Mimi's Market VA

 

All You Need To Know About Essential Oils for Dogs

In my last post I introduced you to my kitten!  His best friend is my dog, Ellie!

Ellie is a 6 year old Beagle Mix!  She didn’t get much exercise until Nippet (my kitten) came to live with us.  Now they play all morning (and sometimes in the evening) then they both take a nap!  

I want nothing but the best for both of them and want to keep both of them safe.  I already explained in my previous post about cats and essential oils.  Now I’m sharing the info about essential oils and dogs. 

Are essential oils safe to use with your pet? If you look through the internet you’ll find some heated debates and confusing information. 

Each pet is different and it can be hard to predict how a pet will react to an essential oil. Before using essential oils with your pet, talk to your veterinarian. They’ll be able to talk you through whether or not you should use essential oils with your pet, whether that means simply diffusing oils or applying them topically. .

Your veterinarian will have the best advice for you to follow.  I am not a vet and essential oils should not take the place of the advice, treatment, or medication given by your vet.

After you get the okay from your vet, start with an oil that’s generally safe for your dog. 

Here’s a list of oils generally considered safe for pets.

Amyris – Stress Relief, Skincare Angelica Root Balsam Fir  Basil – calms, nausea Bergamont Black Pepper  Blood Orange – soothes anxiety Cajeput Cardamom – helps digestion Cedarwood Chamomile Citronella – insect repellant  Clary Sage – pain relief Coffee Copaiba Frankincense Geranium Ginger Grapefruit – soothes anxiety Ho Wood Helichrysum – skin healing Jasmine Juniper Berry – insect repellent, deodorizes Lavender – calming, pain relief

Lemongrass – pain relief, soothes anxiety Lime Mandarin Marjoram Melissa Myrrh Neroli Lemon – uplifting Lemon Eucalyptus Lemon Myrtle Lavender – calming, pain relief Lemon – uplifting Lemon Eucalyptus Lemon Myrtle Orange Palmarosa Patchouli Peru Balsam Ravensara Sandalwood Tangerine Vetiver – soothes anxiety, skin health, aides sleep

While these oils are generally safe to use, some oils can be dangerous for your pet. Some oils to be especially careful of include Tea Tree, Birch, and Wintergreen. With this in mind, make sure you store your oils out of reach from your pet. Doing so prevents your pet from ingesting any oils, which can cause serious reactions or death. Negative reactions include difficulty breathing, tremors, or vomiting. If this occurs, take your pet outside for some fresh air. If symptoms are serious or don’t subside immediately, take your pet to the vet.

Introduce The Oil to Your Pet

Once you’ve chosen an oil generally considered safe, introduce it to your pet. With the cap on, let your dog smell the oil. Do they seem interested or lick their nose? Those are good signs that your pet is okay with the oil. If they avoid the oil, avoid using it as it will likely cause your pet distress. 

Take It Slow Trying Recipes with Your Pet

Once the oil has been approved by your dog, take it slow. Start by trying the oil in the diffuser with 1-2 drops. Whenever you are using oils, make sure to leave the door open. This will allow your pet to escape the room if the oil bothers them. 

If your pet leaves the room when you’re using a particular oil, that’s another sign that the oil is not a good fit for them. 

Once your pet has shown they are comfortable with a particular oil. You can try it topically. Only use an oil topically if you are using it for a particular purpose, like soothing itchy skin or preventing insect bites.

Here are some tips for using essential oils topically with your pet. 

• If your pet is over 20 pounds, you can use a 0.5% dilution rate or less.

• If your pet is smaller than 20 pounds, use a 0.25% dilution rate or less. You can also choose to use a hydrosol as a safer option for a smaller pet. 

• Avoid applying an oil before your pet enters a confined space, such as a cage or kennel as the aroma could become overwhelming for your pet.

As always, if you have any questions, please comment below and I'll be happy to find you an answer.

Until next time, stay safe!