Eucalyptus oil for breathing problems?

[Jackson]

A close friend of mine has a horse very prone to allergies, and coughs when stabled.
I remember when I was little, and my pony was stabled, we hung eucalyptus leaves/oil in little bags around his stable to help with his breathing, and keep smelling fresh, but in hindsight, I have no idea if it was poisonous or if it actually did any good, so before I tell friend to try it, I thought I better make sure

So, Is eucalyptus suitable for use with equines, and does any body have any experience with it?

Thank you

 

[Jackson]

No one knows? google's not giving me anything either so maybe it's a no go?

 

[jeeve]

Good for breathing, but is quite poisonous. My mum accidently mistook same for cough medicine in middle of night and had to go to hospital. She was very ill. Good for koala bears though.

 

[bumblelion]

I was advised a few years ago to put a few drops of eucylptus oil in my boys shavings, good for feet (thrush) as antibacterial and also helps with breathing as he has a dust allergy. I'v done it for both of mine in the winter for 3 years and they're okay!

 

[jeeve]

Sorry only poisonous if you drink/eat it, not if you rub it on yourself, breathe it in. (Not sure that you would rub it on yourself, but it is the ingesting that is the problem).

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I was advised a few years ago to put a few drops of eucylptus oil in my boys shavings, good for feet (thrush) as antibacterial and also helps with breathing as he has a dust allergy. I'v done it for both of mine in the winter for 3 years and they're okay!

I used to do the same. Worked very well. As well as putting it on the bedding, put it on the stable door or the wood near to the hay. Read that the cavalry use it in the stables to minimise breathing problems in stabled horses too.

 

[Jackson]

Completely forgot about this thread!

Eep about drinking it!

Hmm.. yeah I don't suppose it would taste that great so hopefully my boy wouldn't try and eat it, but I would deffo be putting it out of is reach either way

If the cavalry use it to aid breathing problems, then maybe I will give it a try.

Thanks!