How safe is citronella for dogs?

If you should own an annoying barker, you could be contemplating about having a citronella bark collar such as the one the town judge ordered us to get.

All the same, before going out and buying the first citronella collar product you come across, you ought to make perfectly sure that citronella is safe for your dog.  Safety, in this case boils down to toxicity.

Is Citronella Oil Toxic?

1. From the EPA:  Assessing Risks to Human Health

1. In studies using laboratory animals, Oil of Citronella shows little or no toxicity. The only concern is skin irritation. Because some products are applied to human skin, EPA requires proper precautionary labeling to help assure safe use.
2. Therefore, if used according to label instructions, citronella is not expected to pose health risks to people, including children and other sensitive populations.
3. Oil of Citronella has been used extensively since 1948 without any reports of adverse effects of concern.

2. Here is what ASPCA(Animal Poison Control) says in their FAQs

1. Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. If ingested, they can produce stomach irritation in pets, and possibly even central nervous system depression.

So, Is Citronella Safe For Dogs?

That answers it! Citronella collar IS safe for dogs!  Because the citronella collar emits a mist, the dog will not be able to ingest the citronella. The only way he could is if his collar came off and he chewed through the citronella canister.  This is why a good, proper fitting, citronella collar is important!