If you’re a dog owner, you may be interested in using essential oils to help keep your pooch healthy and happy. But before you start slathering your dog with oils, it’s important to know which ones are safe and which ones are toxic. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular essential oils used on dogs and what you need to know before using them.
Are Essential Oils Safe For Dogs? Which Are Safe?
Why not give our beloved dogs the same advantages as society at large? Why not provide our beloved dogs with anti-anxiety medication if some lavender can help? What if a little lavender could make all the difference? Essential oils are becoming increasingly popular in recent years, but we’ll take a look at what essential oils are appropriate for dogs to evaluate if they’re as popular.
It’s crucial to consider what essential oils are safe for dogs or other pets, such as cats, before you start. Their sense of smell is far more sensitive than ours, so fragrances (particularly natural ones) can be harmful to them.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular essential oils that have been found to be safe for our dogs. We’ve also listed the primary offenders and an easy explanation of how to administer essential oils. Let’s put on our white lab coats and venture out to discover new methods to give loving, attentive care to our beloved pets.
Chamomile Oil
A comfy sofa, a soft blanket, and a cup of chamomile tea are the greatest pleasures in life. Chamomile’s rest-inducing qualities might also be beneficial to our favorite sidekicks.
Let’s assume that you’re house-sitting for your best friend’s uptight chihuahua, which is putting a lot of stress on your low-key buddy. A little bit of chamomile oil might be a thoughtful gift for them. It can calm their anxiety and soothe stomach upset.
Also, if you’ve just gotten a new dog that is hesitant or skittish, a few drops of chamomile oil might assist them to accept the local dog park.
Frankincense Oil
Because frankincense and myrrh have been used for so long, it’s no surprise that they’re on the list of safe essential oils for our dogs. Let’s look at frankincense; this oil attacks the health and immunity of its cells.
If you’re seeing any changes in your dog’s behavior at doggie daycare, consider giving them some frankincense to boost their immunity. It can also assist with upset stomachs if they are experiencing stress.
Ginger Oil
You’ll notice the parallels between human and pet advantages for the most of these key oils. The same may be said for dogs, as some hot ginger tea can cleanse our respiratory pathways or soothe our stomachs.
It can assist them if they’re having any digestive difficulties; it can also make breathing a little easier. Ginger may help with certain joint pain, according to recent research. You’ll frequently discover that our go-to essential oils have more than one primary function, which is wonderful in its own right.
Lavender Oil
Lavender is also a fantastic alternative for a worried dog. It can be used to calm the anxiety and nausea that comes with being in a car.
One of the most delightful methods to utilize this essential oil is by massaging your furbaby’s ear fur. A mild, soothing massage while applying might help things get started.
Myrrh Oil
Myrrh is next. This oil is said to assist dogs dealing with skin issues. Myrrh has an antiseptic quality (as well as astringent properties), making it a powerful cleanser. It’s possible that, if applied on a regular basis, myrrh may help cure areas of inflamed skin.
Peppermint Oil
Dogs can get seasonal allergies, just like humans. If you notice your young one sneezing more frequently, it’s possible that this year’s allergy season is having an impact on them. (Or, it might be a fresh scent that has been introduced to the home.)
Still, peppermint essential oil can assist their respiratory systems and help them breathe more easily. Peppermint essential oil may also be used to alleviate joint pains and discomfort, making it another versatile oil.
Peppermint should only be used in a diffuser and in small quantities. It can have harmful effects if taken into the body.
How to Administer Essential Oils To Your Dog
There are two primary methods for using essential oils. Topically or via a diffuser, they may be applied.
In any case, bear in mind a few fundamentals. Just because something is labeled “natural” doesn’t always imply it is beneficial. There are a lot of poisons in the world that you should be aware of. Before you invest in their oils, check to see if they have positive reviews and high-quality, organic oils.
Finally, don’t forget about dogs’ powerful snouts. They are significantly more sensitive than ours. While humans have approximately six million olfactory receptors in their noses, dogs may have up to 300 million! We can’t even calculate how much of an influence it has on their sense of smell. Even if your dog is a lavender veteran, go light and easy to preserve his or her senses of smell.
Topical Application of Essential Oils For Dogs
The most crucial point is that you should never apply a pure essential oil straight to your dog’s skin. Even if your dog is on the list of essential oils safe for dogs, an undiluted oil can make them sick. This is where carrier oils come in handy. They’re non-toxic, odorless oils used to help the oil get to your dog’s skin safely.
Coconut oil, avocado oil, aloe vera, sunflower oil, and sweet almond oil are some of the ideal carriers. To dilute your essential oil, use one drop of essential oil for each tablespoon and half of carrier oil. This results in a 0.25% dilution, which is appropriate.
Before you begin a treatment, perform a patch test. Apply a tiny dot and keep an eye on the region for 15 minutes. If your dog doesn’t seem to notice it, go ahead (with caution).
Essential Oil Diffusers For Dogs
Simply add one to two drops of essential oil to a water-based diffuser to use with pets. We use them in our houses to a very minor extent and usually just drop the oil in and go about our day. When utilizing them as a pet aid, only run the diffuser for ten minutes before shutting it off. After that, leave the environment alone for around 30 minutes.
Because you don’t want your dog to consume any of these essential oils, be sure the diffuser isn’t tilted over and emptied. If their bed is on the east side of your living room, position the diffuser on the west wall.
What Essential Oils Are Unsafe for Dogs?
Unfortunately, there are a plethora of oils that can be quite harmful to our beloved dogs when they enter their systems, even though there is a long list of essential oils that may help them in a number of ways. The following are the worst offenders:
Pine Oils
The two complement each other in the colder months of the year, but not for our dogs. Pine is a skin and stomach irritant, to say the least.
That means you may be required to clean up vomit or feces in the corner. However, pine’s terrors go even further, with reports of liver damage and central nervous system damage.
Tea Tree Oils
Tea tree oil has been shown to have a wide range of applications for people. For dogs, on the other hand, you don’t want to expose them to the dangers of this substance. You may discover more regarding tea tree oil for dogs if you read further.
Some side effects are minor, such as skin irritation or vomiting, while others are serious and may include depression or rear-limb paralysis.
Ylang Ylang Oils
Ylang ylang has a lovely fragrance. It’s actually used in many of our favorite fragrances, as an additive. This oil, on the other hand, does not affect our beautiful friends.
It can make breathing difficult for them, induce a general feeling of exhaustion, and force them to vomit the poison out of their system.
Possible Symptoms of Essential Oil Poisoning In Dogs
How will you know if your dog has been exposed to a hazardous chemical if this list isn’t exhaustive? Don’t get too worked up if you let the diffuser run on a poisonous oil for a short period of time. Your buddy is likely to be okay, provided you don’t breed them together. They may vomit if their system is clogged with toxins or other substances that are harmful to them.
If, however, you’re using a potentially dangerous oil topically to them for lengthy periods of time or constantly running a hazardous oil through the diffuser, you might be poisoning them. The following are some of the signs of essential oil poisoning:
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty walking
- Muscle tremors
Take your dog to the emergency veterinary facility as soon as possible if you detect any of these symptoms.
