Toxic to dogs · Medications

Is Camphor toxic to dogs?

High severity No safe amount — No amount is considered safe.

Yes, Camphor is highly toxic to dogs. Exposure can cause serious illness and needs prompt veterinary attention. No amount is considered safe.

Video explainer

Why is camphor toxic to dogs and cats?

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What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or an animal poison line now, even if your dog seems fine. In the US: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, both open 24/7 (a fee applies).
  2. Don't make your dog vomit and don't give anything by mouth unless a vet tells you to: vomiting can trigger seizures after camphor.
  3. Note the product name, roughly how much is missing and when it happened.
  4. If the product is on your dog's skin or fur, tell the vet before you bathe your dog.

Go to an emergency vet if

  • Your dog has a seizure, trembles or twitches, or acts confused or agitated.
  • Your dog has trouble breathing, collapses, or is very drowsy and hard to wake.
  • Your dog ate a large amount, for example by chewing open a jar or tube of rub.
  • Your dog swallowed the jar, tube or packaging, or keeps vomiting afterwards. Packaging can block the gut.

Symptoms to watch for

  • local skin irritation
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • depression
  • seizures
  • respiratory depression
  • death

How much is dangerous

No safe amount is known. Larger amounts can cause seizures, and how sick a dog gets depends on how much it swallowed and its size. A Vet Times case review puts the lethal amount for dogs at 9 to 14 g of camphor in total (not per kilogram of body weight).

When signs appear

Signs usually start 30 to 60 minutes after a dog swallows camphor. The effects can last beyond 24 to 48 hours.

Why it's dangerous

Camphor is rapidly absorbed through the skin and gastrointestinal tract, leading to central nervous system stimulation and potential respiratory depression.

Toxic compound: Camphor

How vets treat it

There is no antidote. Vets control seizures with medicines given through an IV line, support breathing and blood pressure, give fluids, and watch the liver and kidneys until the camphor wears off. Surgery is sometimes needed if a dog swallowed the tube or jar.

Outlook

Death is rare. Dogs treated promptly after eating products like Vicks VapoRub or Carmex are expected to recover fully, although effects can last beyond 24 to 48 hours.

Where pets are exposed

  • Chest and muscle rubs, balms and medicated lip balms, such as Vicks VapoRub, Tiger Balm, Carmex and Campho-Phenique.
  • Camphor products put on a pet's skin. Camphor passes easily through the skin, so this alone can poison a pet.
  • Camphor mothballs and some moth repellents.
  • Essential oils and fragrance products that contain camphor.

Prevention

  • Never put camphor products on a dog or cat, whether for pain, a cough or anything else.
  • Keep rubs, balms and lip balms in a closed cupboard, not in handbags or on bedside tables. Dogs chew tubes and jars.
  • Store mothballs in sealed containers out of reach, and never leave loose mothballs around the home or garden.
  • Keep essential oils out of reach, and use diffusers only in well-ventilated rooms.

Good to know

Camphor should never be applied to dogs or cats due to risks for poisoning; it is readily absorbed across the skin.

Common questions

Is Vicks VapoRub toxic to dogs?

It can be. It contains camphor along with menthol and eucalyptus oil. Eating it can upset a dog's stomach, and chewing up the jar can block the gut, so call your vet or a pet poison line if your dog gets into it.

Can I put camphor, Tiger Balm or Vicks on my dog or cat?

No. Camphor passes easily through the skin and can poison dogs and cats. Ask your vet for a pet-safe option instead.

Should I make my pet throw up after eating camphor?

No. Don't induce vomiting or give anything by mouth unless a vet tells you to. Making a dog vomit after camphor can trigger seizures, so call your vet or a pet poison line right away instead.

Are cats more sensitive to camphor than dogs?

Possibly. A Vet Times case review says cats may be more sensitive because their liver breaks camphor down less efficiently, but no toxic dose for cats has been published. Treat any exposure in a cat as urgent.

Sources

This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

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