Is Grapefruit Essential Oil Safe For Dogs?

Essential oils are concentrated forms of the natural oils present in plants.

 These oils are highly volatile and evaporate easily, which makes them ideal for use in aromatherapy.

Essential oils are also used in a variety of other ways, such as topically applying them to the skin or using them in diffusers.

Grapefruit essential oil is derived from the peel of the grapefruit. It has a fresh, citrusy scent and is used in aromatherapy to boost energy and mood.

Grapefruit essential oil also has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.

But is the essential oil safe for your canine friends?

Let’s find out…

Is Grapefruit Essential Oil Toxic For Dogs?

Well, grapefruit essential oil is made from the peel of grapefruit. So, before we establish whether the essential oil is toxic for our pups or not, it is prudent to first understand if the grapefruit itself is safe to dogs.

Without further ado, pet parents are cautioned against feeding grapefruit to their dogs because it’s on the list of fruits that are toxic to dogs.

Grapefruit contains a compound called psoralen which can cause liver damage in dogs.

In a mild case, your dog might show mild symptoms like gastrointestinal upset which can easily be managed at home.

However, there is also the possibility of more long-term symptoms if the toxicity is not nipped in the bud.

If your dog suffers from grapefruit poisoning, it is important to have the toxins flushed out of the system as soon as possible. This is the only way to ensure no long-term effects.

Let’s Now Focus On Grapefruit Essential Oil…

As aforementioned, grapefruit essential oil is made from the peel of grapefruit. The peel is where most of the essential oil is found.

As you may know, grapefruit is a citrus fruit that has citrus properties. These properties make grapefruit essential oil very potent.

Just a few drops can affect your dog. It can cause an upset stomach and vomiting.

 In severe cases, it can even lead to seizures. This is especially so if your dog ingests the essential oil.

The psoralen compound (we mentioned in the previous section) may also be present in the essential oil and this would make it toxic too.

That said, most adult dogs are tolerant to mild doses of grapefruit but it is still not recommended.

If you must use it, make sure to always use a very low concentration. This means that you should only add a few drops of grapefruit essential oil to every ounce of carrier oil.

You should also never apply grapefruit essential oil directly to your dog’s skin as it can be irritating.

Grapefruit Essential Oil Poisoning Treatment

As we have already established, grapefruit essential oil is toxic and unsafe for dogs.

However, accidents do happen and your furry friend can ingest it without your knowledge.

If this happens, you should act quickly to help deal with the issue before it degenerates to something worse.

Grapefruit poisoning is a serious issue that needs a vet’s attention right away.

Once the vet examines your dog, he might induce vomiting to try to remove the ingested essential oil that might still be in the stomach.

If the vet didn’t see the dog right away, there is a chance the essential oil has already been absorbed into the body and so inducing vomiting may not do any good.

In such a case, the vet may administer activated charcoal to help bind the essential oil and reduce its absorption.

The vet will also closely monitor your dog for any other symptoms that might arise and treat them accordingly.

For instance, vomiting might be one of the signs of grapefruit poisoning, and the vet might administer an antiemetic to help stop the vomiting.

Because diarrhea and vomiting are some of the possible side effects, an affected dog can suffer dehydration.

If the vet discovers your dog is dehydrated, he might give your dog IV fluids to help replenish the lost fluids.

In more severe cases, your dog might need to be hospitalized for a few days so that he can be monitored closely and given the necessary treatment.

Last but not least, the vet will examine your dog’s coat to make sure there is no skin reaction.

 If a reaction is noticed, an ointment or cream might be prescribed to help soothe the skin.

How to Prevent Grapefruit Poisoning In Dogs

The best way to deal with grapefruit essential oil poisoning is to prevent it in the first place.

This means keeping the oil well out of reach of your dog.

You should also not use the oil around your dog and if you must, make sure to always use a very low concentration.

 Also, if you have grown grapefruit on your property, make sure to fence off the area in a way that the dog can’t access it.

Is Grapefruit Essential Oil Safe For Other Pets?

Even though grapefruit essential oil is not good for dogs, it is still totally safe for some other pets.

 For instance, it is one of the most important essential oils for birds and rabbits.

However, rats and deer can also be affected by grapefruit essential oil just as much as dogs.

 This means it might not be the best idea to grow grapefruit on a ranch that has lots of deer.

Can I Use Grapefruit Essential Oil for Fleas and Ticks on Dogs?

Many people swear by using essential oils to repel fleas and ticks, and grapefruit oil is one of the most popular options.

Diluted in a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, and applied to your dog’s coat, grapefruit essential oil is believed to keep pests at bay.

Even though this might be true, we’ve established in the previous sections that grapefruit essential oil is toxic to dogs.

Ingestion of the oil will result in poisoning while the topical application can result in skin irritation.

 It is, therefore, not advisable to use grapefruit essential oil in any way on or around your dog. 

Instead, check out this post for quick solutions: 50 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas on Your Dog

Summary

Grapefruit essential oil is not safe for dogs and can be quite toxic.

If your dog ingests it, he might suffer from gastrointestinal upset, liver damage, and skin reactions.

And if you think your dog has ingested grapefruit essential oil, don’t wait to see if he shows any symptoms.

 Take him to the vet right away so that he can be examined and treated accordingly.

What other essential oils are toxic to your pup? Find out from the following posts: