Grooming can be a stressful experience for your pets. Some salons utilize aromatherapy with their fur clients. With aromatherapy, essential oils like lavender are diffused into the air. Scientist believe scents like lavender may help calm both dogs and people by sending chemicals to the brain that affect mood and emotion. Due to the risks of essential oils on the skin and being ingested, we do not use them in our mobile grooming vans or ever on your cat or dog.
Instead, we ensure a calm, relaxing bath and talk softly and use a soft, personal touch with your precious furbaby. Since dogs and cats are our life, making them feel good is our passion. We know groomed pets feel better and grooming is essential to prevent oily hair from getting tangled and matted.
Why we never use essential oils with cats
The ASPCA lists lavender plants as toxic to cats as it has a chemical called linalool.
Since our #1 goal is the safety and care of your cat, we would never risk exposing your cat to essential oils. Cats lick their skin and any oil diffused in the air could find it’s way to your cats skin.
According to the ASPCA, these oils are “rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. ”
Even diffusers in your home are not 100% safe for your pets. Since drops of oil are dispersed in the air, if your cat is in the room or sleeps on something that may have microdrops on it, the oil may settle on your cat’s fur. The oils can be absorbed through the skin or ingested when the drops fall on your cat’s skin and she licks herself.
How do I know if my cat became sick?
According to the ASPCA, symptoms of oil exposure include: drooling, vomiting, tremors, wobbliness, respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure.
Call the PET POISON HOTLINE – 800-213-6680 if you suspect your pet ingested the oil.
We recommend having this number, as well as the number of your vet and 24 hr. emergency vet, handy at all times.