10 Essential Oils For Dogs And How To Use Them
Caring for our dogs can be a tough task due to all the chemicals in everyday products. Fortunately, there is an increase in the availability of natural and safer alternatives for dog care. Veterans, trainers and ever farmers are now moving towards more natural solutions like essential oils, absolute oils and other natural oils.
Plants contain certain natural compounds that help them keep pesky insects, ticks, fleas and other predators away. Essential oils obtained from such plants also carry these active components and can be valuable for dog care.
While there is a great no. of essential oil benefits for dogs, you must approach this with some considerations like the breed, the dog’s enhanced sensitivity to the aroma and the method of usage. Thankfully, there are a wide range of essential oils at wholesale price available from reputed online suppliers. This has made it easy to make your own sprays and aromatherapy products for dogs.
List Of Essential Oils Safe For Dogs
Unlike humans, you can’t use all essential oils on dogs. Therefore, we have put together a list of the best essential oils for dogs. This list includes suggestions from Dr. Janet Roark who runs Hill Country Mobile Veterinary Service in Austin, Texas. We have also included suggestions from famous aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood. Please note that essential oils should never be given orally to any dogs and they should be used under the guidance of a vet.
1. Rosemary Oil For Dogs
Rosemary essential oil is obtained from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis through steam distillation. It repels insects and keeps skin irritation away. You can use it to create flea repellant sprays for your furry friends. You can also add 1-2 drops of it in their shampoo. Make sure you avoid the shampoo from getting into the dog’s eyes. Rosemary oil might also help reduce minor inflammation and provide relief from joint pain.
2. Lavender Oil For Dogs
Who doesn’t love the floral and calming aroma of lavender? What if I told you this popular essential oil holds a myriad of benefits for your dog too?
Lavender essential oil can calm down any feelings of anxiety and works particularly well if the dog is troubled by thunderstorms.
It also works well as a mild analgesic and can help get rid of minor pain and stiffness. You can dilute lavender oil with a suitable carrier oil and massage the joints of your dog to get rid of joint pain.
3. Tea Tree Essential Oil For Dogs
The internet is flooded with list of tea tree essential oil benefits from reducing acne to improving hair care, there is a lot this herbaceous oil can do. However, when it comes to our furry friends, it is important to check if tea tree oil is safe for dogs?
TL;DR, yes, it is safe if proper guidelines are followed.
It is great to fight microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and virus and keeps dog’s skin clean and healthy.
4. Cedarwood Oil For Dogs
Extracted from the wood of Cedrus deodara grown in Himalayas, cedarwood oil is famous for its grounding properties. Cedarwood essential oil is particularly helpful for controlling the odor from dogs and keeps insects away. However, if you are wondering is cedarwood oil safe for dogs It also helps clear congestion and will make your furry friend breathe deeper.
5. Frankincense Oil For Dogs
Frankincense oil is derived from the many varieties of Boswellia trees grown all over the world. You might instantly recognize it from its incense like aroma. The natural active compounds in frankincense essential oil are beneficial in reducing inflammation and increases immunity. If your dog keeps getting injured, then frankincense oil can also help heal founds naturally. It offers prominent antimicrobial properties so feel free to add a few drops to the dog shampoo for enhanced cleanliness.
6. Lemon Oil For Dogs
Lemon oil is all things citrusy and clean. It is extracted from the peels of lemon through cold pressed method. Not only it improves dogs’ mood, it also acts as an excellent pet-safe home cleaning ingredient - a much better alternative than the chemical based cleaners. If your dog is feeling tired and energy less, diffuse a few drops of lemon essential oil and notice a significant improvement in energy levels.
7. Citronella Oil For Dogs
Citronella essential oil is highly popular for its powerful insect repelling properties. Whether you are searching for an essential oil to fight fleas, mosquitoes or any other type of insect, citronella is the best option. It is extracted from the leaves of citronella plant through steam distillation.Other than fighting insects, citronella essential oil benefits for dogs include protecting fur against microbes, natural training alternative, and odour control.
8. Lemongrass Oil For Dogs
If you are searching for a cheap essential oil for dogs then lemongrass oil is your answer. This cost-effective oil acts as a good insect repellent and uplifts the energy of dogs.You can use it to make dog shampoo bars and mists. Make sure to buy it from a reliable supplier like aromachology oils.
9. Petitgrain Oil For Dogs
Petitgrain essential oil has a floral and refreshing aroma and is extracted from Citrus aurantium through steam distillation. Its somewhat citrusy and sweet notes is great to uplift the mood of your dog. Petitgrain oil helps fight infections and keeps irritation away.
10. Turmeric Oil For Dogs
Turmeric holds one of the most potent anti-inflammatory properties. It is a storehouse curcuminoids that act as powerful antioxidants.
Turmeric oil offers a wide range of benefits to dogs like improved immunity, reduced pain, and enhanced vitality.
Are Essential Oils Safe For Dogs?
Yes, certain essential oils are safe for dogs as stated by renowned veterans like Dr. Karen Becker & Dr. Yamamoto. However, it is important to follow safety guidelines and usage instructions laid out by experts.
- Always dilute the oils before using them with dogs and do a patch test. Wait for 24 hours and check if your dog is showing any unusual symptoms.
- Use high quality essential oils only and stay away from fragrance oils. If you are confused about the two, read our guide on essential oils vs fragrance oils.
- Not all essential oils are dog friendly, check if the oil your are planning to use is safe for dogs. Some breeds might react differently so check for the EO compatibility with the breed too.
List Of Essential Oils Bad For Dogs
While essential oils offer a great deal of benefits to dogs there are certain oils that can be harmful to your furry friend. Here’s a list of essential oils that are usually considered harmful for dogs.
- Wintergreen essential oil
- Cinnamon bark essential oil
- Birch essential oil
- Clove essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Angelica essential oil
- Cinnamon leaf essential oil
- Pine essential oil
- Benzoin essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Ylang ylang essential oil
How to Use Essential Oils for Dogs?
Some of the common, safe and efficient ways to use essential oils for dogs include:
Diffusion & Aromatherapy: You can use a diffuser to disperse dog safe essential oils in the air. While using this method you need to ensure that the space is well ventilated and adjust the quantity of essential oil to ensure the aroma doesn’t overwhelm your dog.
Dog mist: Mix 2-3 drops of essential oil with water and pour the mixture in a spray bottle. You can spray this blend to keep mosquitos away but make sure to spray it on parts that your dog doesn’t lick.
Shampoo blend: Another simple way to use essential oils for dogs is to add a few drops to their shampoo.
Use high quality oils only: When using essential oils for dog care, you need to ensure you use high quality natural oils only. You can source them in bulk from renowned essential oil wholesalers like Aromachology Oils. As a prominent online supplier, we take utmost care in sourcing the right oils for every need. Our competitive prices and excellent customer support will keep you coming for more.
Conclusion
Essential oils can be great tools to elevate your and your dog’s wellness routine with the power of botanicals. Steam distilled oils like lavender oil, tea tree oil, lemon oil, frankincense oil, cedarwood oil, etc are usually safe to use around dogs however other essential oils like ylang ylang, wintergreen, cinnamon etc can be dangerous.While using EOs for dogs, less is more and dilution is the key. Don’t forget to consult your vet before you start integrating these botanical wonders in your dogs’ lives.
