong aroma of peppermint essential oil, they will immediately start to develop difficulty in breathing, increased heart rate, and aspiration pneumonia.

Peppermint essential oil is considered an effective element for humans to recover from severe headaches and muscle aches.

But contains toxic compounds that can cause serious issues for the cats. That is why it is important to keep the peppermint essential oil away from the cats.

The cats can develop difficulty in breathing, increased heart rate, and aspiration, pneumonia just by smelling the strong pungent aroma of peppermint essential oil.

In some cases, the cats are considered very allergic to peppermint essential oil.

If you have an active diffuser in your home, you need to make sure that you do not use any essential oil, including peppermint essential oil that may cause harm to your cat.

Below is a brief discussion on whether diluted and diffusing peppermint oil is considered safe for cats or not: 

Diluted peppermint oil: 

No, diluted peppermint oil is considered poisonous to the cats. They are very toxic when inhaled, smelled, or even applied to their skin. The Cats will not be able to digest the smell of peppermint essential oil.

As a result, they may face food poisoning and liver failure. That is why it is highly recommended to keep the cats away from peppermint essential oil to prevent them from getting sick due to its poisonous smell of it.

Diffusing peppermint oil: 

Diffusing peppermint oils can harm your cats and make them face various diseases.

This is why it is important to know that cats cannot tolerate the smell of peppermint essential oil. It is recommended to refrain from using peppermint essential oil to protect the cats from toxic diseases.

Can you use peppermint essential oil for fleas and ticks on dogs & cats?

No, it is not recommended to use peppermint essential oil for fleas and ticks on dogs and cats.

Since peppermint essential oil is considered toxic and poisonous for cats and dogs, you should not use them to do the treatment or fleas antiques on dogs and cats. In addition to that, the topical application of peppermint essential oil is harmful.

That is why it can reach the scheme and enter the bloodstream of cats and dogs. As a result, they may face more serious health issues.

Is peppermint essential oil safe for other animals or pets?

Peppermint essential oil is a naturally extracted essential oil that is used to cure different types of diseases in humans such as headaches or muscle aches.

But it also contains toxic compounds that are harmful and poisonous to the pet animals. If the peppermint oil is licked or eaten by any pet animals, they can immediately get affected by a different type of health-related issue.

Since most pet animals have a strong-smelling sense, inhaling or breathing in the smell of peppermint essential oil will cause them to face respiratory problems.

In some cases, the chemical and toxic compound of peppermint essential oil can go inside the pet animals’ stomachs and prevent them from digesting it.

As a result, they will face stomach poisoning. Below is a brief discussion on whether it is safe to use peppermint essential oil for different pet animals: 

Birds: 

The smell of peppermint essential oil will not cause any significant damage to the birds, but if the peppermint essential oil is consumed by them, it will cause them to face serious health issues.

Rabbits: 

The rabbits have a strong-smelling sense. So, the powerful scent of peppermint essential oil helps to deter rabbits. In that case, peppermint essential oil is not suitable for rabbits.

Horses: 

Since horses are quite sensitive compared to humans, very concentrated essential oils can cause serious damage to the horse. However, peppermint essential oils will not cause any significant damage to the horses.

Ferrets: 

It is highly prohibited to provide your favorite with essential oil in any way or form. Long exposure to peppermint essential oils can cause significant health damage to the ferrets. So, you should not provide peppermint oils to ferrets.

Guinea pigs: 

The strong and pungent aroma of peppermint essential oil is harmful to Guinea pigs.

They will get affected by the toxic compound of peppermint essential oil very quickly. That is why it is highly recommended to keep the peppermint essential oils away from the guinea pigs.

Reptiles:

Peppermint essential oil as well as other essential oils are considered toxic to the reptiles. As a result, it is better to keep them away from government essential oil, otherwise, they will face serious health issues.

Final Thoughts

Peppermint essential oil is considered an effective essential oil for humans, but it contains toxic compounds that may cause serious health-related issues to the pet animals such as dogs and cats. They can easily get affected by smelling or inhaling. The scent of peppermint essential oil.