Tea Tree Oil Toxicity: Cats, Dogs and Swallowing
Why tea tree oil is a poisoning risk when swallowed by people and when put on or eaten by cats and dogs, based on NCCIH, poison-center pages and veterinary case reviews.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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Urgent. If a person has swallowed tea tree oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or use the online tool at poison.org. Call 911 if the person has collapsed, had a seizure or has trouble breathing. [1] If a pet has been exposed, call a veterinarian or an animal poison line right away. Animal poison lines are separate from Poison Help; see Pet and animal poisoning.
Tea tree oil is not for swallowing
NCCIH says tea tree oil should not be swallowed, and that taking it orally can cause serious symptoms such as confusion, unsteadiness, inability to walk and coma. [2] Mouthrinses that contain tea tree oil should not be swallowed either. [2] A published toxicity review (Hammer and colleagues, 2006) likewise states that the oil is toxic if ingested in higher doses. [3] Poison Control names tea tree oil among essential oils in its guide and advises keeping all essential oils locked up, out of sight and out of reach of children and pets. [1] This page describes the risks only; it does not describe any way to use the oil by mouth.Cats and dogs: what veterinary records show
| Source | What it found | Type of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| ASPCA Animal Poison Control records, 2002 to 2012 (Khan and colleagues, 2014) | 443 cases (337 dogs, 106 cats) exposed to 100% tea tree oil. Signs such as drooling, depression or lethargy, weakness, loss of coordination and tremors developed within 2 to 12 hours and lasted up to 72 hours. [4] | Retrospective case series |
| Same study | Younger and lighter-weight cats were at greater risk of major illness. [4] | Association in records |
| National Animal Poison Control Center reports (Villar and colleagues, 1994) | Oil applied to the skin of dogs and cats was mostly used to treat skin problems at inappropriately high doses; signs were depression, weakness, incoordination and tremors, and animals recovered with supportive care within 2 to 3 days. [5] | Case reports |
| Pet Poison Helpline (US) | Higher concentrations are toxic to pets, and even a few concentrated drops applied to the skin or swallowed can cause severe poisoning. [6] | Poison-service statement |
What the pet-poison service says about concentration
Pet Poison Helpline says pet products such as shampoos with less than 1 to 2% tea tree oil are generally considered non-toxic when used according to label directions. [6] This is the service's statement about commercial pet products, not advice for using oil on an animal at home. The 2014 case series was of 100% oil, so it does not describe low-strength products.What the sources do not tell us
- Whether diffused tea tree oil harms cats or dogs: not described in the sources we read, so we cannot say it is safe or unsafe. See Essential oils and pets for the wider pet picture.
- Rates of poisoning in the general pet population: the case series counts reported cases only.
Birds and other animals
A case report described a pet cockatiel with severe liver damage after three drops of tea tree oil were applied to its wing skin; the bird recovered after 48 hours in hospital. [7] One case does not show how common it is, but it shows other pets can be affected.People who may be most at risk
Poison Control notes that children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects. [1] Swallowing by a child is a poisoning emergency. Aspirating (breathing in) an essential oil can cause pneumonia if someone chokes while trying to swallow it. [1] See Swallowing essential oils: what poison centers say and Essential oil poisoning: what to do first.Prevention
Store oils so children and pets cannot reach them, as Poison Control advises. [1] If you are unsure what a product contains, ask a pharmacist or veterinarian.Frequently asked questions
Is tea tree oil toxic to cats?
Veterinary records say it can be. In 443 reported dog and cat cases of 100% oil exposure, signs included tremors and loss of coordination, and younger, lighter cats were at higher risk of major illness. [4] Pet Poison Helpline lists liver failure in cats among documented signs. [6]
Is tea tree oil toxic to dogs?
Pet Poison Helpline says higher concentrations are toxic to pets and even a few concentrated drops on the skin or swallowed can cause severe poisoning. [6]
What happens if a person swallows tea tree oil?
NCCIH says serious symptoms such as confusion, unsteadiness, inability to walk and coma can occur. [2] Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Are tea tree shampoos for pets safe?
Pet Poison Helpline says products under 1 to 2% used per label are generally considered non-toxic. [6] Ask a veterinarian about your animal.
Does diffusing tea tree oil harm pets?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We checked NCCIH, Poison Control, Pet Poison Helpline and the veterinary case reviews listed here.
References
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control). https://www.poison.org/articles/essential-oils. Read 2026-10-23.
- Tea Tree Oil (NCCIH, National Institutes of Health). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tea-tree-oil. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV, Nielsen JB. A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006;44(5):616-625. PubMed 16243420. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Khan SA, McLean MK, Slater MR. Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats: 443 cases (2002-2012). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014;244(1):95-99. PubMed 24344857. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Villar D et al. Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1994;36(2):139-142. PubMed 8197716. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Tea Tree Oil (Pet Poison Helpline). https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/tea-tree-oil/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Vetere A et al. Acute tea tree oil intoxication in a pet cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus): a case report. BMC Vet Res. 2020;16(1):29. PubMed 32005244. Abstract read 2026-10-23.