Use Caution
Key warning: lavender essential oil (more concentrated and toxic), large amounts of plant material, concentrated lavender products
Can Dogs Eat Lavender? Caution — Plant Mildly Toxic Essential Oil More Dangerous
This food requires caution. Read the details carefully before feeding.
Lavender plants and dried lavender are mildly toxic to dogs if ingested in significant amounts. Small amounts cause mild digestive upset. Lavender essential oil is much more concentrated and more toxic. Aromatherapy diffuser use in well-ventilated areas is generally safe.
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Warning Signs & Symptoms
Lavender essential oil: much more concentrated than plant — significant toxicity risk. Significant plant ingestion: digestive upset and mild toxicity. Concentrated lavender products: avoid.
If Your Dog Ate This
Essential oil ingestion: call vet. Significant plant ingestion: call vet. Brief contact: monitor only.
Safe to Feed
incidental brief contact — not ingestion
What to Avoid
lavender essential oil (more concentrated and toxic), large amounts of plant material, concentrated lavender products
Preparation & Serving
Keep essential oils out of reach. Well-ventilated aromatherapy diffuser use generally safe. Prevent significant plant ingestion.
Potential Health Benefits
None for dogs — lavender benefits are for humans.
Did you know?
Lavender has been cultivated for over 2500 years with evidence of its use in ancient Egypt Greece and Rome. The name comes from the Latin lavare meaning to wash — the Romans used lavender to scent their baths. France's Provence region is the world's largest lavender producer with over 20000 acres under cultivation. The lavender essential oil industry processes approximately 200 tons of plant material per ton of oil produced.
Portions & nutrition
- Calories (per 100g)
- 0
- Safe frequency
- Never intentionally — keep plants and oils secured
Source
What You Need to Know
Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate — compounds that cause digestive upset and mild toxicity in dogs when ingested in significant amounts. A dog that sniffs lavender or briefly contacts the plant is not in danger — the concern is ingestion of significant amounts of the plant material or particularly of concentrated lavender products like essential oils. Lavender essential oil used in diffusers in well-ventilated spaces generally does not cause problems at low concentrations. Concentrated oil applied to skin or ingested causes significant toxicity. Keep lavender essential oil bottles completely out of reach.
This food requires care — if your dog has eaten a large amount read our emergency guide
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