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My 8 kg dog licked a few drops of pure clove essential oil that spilled from a diffuser — should I induce vomiting?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

No, do not induce vomiting. The concentrated eugenol in clove oil is very irritating and can cause more damage coming back up. For a small dog, even a few drops can be enough to cause mouth irritation, drooling, or an upset stomach. Watch him closely for the next few hours. If you see excessive drooling, repeated swallowing, or any vomiting, call your vet for advice. Offer a small amount of plain water or a bland food like boiled chicken to help soothe his mouth and dilute the oil. Keep essential oils well out of reach in the future.

Cloves — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Contain eugenol, which is irritating and can affect the liver in quantity.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Cloves is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Cloves can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Cloves food facts page.

Open the full food page: Cloves food facts →