Is Cedar Oil Safe for Horses?

We love horses here at Cedarcide. So much so, in fact, we’ve rescued 7 of them from kill pens as part of the Cedarcide Horse Rescue. The strength, grace and kindness of these majestic animals continues to be a great source of inspiration for our Cedarcide team.

Occasionally we’re asked, “Is cedar oil toxic to horses?” The short answer is No—when properly formulated and properly used, cedar oil is not toxic to horses. But there’s more to be said on the topic. Let us explain.

 

Cedar Oil And Horses  

It’s important to note that you should never use full-strength essential oils directly on your horse’s coat—that includes cedar oil. Undiluted essential oils can be irritating to horses’ skin, and “hot” essential oils—which includes cassia, cinnamon bark, clove, hyssop, lemongrass, ocotea, oregano, and thyme—can actually cause mild burns and rashes. When it comes to cedar oil specifically, some species of cedar—like Western red cedar and white cedar for example—are naturally toxic and irritating, and should never be used in topical horse products.

Full a full list of plants toxic to horses, click here.

 

How Is Cedarcide Cedar Oil Different?

Firstly, Cedarcide products never contain toxic species of cedar. Secondly, because we use only the highest quality cedar oil sourced from only pet-safe cedar trees (Juniperus ashei, to be specific), our products are always non-toxic, all natural, and safe for pets, including horses. Using a multi-step filtration process, our cedar oil is purified of all unnecessary contaminants and any other potentially harmful ingredients. However, as with any topical animal product, we suggest testing your horse for possible sensitivity or allergy to cedar oil with a light initial application.

 

How To Use Cedarcide For Horses  

At Cedarcide, we offer four products for horses and horse owners: our all natural insect spray, Cedarcide Original, our natural extra strength insect spray, Tickshield, our concentrated pest-control bathing solution, Vet’s Choice, and a ready-to-use Domestic Animal Spray, D.A.S.
Note: all our pet products are natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Tips for Using Cedarcide Original and Tickshield on Horses
We’ve found that some horses dislike being sprayed—for whatever reason, the spraying or spritzing action can occasionally frighten some horses. Because of this, we recommend approaching your first application of Cedarcide Original or Tickshield with caution. If you find your horse dislikes being sprayed, simply apply your chosen solution by misting your hands and massaging the spray into your horse’s coat.   

If the spraying action does not bother your horse, apply Cedarcide Original or its extra strength counterpart, Tickshield, by misting your horse all over—including armpits, underbelly, and around the ears and tail. However, when applying these solutions, do not spray your horse’s face. Instead, spray the solution into your palms, and apply it to the face using your hands. Regularly treating your horses with Cedarcide Original or Tickshield will kill and provide protection against additional ticks, mosquitoes, flies, mites, gnats, ear mites and other biting insects.

 

Tips for Using Vet’s Choice on Horses  
Vet’s Choice is an extra strength, all natural and highly versatile concentrate designed to control insects and parasites commonly found on pets and livestock. Vet’s Choice eliminates and repels ticks, mosquitoes, flies, mites, gnats, ear mites and dozens of other biting insects. Vet’s Choice can be mixed with water for use as a bath, spray or dip. It can also be used in stables and barns to reduce flying insects, or used as a treatment for mange and several other common skin disorders. 

If you plan to spray your horse directly, use 4 oz. of Vet’s Choice per each gallon of water. For a bath, we suggest mixing 2 oz. of Vet’s Choice per each gallon of water. For a dip, use a 1:200 ratio of Vet’s Choice to water.

 

Tips for Using D.A.S. for Horses  
D.A.S. (Domestic Animal Spray) is a ready-to-use, all natural and highly versatile solution designed to control insects and parasites commonly found on pets and livestock—think of it as a pre-diluted version of Vet’s Choice. Like Vet’s Choice, D.A.S. can be used as a bath, spray or dip, but with D.A.S. there’s no need to dilute beforehand. D.A.S. can be used in stable misting systems to reduce flying insects. It can also be used to treat mange and other common skin disorders. vr bgt/yuipo

Tip: D.A.S. works best when animals are thoroughly wetted with the product and allowed to air dry.

 

The post Is Cedar Oil Safe for Horses? appeared first on CedarCide.