When it comes to regularly using scented candles, most people try to achieve the best atmosphere for a cosy evening at home. No wonder, as using your favourite ones will help you relive stress and enhance your mood. However, in order to really have a stress-free evening, paying attention to safety is crucial. With candles, you have quite a few safety measurements to keep in mind. One of them would be the effect candles have on cats and dogs. So, if you have pets at home too, it is important to know which essential oils are safe around cats and dogs.
What to keep in mind?
Generally, your pets can either inhale or eat essential oils, as well as absorb them through their skin. These three ways are obviously not equally dangerous but must be avoided. They can cause respiratory problems when inhaled, digestive issues when eaten, and skin irritations and allergies when contacting skin.
First things first, it is extremely important to keep these oils and scented candles out of reach. This way, you can avoid skin contact and having your dog accidentally licking oil. However, there is one more important aspect. Always remember that cats and dogs have a lot more sensitive sense of smell than us. This makes them more prone to various problems, such as respiratory issues or eye irritations.
In order to avoid all the above-mentioned problems, it is advised to take precautions. This means considering carefully which oils to choose and how to use them safely. Let’s see what you should keep in mind when burning scented candles or using essential oil diffusers.
Pet friendly essential oils
Let’s start with what to choose. Even if pets are more sensitive to essential oils, there are several options which are safe and pet friendly. So, you don’t have to give up on essential oils and scented candles completely! Below, you can find few essential oils which are safe to use with cats or dogs in the room. Lavender and chamomile are widely used due to their stress-reliving effect. Ginger and frankincense are also safe options if you would like to choose a bit stronger one.
Other safety points
Apart from choosing the right essential oils, there is the question of how. How to use them in a safe way? First of all, never leave your scented candle or essential oil aroma diffuser unattended. This way you can avoid them spilling essential oil and licking them off. Secondly, always use them in a well-ventilated room to avoid heavy scent. Lastly, always leave the door open so your cats and dogs could leave the room if the fragrance is too strong or unpleasant for them.
As you can see from this post, using essential oils with cats and dogs present requires certain safety measures. However, you don’t have to give up on your favourite fragrances at home. Simply make sure to do it the right way!
