Essential Oils For Dogs: Health, Happiness, And Safety Tips

Aromatherapy can powerfully support your dog’s well-being. Discover the benefits of essential oils and how to use them safely with your canine companion. 

Aromatherapy is a popular complementary therapy for humans and dogs. When done properly, it can help your canine feel calmer and better. This article looks at how to use essential oils for dogs: health, happiness, and safety tips. We’ll cover the benefits of aromatherapy for dogs, what different essential oils can do, and how to use them properly. 

Your dog’s superpower: her sense of smell

Dogs use their noses to explore the world. They have 100 million sensory receptor sites in their nasal cavities, while humans only have about six million. The area of the canine brain devoted to processing scent is 40 times larger than the same area in the human brain. 

Dogs also have excellent scent memory. They can recognize other canines by their scent. In fact, they can ascertain where another dog has been, their gender, and even their mood by smell alone. Your dog’s extraordinary sniffing power means smells greatly influence her mood and well-being.

What are the benefits of canine aromatherapy?

Essential oils can have a variety of positive effects on your dog, including: 

• Stress and anxiety relief
• Flea and tick prevention
• Pain management
• Skin and coat health

Choosing essential oils for your dog 

Your dog benefits from aromatherapy based on the essential oils you choose and how you use them. Always work with a holistic or integrative veterinarian for guidance when using aromatherapy with your dog. 

Also keep in mind that while essential oils are very effective, they can’t take the place of regular veterinary care. If your dog is showing any physical or behavioral symptoms, take her to the vet for a checkup before doing anything else. 

First, decide what you want to accomplish with essential oils. Are you aiming to calm your dog’s anxiety? Does she need pain management or help with her skin? Once you know your goal, select oils that support her well-being. Use a single oil or blend a few complementary oils together.

Getting started: top 5 essential oils for dogs

Before discussing specific essential oils for your dog’s needs, let’s start with five top options. Each offers several benefits:

1. Lavender: anxiety relief, calms skin irritation, repels insects
2. Peppermint: insect repellant, pain relief  
3. Geranium: calming, improves skin health, insect repellant 
4. Frankincense: reduces pain and inflammation, improves skin and coat
5. Cedarwood: improves skin and coat, repels insects, relieves anxiety

Allow your dog to choose her own essential oils
Once you’ve narrowed down a selection of essential oils to use with your dog, allowing her to choose the ones she likes best. Select oils that meet your aim and allow her to sniff the caps. She will typically show a preference for one. If she turns her head or backs away from any particular scent, don’t use that oil.

Stress and anxiety relief

Stress and anxiety are common problems for dogs and human families. More than 70% of dogs show symptoms of anxiety. Aromatherapy can provide relief for these pooches. Overall, the best essential oils for stress and anxiety relief include:

• Lavender
• Lemon
• Chamomile
• Vanilla
• Ginger
• Valerian
• Ylang Ylang
• Geranium
• Cedarwood

Experts commonly recommend lavender as the best essential oil for canine anxiety. It’s gentle and effective. Lavender contains linalool, which has a calming effect on the brain. Choose Lavender when your dog experiences excessive anxiety or needs to settle down for the evening. 

Lemon energizes by releasing norepinephrine in the brain. It also promotes focus, clarity, and stress relief.

One brand to consider is Lifeforce, which offers Mellow Dog, a calming blend of Lavender and Green Mandarin that eases anxiety and promotes relaxation.

Flea and tick prevention

Oils for keeping these pests at bay include: 

• Cedarwood
• Lemongrass
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus
• Geranium

Note: Although citronella repels mosquitoes and prevents flea infestations, experts do not recommend it for dogs. Lemongrass, which contains small amounts of citronella, remains a safe option for dogs.

Pain management

If your dog is in pain for any reason, be sure to visit your vet to find the cause and get treatment. Along with that, you can try some essential oils for added pain relief:

• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Ginger
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus

Frankincense is one of the best essential oils for pain relief. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling and inflammation in the body. It’s a good choice for muscle tension, joint pain, and tendon injuries. 

Skin and coat health

Certain essential oils are also great for your dog’s skin and coat. They can moisturize her skin, help speed wound healing, and improve the appearance of her coat. Geranium oil is one of the most well-known essential oils for skin and coat health. Essential oils for skin and coat health include:

• Geranium 
• Chamomile
• Ylang ylang
• Lavender
• Frankincense
• Rose 
• Cedarwood 

Used safely, good quality essential oils can be an excellent way to improve your dog’s physical, mental and emotional health and happiness. Experiment with a few dog-safe oils and see how your best friend responds.

Important: use quality oils only!
Buy only the best quality therapeutic grade oils. They’ll cost more, but cheap products are impure and contain ingredients that can be toxic to your dog.

One brand to consider is Lifeforce, which offers several high-quality essential oil products. They include Mellow Dog, an aromatherapy spray combining Lavender with Green Mandarin to ease anxiety and promote relaxation. Good Dog, meanwhile, is a blend of Geranium, Basil and Lavender that stimulates feelings of mental balance and clarity.

Two ways to use essential oils for your dog

There are two basic ways to use essential oils for your dog: topical application and diffusion. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to follow the safety precautions to keep your dog safe.

1. Topical application 

Avoid applying undiluted essential oils directly to your dog’s skin. At best, undiluted oils cause irritation; at worst, they can lead to vomiting or liver damage. Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil. Olive, coconut, or jojoba oils are good choices. They will moisturize and soothe your dog’s skin and improve her coat health.  

Use one drop of essential oil for every 50 drops of carrier oil. For very young or old dogs, those with liver problems, or dogs under 20 pounds, double the dilution. Use 100 drops of carrier oil per drop of essential oil.

Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil. Rub it on your hands and pet your dog where you want to apply it. 

2. Diffusion 

You can choose from several different diffuser types. No matter which one you opt for, consider the room you’re using it in. If it’s a small space, keep a door or window open. Never force your dog to stay in the room with the diffuser. Ensure she can leave the room if the scent becomes overwhelming.  

• A popular way to use essential oils is with an ultrasonic diffuser. This device diffuses the oil with water and releases it into the air. An ultrasonic diffuser runs on electricity and also helps humidify the air. 
• Nebulizing diffusers do not use water. Instead, the essential oil is broken down into small particles and released into the air. This type of diffuser is more expensive than an ultrasonic diffuser.
• Heat diffusers heat up the essential oil. Although it creates a strong scent, it may alter the oil’s chemical composition and affect its aromatherapy benefits. 
• Passive diffusers are the simplest type. All you need are cotton balls, porous rocks, or wooden reeds. Put a couple of drops on or in the diffuser and the oil will slowly evaporate into the air. You can increase the effect by placing the diffuser in front of a small fan. 

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