Don't Believe Everything You Read!

Tea tree oil, derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, has recently been criticized for its potential dangers to dogs and cats. A 2014 article by the ASPCA reported on 337 dogs and 106 cats that were exposed to tea tree oil at 100% concentration and suffered toxicity as a result.

However, it is important to note that no essential oil should ever be applied to skin or consumed undiluted, and that the toxicity cases reported were likely caused by poor quality, contaminated, or synthetic tea tree oil.

Unfortunately, the article didn't address why tea tree oil got a bad reputation, how it can be safely used, and when you should use tea tree oil dog shampoo for yeast and bacterial infections. 

So, let's talk about tea tree oil and look at the facts. 

Why does Tea Tree Oil Have a Bad Reputation?

The late 1980s saw a surge in popularity of Melaleuca, which also led to a rise in poor quality, contaminated, and synthetic tea tree oil being marketed. Holistic veterinarian Dr. Melissa Shelton, owner of animalEO and an expert on the use of essential oils in veterinary treatment and animal wellness, states in her book that cases of tea tree oil toxicity have been traced back to poor grade and synthetic substitutes or gross misuse and over-dosage.

"The cases of tea tree oil toxicity that have enough data to trace and research the sources have revealed poor grade and synthetic substitutes or gross mis-use and over-dosage." Dr Melissa Shelton, Animal Desk Reference Second Edition, Essential Oils for Animals.”

 Synthetic "essential oils" are dangerous and should never be used, as they can cause adverse reactions. Many companies sell cheap, synthetic "essential oils" falsely advertising them as pure and organic. These products are not safe for any living being, and it is important to research and invest in high-quality, pure essential oils.

Is Tea Tree Oil Safe for Pets?

Short Answer: ABSOLUTELY!

It is important to understand the benefits and safe use of essential oils, such as tea tree oil, in pet grooming. Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties and is indicated for yeast or bacterial infections of the skin, ringworm, candida, and various other skin conditions. While Tisserand and Young recommended maximum dermal use level is 15% for pure tea tree oil, the typical dilution of tea tree oil in a dog shampoo would be less than 2% and it should be part of a tri-blend of oils for maximum effectiveness. It is recommended to use a concentration of 0.1-1% or even 2% for safe topical application on pets.

Lillian Ruff, a trusted brand in pet grooming, offers a Flea & Tick shampoo formulated with undiluted tea tree oil. Lillian Ruff's carefully crafted shampoo specially formulated for pets provided a safe and effective solution for pet grooming. Trusting reputable brands like Lillian Ruff, that use pure and undiluted essential oils, can provide the safe and effective benefits that tea tree oil is known for. This ingredient has scientifically proven properties that can benefit your pet's skin and coat.

We are all becoming very aware of how Ill-advised it is to accept just about everything that shows up in print these days. The article that prompted our response is a perfect example of misinformation being regurgitated out with very little thought about relevant content sources, actual research or analytical data.

In conclusion, it is important to understand the difference between pure, undiluted essential oils and cheap, synthetic "essential oils" and to use caution when choosing brands that use tea tree oil on pets or for cleaning purposes. Investing in high-quality, brands like Lillian Ruff that use pure essential oils can provide the safe and effective benefits that tea tree oil is known for.