The Best Pet Safe Essential Oil For Dogs
You’ve come to love the power of essential oils so much yourself, you’re wondering if you can use them to help alleviate something your furry friend is dealing with. Are there pet-safe essential oils for dogs out there?
The answer is yes, but there are also essential oils that are not safe for our furry friends. These un-safe essential oils should be avoided when pets are around. That means do not diffuse them in your home, and certainly do not apply them topically to your pet.
The stakes here are high! If you aren’t careful in your essential oil selection, you run the risk of dealing with essential oil poisoning. Don’t worry though – we’re here to address this topic and fully unpack it.
Today, we’re going to cover whether or not essential oils are safe for dogs – and if so, which ones should be used? We’ll also cover which ones we recommend you avoid around your pets. That way – you never have to wonder if you’re putting them in harm’s way by diffusing your favorite products again. At the end, we’ll explain how to use essential oils for dogs.
We’re going to get right into whether or not you should even consider using essential oil around dogs.
Are Essential Oils Safe For Dogs?
It may surprise you to learn that essential oil aromatherapy isn’t just safe for dogs – it can be quite beneficial! Of course, safety and benefits are contingent upon using the right essential oil. We’ll cover the selection of essential oils for dogs in a moment. First, let’s talk about safety.
There are some essential oils that are safe for dogs, like lavender. But there are also some that are not – such as tea tree oil. What is the difference? Dogs lack certain enzymes necessary to properly breaking down certain essential oils. That means that while some essential oils can safely be used on or around your dog, others cannot.
If you don’t know the difference between what can and cannot be used, you run the risk of essential oil poisoning. We say this not to scare you, but to make sure you understand the gravity of this situation. So, read carefully!
Never Allow Dogs To Ingest Essential Oils
It is of utmost importance that your furry friend never ingest essential oils. Be sure to keep your essential oil bottles out of reach. And, keep your diffuser out of reach, too. The last thing you want is to let your dog knock the diffuser over and drink the water and oil that spills out.
However, this also means you need to be careful about applying essential oils topically. You need to be strategic in where you place the essential oils so as to prevent your dog from licking the application site. We’ll talk more about this later when we explain how to use essential oils safely. But, the best practice is to apply oils to your dog’s neck where they cannot reach them.
The Best Pet Safe Essential Oils For Dogs
Now that we’ve covered that you can, in fact, safely use essential oil for your dog, which ones should you start with? The answer is that it depends on what you’re looking to achieve. Recommendations for skin irritation will differ from recommendations for anxiety.
That’s why we’re going to share a comprehensive list of the best pet safe essential oils for dogs. We’ll explain what the benefits of each oil are, so you can make informed decisions on your pet’s health. We’re going to start things off with one of our personal favorite essential oils: lavender oil.
Lavender Oil
The reason we decided to start with lavender oil in particular is that experts consider this a perfect introduction to essential oils for your dog. It is incredibly versatile and can help achieve peace and calm if your dog is rambunctious or anxious.
Simply diffuse pure lavender oil for an hour prior to bedtime and they’ll enjoy a night of deep sleep. Or, diffuse lavender during the day if your dog is anxious, wound up, or in a stressful situation (such as a car ride or a trip to the vet).
Frankincense Oil
Another great oil to consider using for your dog is frankincense. This ancient oil dates back as far as human history goes and offers a myriad of benefits to not just us humans – but your furry friend as well.
It can be used to help with wound healing or as an antibacterial in case your dog gets cut or scratched. Frankincense is also mood-enhancing and relaxing for your dog, and will help ease stressful situations for them.
While more research is necessary before we can truly say if this is fact or not, there is great promise for frankincense oil as a treatment for certain cancers, like bladder cancer.
Helichrysum Oil
While this particular oil isn’t necessarily a common oil to have around, it can be quite helpful in your dog’s well-being. Derived from the sunflower family, Helichrysum is known to help with bleeding disorders and wound healing. Helichrysum also shows great potential as an antibacterial and for supporting heart health.
Spearmint Oil
Another incredibly versatile oil to consider in your dog’s wellness regimen is spearmint oil. Interestingly enough, there are other essential oils from the mint family that can be beneficial to your dog – such as peppermint oil.
But, spearmint in particular is great for your dog’s metabolism and gallbladder. It can also help with gut health in general, decreasing symptoms like colic, nausea, and diarrhea.
Chamomile Oil
If your dog shows signs of poor gut health or has a known gastrointestinal problem, you can help soothe these issues with chamomile oil. This particular product is great for dogs who vomit constantly and can help clear up their nausea.
Other Safe Essential Oils For Dogs
The list above includes some of our favorite pure essential oils for dogs, but there are definitely others worth checking out, including:
- Ginger Oil
- Bergamot Oil
- Grapefruit Oil
- Lemon Oil
- Lime Oil
- Tangerine Oil
- Myrrh Oil
- Jasmine Oil
- Neroli Oil
- Patchouli Oil
- Cypress Oil
- Palmarosa Oil
- Petitgrain Oil
If you’re interested in one of these essential oils, look it up and see what the reported health benefits are – maybe it can help your dog with something they’re suffering from!
Essential Oils TO AVOID Around Dogs
Just as there are essential oils that are safe to use around your pet, there are essential oils we recommend you avoid around dogs. A few known examples are Tea Tree and Wintergreen.
Here is a comprehensive list of the many essential oils we recommend you avoid diffusing around your dog, as well as using on them intentionally:
- Cinnamon Oil
- Thyme Oil
- Pine Oil
- Juniper Oil
- Anise Oil
- Clove Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Sweet Birch Oil
- Wintergreen Oil
Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list of dangerous essential oils for dogs. Each dog is different, and their molecular system will respond differently.
This is why we highly recommend you first chat with your veterinarian about using essential oils for your dog. They know their health and wellness best, after all! But for now, let’s move on to safely using essential oils for dogs.
How To Safely Use Essential Oils For Dogs
Now that you know which essential oils you can use around your dogs, and which you should avoid, let’s discuss how you should even go about using these products. There are two ways you can achieve the health benefits essential oils have to offer – aromatherapy and topical application.
Essential Oil Aromatherapy For Dogs
You can diffuse essential oils and allow your four-legged friend to reap the benefits of them, but you should be careful with how you dilute your essential oils. Since dogs mainly learn about their environment through smell, they typically have a much more heightened sense of smell.
Because their sense of smell is so much stronger than ours, we don’t need to use nearly as much oil as you think. According to the experts, just a drop or two in a 24-ounce ultrasonic diffuser is really all you need. And, you should only let this diffuser run for about an hour a day if your furry friend is in the same room as the diffuser.
Topical Essential Oil Application For Dogs
Aromatherapy is just one way to attain the effects of essential oil. You can also apply these products topically to target certain issues. This is a great way to combat skin irritation or pain. If you’re looking to take this approach, here is what the experts recommend:
First and foremost, dilute the pure essential oil in a carrier oil. This carrier oil will take 100% pure essential oils and allow them to be safely applied to the skin and hair.
You may not realize it, but in aromatherapy, you are diluting the essential oils, too. You put a few drops in 24 ounces of water (or however large your essential oil diffusers are) and allow the oil to be distributed throughout the environment. You only end up inhaling tiny amounts – keeping you safe, while still allowing you to enjoy the benefits the essential oils have to offer.
All that to say, dilute your essential oils prior to applying topically! This goes not just for your pet, but you too. A few great carrier oils for your dog include avocado oil, coconut oil, or even jojoba oil.
Essential Oil Poisoning Warning Signs To Watch For
You can safely diffuse essential oils around your dog without worry as long as you follow this guide carefully. However, there are certain warning signs you should always watch for that indicate your dog may be suffering from essential oil poisoning.
If your dog indicates any of the following symptoms after diffusing essential oils, get them outside to fresh air. If you applied the oils topically, wash them off the best you can. Then, call the ASPCA Pet Poison Hotline (888) 426-4435 for further instructions.
- Trouble breathing
- Drooling
- Weakness or trouble walking (if your dog is staggering or stumbling, something may be wrong in their CNS [central nervous system])
- Skin irritation (particularly at the topical application site)
- Vomiting
As we mentioned earlier, it is always best to consult your vet before trying to undertake essential oil therapy for your dog. Even if you think you know best – it is not worth the risk, in our opinion.
Final Thoughts On Pet Safe Essential Oils For Dogs
Now that you know all the pet safe essential oils for dogs, and how to safely use them, there is only one thing left to do. And that is head over to Revive to stock up!
We’ve earned a reputation as the #1 place to buy essential oils online for a few reasons. First and foremost, we’ve got everything you need -including pure essential oils like the ones listed above! But, we also have essential oil sets, essential oil blends, carrier oils, and even diffusers for essential oils. For those who only want the safest and best products for themselves and their families (along with those four-legged family members), we offer organic essential oils, too.
Not only do we have the best selection, but we also offer the best prices and service in the entire industry. Unlike some of the household names you may be familiar with, we are not a multi-level marketing program. That means we are able to offer better quality at better prices – and we back it up with amazing service.
In fact, we are so confident you’re going to love your new essential oils that we offer a risk-free guarantee. If you don’t love the oils, simply return them for a full refund within 100 days of purchase, no questions asked.
So what are you waiting for? You’re just a few clicks away from improving your dog’s quality of life. And, you’ll be filling your home with delicious aromas everyone loves. What more could you ask for? Shop now.
