Is Lavender Toxic to Dogs?
Caution⚠️ Risky — depends on amount & dog
The garden plant is only mildly risky — a nibble causes at most mild stomach upset. Concentrated lavender essential oil is the real hazard.
Fresh lavender contains small amounts of linalool, and a grazing dog rarely eats enough to matter beyond mild nausea. The danger scales with concentration: lavender essential oil — licked from skin, diffuser spills, or chewed cotton refills — delivers doses that can cause drooling, vomiting, wobbliness, and lethargy. Diffusing in ventilated rooms is generally fine; applying oil to a dog is not.
What makes it dangerous: Linalool/linalyl acetate (concentrated in oil)
Symptoms to watch for
- Mild GI upset (plant)
- Drooling, vomiting, wobbliness (oil)
- Lethargy
What to do right now
- Plant nibble: water and watchful waiting
- Essential oil exposure: wash it off skin/fur, call vet if wobbly or vomiting
- Never dose a dog with essential oils
Sources: Pet Poison Helpline. Educational reference — not veterinary advice.