Wintergreen oil is essentially concentrated aspirin — one teaspoon equals around 90 standard aspirin tablets.
Common in topical pain rubs, candies and aromatherapy products.
Wintergreen oil is 96–99% methyl salicylate. After ingestion or skin absorption it is hydrolyzed to salicylic acid — the active ingredient in aspirin. Dogs metabolise salicylates very slowly and develop severe gastric ulceration, metabolic acidosis, and kidney failure.
Sources
As little as 5 ml of pure wintergreen oil can be fatal to a 10 kg dog.
Contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal poison hotline immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a vet.
callFind Emergency Vet