Essential Oils for Dogs

Our pets experience many of the same everyday challenges that we do in life.  They catch colds and feel stressed.   I’ve been using essential oils on myself and my family for several years now, for a wide variety of needs, and I love that we can use oils on our dogs as well!   

There are several important things to know when using oils on pets.   Our pets are smaller than us (generally! lol), and so we will use fewer drops of essentials oils on them.  You can always dilute an oil with water or a carrier oil like coconut, grapeseed, or jojaba. 

Methods of Application
There are lots of different ways to use oils with our dogs.  I’ll share a few with you today:     

1.  Diffusion.   Diffusing oils benefits both us and our dogs!  Breathing in the aromas is very beneficial to our immune systems, and is SO much better for us than candles or air fresheners!  Air fresheners are full of nasty chemicals that are damaging to our bodies!  Check out this picture of Glade Room Spray from the Think Dirty app – it rates a 9 on the “Dirty” Scale where 10 is the worst!!   

Do yourself and your dog a favor – diffuse essential oils!   Get an ultrasonic home diffuser made for essential oils.  Fill it with water, and add a few drops of oil.   Turn it on and enjoy!   There are many fun diffuser recipes – have fun playing with different scents!

2.  Add Oils to Drinking Water.   Adding oils to drinking water can be very beneficial to your dog’s health.  You may find your dog prefers the “oily” water!   Start with just one drop in a liter of spring water, to allow them to get used to the taste.   Pick oils that you would enjoy drinking too, like orange, lemon, or peppermint.  I’d recommend avoiding “stronger” oils like Oregano. 🙂

3. Mix Oils into Food.  Some dogs love Frankincense, Copiaba, or Longevity mixed into their food.   Start with just a drop mixed into moistened food.

4. Topical Applications.  You can apply a drop of oil directly the fur, either neat (undiluted) or diluted.  You can do this in the same way you might apply flea meds between the shoulder blades, just drop it on.  You can also rub the oils on your hands, and then rub them over the fur.  I also like to use a water misting application.   I add one drop of oil to about 4 ounces of water in a glass spray bottle, and mist the pup.   

There are so many ways to use oils with animals – and so many reasons to use them; I have only scratched the surface!  You might consider getting a good reference book to help guide you, like Animals 101 or The Animal Desk Reference.   

Make sure you get a high quality essential oil for your furry friends.   Many oils contain synthetics, extenders, and other ‘junk’, even if the bottle says they are 100% pure!  There are no labeling laws in the US, so you have to know your company!  I’ve done extensive research, and Young Living is the only company I trust!   Check out my current promotions to get a great deal on oils for your pets!