Essential oils and reptiles?

[maryanne27]

Hey guys, I just got into the whole essential oil thing - pretty cool stuff! I know they can have incredible health benefits for humans and some animals. I'm just curious - does anyone know if they can be used on chameleons?

Mine keeps getting small bumps - vet removes them, he gets an antibiotic, they heal over, but I noticed a couple itty bitty ones starting elsewhere. I know the oils can really help bring down inflammation, ease pain, help get rid of warts and tumors, and draw out fluid/infections of certain types, but I don't want to just go rubbing something on him that could harm him. I'll stick with the vet, but if there is an alternative that wouldn't wear him out so much for a week at a time, I would much prefer that route!

Anyone have any info, experience, or resources to share on the topic?

 

[nick barta]

Any opinion given would be very subjective to the persons observations/assumptions. Smear yourself down, leave the cham alone!

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[jannb]

I don't have any knowledge of using these oils but personally I would be afraid to use them without asking my vet about it first. My vet has recommend aloe before on scars after surgery. Tate tends to get these same bumps and have some of these same problems as his brother. I wonder if it could be a genetic thing?

 

[SocialNumb]

This one is tuff to talk about openly without someone taking it personal. With peoples beliefs and what not. The science does not have anything good to say about these oils. A quick google search and you'll discover there are no standards or overhead to make sure these things are safe, never mind if they do what they claim. From what I've read, they don't.

IMO, I think it's best to just stick with the professionals on this one. The oils may not hurt us (assuming you use them responsibly) but who knows what they'll do to other animals.

Just my opinion and what I understand from reading about this stuff.

Good Luck

 

[maryanne27]

This one is tuff to talk about openly without someone taking it personal. With peoples beliefs and what not. The science does not have anything good to say about these oils. A quick google search and you'll discover there are no standards or overhead to make sure these things are safe, never mind if they do what they claim. From what I've read, they don't.

IMO, I think it's best to just stick with the professionals on this one. The oils may not hurt us (assuming you use them responsibly) but who knows what they'll do to other animals.

Just my opinion and what I understand from reading about this stuff.

Good Luck

I understand the hesitation... some people get really defensive! I think when you look in the right places and not just something quick, more information can be gleaned. The synthetic oils make me nervous, but I am getting the 100% good stuff haha
Anyways, thanks for the input! I think I may hold off... just thought I would throw it out there and see what I got back!

 

[maryanne27]

I don't have any knowledge of using these oils but personally I would be afraid to use them without asking my vet about it first. My vet has recommend aloe before on scars after surgery. Tate tends to get these same bumps and have some of these same problems as his brother. I wonder if it could be a genetic thing?

Oh perfect - I actually have an aloe plant right outside of Rory's enclosure! Haha maybe I'll give that a shot next time. He just wants to go all over, but he has always been clumsy (even when he was pretty healthy when I first got him, just trying for too much and ending up falling) and sore ankles don't help.

I was kind of curious about that possibility of genetics, though. Has your vet said anything about what the bumps could be?

 

[maryanne27]

Any opinion given would be very subjective to the persons observations/assumptions. Smear yourself down, leave the cham alone!

CHEERS!

Nick

Hahaha good point!

 

[junglefries]

This exact topic appeared about a year ago, maybe 1 1/2. Maybe use the advance search to find it.

 

[unixmiah]

Not a good idea. Oils have scents and other stuff that may not be good for them.

Any type of smoke, 420 smoke, air freshers, oil, plug in oil should be kept away. You should only blow air if you have a ceiling fan.

I did have a aromatherapy mister which I loved having near his cage because the misting of the cages small smell like a swamp sometimes. But U asked around, over time it's not a good idea. They should get fresh breeze how they do in nature.

 

[Carlton]

Not a good idea. Oils have scents and other stuff that may not be good for them.

Any type of smoke, 420 smoke, air freshers, oil, plug in oil should be kept away. You should only blow air if you have a ceiling fan.

I did have a aromatherapy mister which I loved having near his cage because the misting of the cages small smell like a swamp sometimes. But U asked around, over time it's not a good idea. They should get fresh breeze how they do in nature.

I think the OP was talking about using oil on the cham's skin, not in a diffuser. I do not use incense, volatile scents or essential oil diffusers around my birds or chams as both have pretty sensitive respiratory systems. Many of these chemicals leave oily residue on surfaces including the cage leaves your chams would drink off of.

As for using the oils on the cham's skin, I would not do it unless I could find research on the oil's use on herps. Just wouldn't want to take a chance.

 

[Chris Waring]

Does it or anything similar occur naturaly in your chameleons natural habitat?
Yes = dooooo it
No = don't even think of it.

Chris.

 

[Carlton]

Does it or anything similar occur naturaly in your chameleons natural habitat?
Yes = dooooo it
No = don't even think of it.

Chris.

Don't assume everything that occurs in the cham's wild habitat is safe. There are all sorts of risks in a wild life including irritating or even toxic plants (sap, leaves or fruits), noxious or toxic insects, as well as predators. also remember that essential oils tend to be concentrated, so more potent. If in doubt, don't use it on or in your cham's immediate area.