Vet issues urgent warning to dog owners over common household item that causes serious liver damage

A veterinary clinic has issued an urgent warning to dog and cat owners over a common household item that can cause serious liver damage.

Pets on Parker, a vet clinic in Victoria, Australia, responded to a woman’s Facebook post urging people not to use essential oil diffusers.

Marianne Whyte, a grandmother from New Zealand, explained how her beloved dog didn’t recognise her when she returned home on a Saturday night in November 2019.

Startled, she soon realised that his strange behaviour was down to the new diffuser she had been running, and turned it off immediately. 

After taking her pooch to the vet, Marianne’s suspicions were confirmed and he had to receive fluids to get rid of the toxins.

Pets on Parker, a vet clinic in Victoria, Australia, responded to a woman’s Facebook post urging people not to use essential oil diffusers. Stock photo

Posting a picture of her furry friend recovering on the sofa, Marianne wrote: ‘It turns out that the tea tree oil I was using in the diffuser is toxic for dogs. 

‘Thankfully the test showed that his liver was ok but we weren’t out of the woods yet. He was given fluids under his skin to get the toxins out.’

Marianne warned: ‘The vet and the poison control are saying that they see these cases often now that the popularity of essential oil is growing.

‘Please make sure that the essential oils you are burning are not toxic for your pets.’

Earlier this week, the Facebook post resurfaced online – which prompted Pets on Parker to warn dog and cat owners of the potential dangers.

Speaking to 7News, team explained how that cats don’t have the enzyme glucuronyl transferase in their livers – meaning they can’t break down the essential oils.

‘Their livers are slower at eliminating these compounds, which can lead to toxic build-up,’ the team said. ‘While dogs do not lack this enzyme, they are still sensitive to essential oils and can become very sick if exposed to them.’ 

As a result, pets can develop liver failure if they inhale these essential oils – which can be fatal if not treated. 

Marianne revealed that she had come home late on Sunday night and found that her dog didn’t recognise her after she left her diffuser on

The experts stressed that the warning signs to look out for include laboured breathing, difficulty walking, drooling, diarrhoea, muscle tremors, vomiting and appearing lethargic. 

As well as tea-tree oil, the veterinary clinic warned that rosemary, thyme, geranium, and wintergreen oils are especially toxic to dogs.

In addition, eucalyptus, cinnamon, bergamot, lavender, peppermint and wild orange were among the most toxic essential oils for cats to inhale.

Following Marianne’s post, followers quickly shared their shock at the revelation.

One writing: ‘Thanks for sharing this.. have passed it on as I think it very important.’

Another added: ‘This may be of interest to my dog loving friends, it was news to me but I did know that frankincense can cause fits in humans’.

Elsewhere one wrote: ‘Better not to use them at all. So pleased you found the cause and let everyone know. It must have been terrible for you x sending hugs for a speedy recovery’.