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cats and diffused oils - a possible campaign

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, Marge Clark <marge@n...> wrote:

> At 01:50 AM 1/11/04, you wrote:

>

> >I'm a little worried about diffusing oils if I got a new cat. I know

> >that oils are not good for cats. I'd send the neighbor's cat home for a

> >few hours when I needed to diffuse oils in my old house. Usually, I'd

> >wait until he asked to go outside - so as not to hurt his feelings.

> >Here, if the cat lives with me...where could she go? How safe is it to

> >just put a cat in a different room for a few hours, I wonder. How long

> >before it's ok for a cat to come back into a room that's been cleaned

> >with oils in the water or had oils diffused into the air?

> >

> >Any cat owners in this group who diffuse oils often?

 

 

I don't diffuse often, only when I feel a real need to (chest cold,

sinues, etc.) but when I do I kick the cats out, shut the bedroom

door, put a towel under the door, and set the timer. I set the last

time for about two hours before we wake up and open door. Otherwise,

the cats have access to the rest of the house. When I'm thinking of

it, and it isn't frigid outside, I open the bedroom window to disperse

the air when I wake up.

 

I also make sure I set the nebulizer low, since I have the

professional model, and when it is set on high, it really fills up a room!

 

When I use a candle -type diffuser, I just make sure I don't put in

more than 6 drops or so, and that the it's only in one room, and the

cats have access to other areas of the house.

 

I have had bloodwork done on all the cats recently for their

pre-dental workup, and none of them have any elevated liver enzymes.

However, I've only been doing this for about a year or so, and have no

idea if the small amts. of aerosolized oils they come in contact with

will have lasting effects. I rather doubt it, as I am pretty aware

and careful about their exposure to the oils, and they aren't exposed

often. If the bloodwork ever changes and shows ANY liver/kidney

elevation (for whatever reason) - I will stop all forms of diffusion

period.

 

I think your best course of action is to try to prevent them from

coming into contact with aerosolized oils as much as possible, be

aware of their access to fresh air, and get routine check ups and

bloodwork every year (you should do that anyway :). Judicious and

safe use yourself will help keep them safe.

 

The other thing I think really needs to happen in regards to the whole

cat/eo issue is to make vets aware of the toxicity issues regarding

cats and EOs. It's not routinely covered in vet school or CE. heck,

most vets have no idea what EOs even are. Recently, I explained this

all to my vet friend, and he said " you mean that patchouli stuff all

the hippies wear? " And I just wondered how many cases of idiopathic

liver failure slip past the diagnostic scope per year.

 

I'm thinking that maybe in my capacity as an RVT, I can draft letter

and send to not only the vet poison control center but all the local

vets in my area. Further, I could send copies of a letter to JAVMA,

and the other journals and magazines. The problem is, it there is

lots of anecdotal evidence, and little hard research, and no studies.

Would any of the journals take it seriously? Doubt it. Anyone have

any thoughts, ideas or advice on this?

 

Damn, if I weren't leaving for Korea in May, I'd run a freakin' study

myself. It would be really great for " the cause " to be able to do

even a small study and get it published.

 

JenB

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Jen

 

often seen your posts on other lists and know this is a 'pet'

subject of yours. Shame you are not in Australia. We are finally

getting organised here and holistic vets with animal natural

therapists now have a procedure we are encouraging others to be able

to report any adverse reactions to any natural therapy or essential

oil, herb etc with animals. Actually owners can also report

incidents of adverse reactions (and non effect as well).

 

The Australia National Registration Authority (NRA) for Agricultural

and Veterinary Chemicals now has facilities for us to voluntarily

report incidents though they have gone through a name change and now

call themselves the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines

Authority.

 

This will give you an idea anyway, so eventually there will be a

decent database

https://services.apvma.gov.au/AerpWebApp/Welcome.jsp

 

It is still a long way off from what you would like to see and some

of me likes the idea, another part of me is still hesitant to

embrace certain aspects.

 

For those in Australia and interested in working with animals, just

as an aside, natural therapy products marketed for animal use are

now going through a similar process we went through with the TGA a

few years ago where any product for use with animals needs to be

registered to be able to be sold on by a third party. (its been a

long day and not focused enough to go into the details).

 

regards

Catherine

Author ~ A Healthy Horse the Natural Way

http://www.catherinebird.com.au

Keep up to date with natural therapies for horses with our monthly

online newsletter at catherinebird/

 

 

> I'm thinking that maybe in my capacity as an RVT, I can draft

letter

> and send to not only the vet poison control center but all the

local

> vets in my area. Further, I could send copies of a letter to

JAVMA,

> and the other journals and magazines. The problem is, it there is

> lots of anecdotal evidence, and little hard research, and no

studies.

> Would any of the journals take it seriously? Doubt it. Anyone

have

> any thoughts, ideas or advice on this?

>

> Damn, if I weren't leaving for Korea in May, I'd run a freakin'

study

> myself. It would be really great for " the cause " to be able to do

> even a small study and get it published.

>

> JenB

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Hey Catherine,

 

> Jen

>

> often seen your posts on other lists and know this is a 'pet'

> subject of yours. Shame you are not in Australia.

 

I agree, especially this time of year. :)

 

> We are finally

> getting organised here and holistic vets with animal natural

> therapists now have a procedure we are encouraging others to be able

> to report any adverse reactions to any natural therapy or essential

> oil, herb etc with animals. Actually owners can also report

> incidents of adverse reactions (and non effect as well).

 

On one hand, I think that's one good way for natural modalities to

gain more credibility in the eyes of the " establishment " But I wonder

if creating such a registry isn't the " establishment's " way of getting

closer to regulation of holistic therapies/products/herbs Eos etc.?

We have a drug registry where we can report adverse reactions to

medications and OTC products, but I don't think it covers holistic or

natural products as of yet. Given the ephedra ban, I wonder if we are

not too far away from that? Especially under the current

administration.

 

> The Australia National Registration Authority (NRA) for Agricultural

> and Veterinary Chemicals now has facilities for us to voluntarily

> report incidents though they have gone through a name change and now

> call themselves the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines

> Authority.

>

> This will give you an idea anyway, so eventually there will be a

> decent database

> https://services.apvma.gov.au/AerpWebApp/Welcome.jsp

 

We have an NRA here too, but it's an entirely different beast.... ;)

 

The one thing I noticed about that page is there was no way to search

the database of the reactions - however, it's early here and I'm still

slightly groggy too, maybe I missed it.

 

> It is still a long way off from what you would like to see and some

> of me likes the idea, another part of me is still hesitant to

> embrace certain aspects.

 

Given the state of things here, and the " smoke and mirrors " job the

DOA and FDA have done to the public regarding the BSE case, I'm really

not sure WHAT I would like to see happen anymore, Catherine. I am

citing the BSE thing because I fear it WILL become a problem if the

current state of things doesn't change, and it will trickle down into

the small animal world (not the disease, but the policies that allowed

the disease to break through.) Would more or less gov't control help

the situation? I don't honestly know - I think it might depend on who

is running the gov't.

 

Bottom line, what I would like to see is more information, awareness

and pet/animal advocacy period. I think we both agree on this. :)

 

Have a good night,

 

JenB

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