As you sip your pumpkin spice latte and diffuse your favourite holiday oils, you may pause and think, "Are these oils safe to diffuse around my animals? Please, Dr. Roark, don't make me give up Cinnamon, Cassia, Clove or Peppermint!"
Yes... You can diffuse these oils during the holiday season BUT you need to take a few safety precautions to protect your animals:
1. Be sure to diffuse in an open area with the door open so your pet can leave the room if desired. Some of the most popular oils for the winter months are "hot" oils that are very strong smelling to your pets so help them be comfortable by making sure they can always leave the room.
2. When diffusing, only use 3-4 drops of oil in a water-based diffuser on an intermittent setting. No more than 4-6 drops total if you are using a diffuser recipe.
3. Be sure your diffuser is in an area where your pet cannot knock it over.
4. When using essential oils, only use tested as pure essential oils. Many essential oils are adulterated with chemicals that are very toxic for pets to breathe in. I use and recommend doTERRA products, but there are other safe brands out there.
5. If your pet has an adverse reaction (such as red eyes, watery eyes, or panting more than normal), turn off the diffuser and get your pet some fresh air. Take note of what oil you are diffusing and know that your pet may be sensitive to that particular oil. Every animal is an individual and some are more sensitive than others.