Essential oils have been a godsend to you. A little touch of lavender has helped you sleep peacefully at night, and the citrusy notes of lemon have helped reduce stress immensely. Now, you are wondering if essential oils might work the same magic on your furry friend.

Can I Apply Essential Oils on My Dog?

The answer to the question of whether essential oils are safe for dogs is not that straightforward. The solution is easier when there are cats in the house. Compared to dogs, cats are far more sensitive to any scent. Although some oils are suitable for cats, a simple rule to abide by is that essential oils and cats don’t go together.

Certain essential oils create issues for dogs, while others are safe to use. It’s important to think about the oil you want and its use. For instance, breathing in oils that are warming up in a potpourri can cause respiratory illnesses in certain sensitive dogs. Additionally, if a dog licks its paw after walking in oil that has been added to water, it could irritate its skin or even its gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, ingesting the oil itself — or even the bottle it came in — can undoubtedly result in health issues for dogs.

Essential Oil Poisoning Symptoms

You know your pet best. If they are not their happy, usual self, visit your vet immediately. Here are some warning signs that your pet is poisoned:

• Drooling
• Panting
• Difficulty walking in a straight line
• Difficulty breathing
• Unsteady gait
• Weakness or lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Inflamed lips or gums
• Pawing at the mouth
• Rubbing their face

A few other serious symptoms that are rare include:

• Hypothermia
• Depression
• Dullness
• Nervous-system-related unsteadiness and weakness

Pets and Essential Oils: Topical Application Must Be Avoided

Whether talking about pets or humans, there are certain factors that affect their reaction to essential oils. For example, let’s say that your pet is allergic to nuts. In this case, almond oil won’t suit it.

Other factors include dosage and how the oil is applied. Essential oils prove to be more toxic when they are applied directly. This is why it is important to mix them with double or triple the amount of carrier oil to dilute them.

If you decide to apply essential oil to your pet, consult a veterinarian first. If you yourself are using essential oils, here are a few precautions to take:

• Less-is-more should be your mantra. Simply dab the essential oil behind your ear when in your pet’s vicinity
• Wait until the essential oil has fully absorbed into your skin, and then pick up your pet
• Keep all bottles tightly closed and on high shelves so your pet can’t get to them
• Store the diffuser in a cupboard so that your pet does not accidentally lick it

Pets That Are Sensitive to Essential Oils

• Cats
• Birds
• Dogs (Flat-faced breeds with respiratory difficulties)
• Guinea Pigs
• Fish
• Hamsters
• Baby animals
• Rabbits
• Pregnant animals
• Sick animals
• Old animals
• Feeble animals

Essential Oils Safe for Pets

The following list of essential oils is considered gentler or “lighter.” As a result, they are frequently utilized for pets because they are thought to be easier on delicate bodies.

Floral Oils

• Clary Sage 
• Marjoram Sweet 
• Chamomile

Resin Oils

• Myrrh 
• Frankincense – Boswellia carterii 

Root Oils

• Ginger 
• Valerian 

Wood Oils

• Virginian Cedarwood

Notwithstanding the broad generalizations regarding the relative safety of many of the essential oils discussed in this blog, it is important to remember that each animal is different biologically. Hence, certain oils will react differently with different species. As a result, the physical reaction will vary depending on the particular pet. The safe lists should be disregarded, and a veterinarian should be consulted by pet owners who are unsure whether to use an oil near or on their animals.

Carrier Oils Safe for Pet

• Coconut Oil
• Borage Seed Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Aloe Vera
• Avocado Oil
• Apricot Kernel Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Grapeseed Oil

Essential Oils Unsafe for Pets

The following Essential Oils are frequently reported to induce various harmful side effects when applied to or near pets, including skin irritation, breathing issues, changes in attentiveness, uncomfortable cooling effects, weakness or weariness, tripping, vomiting, and paralysis.

• Anise Essential Oil
• Birch Essential Oil
• Basil Essential Oil
• Calendula Essential Oil
• Cinnamon Essential Oil
• Cassia Essential Oil
• Citronella Essential Oil
• Cypress Essential Oil
• Clove Essential Oil
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• Grapefruit Essential Oil
• Garlic Essential Oil
• Juniper Essential Oil
• Lime Essential Oil
• Lemon Essential Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Nutmeg Essential Oil
• Myrtle Essential Oil
• Oregano Essential Oil
• Orange Essential Oil
• Peppermint Essential Oil
• Pine Essential Oil
• Pennyroyal Essential Oil
• Rosemary Essential Oil
• Spruce Essential Oil
• Spearmint Essential Oil
• Thyme Essential Oil
• Tansy Essential Oil
• Thuja Essential Oil
• Tea Tree Essential Oil
• Wintergreen Essential Oil
• Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
• Yarrow Essential Oil

Things to Consider When Applying Essential Oils

• When introducing essential oils into a pet’s surroundings, the location should be open and easily accessible to fresh air
• The pet should be able to leave the room easily
• To make it simple to identify the source of an allergic reaction in the event of one, the oil should be added gradually and one at a time in small dosages

Even if you use an essential oil on yourself and know you will be in close contact with your pet, keep a watchful check on it to ensure they don’t get an allergic reaction.

Whether used topically or diffused, any possible responses may be felt during the first half hour of use. It’s possible they might manifest 24 hours later. After the room is filled with the scent of essential oil and your pet shows signs of discomfort, anxiety, distress, or lethargy, you should stop using the oil right away. Take the pet out of the environment, bring it to a well-ventilated place, and call the veterinarian. Essential oils should not be diffused to or used topically on caged animals. The small quarters make it difficult for them to escape if they get uncomfortable.

How to Use Essential Oils for Pet

Diffuser

How to Use

• Use a water vaporizer
• Place the diffuser on a shelf. Make sure it’s not in your pet’s reach
• Use one to two drops of essential oil. Diffuse for ten minutes and turn it off for thirty minutes
• Place your pet in one corner of the room and diffuse the essential oil in another corner

Benefits

• Eliminate offensive odors
• No need for skin contact. An hour of exposure to diluted oil is enough

Cautions

• Do not use a human-size dose for pets
• Avoid using oils with spicy, hot, cooling, or strong aromas (e.g., oregano, peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, etc.)
• The room should be well-ventilated so that if your pet does not enjoy the scent, they can get access to fresh air
• Do not diffuse oil in an enclosed room
• Do not leave the diffuser on overnight
• If your pet has breathing difficulties, take extra measures when applying essential oil to your skin
• When using diffusion to introduce an essential oil to a pet, start with a tiny amount and observe any reactions
• Turn off the diffuser right away and get help from a doctor as soon as you notice a more severe side effect, like trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, seizures, or unconsciousness
• If you apply essential oils to a pet’s body that could wind up in its mouth (such as the foot or hand), make sure that this body part stays covered after application
• Do not diffuse essential oil in an area where your pet plays, sleep, or eat

Room Spray

How to Use

• Always dilute the oils
• Spray in a well-ventilated room

Benefits

• Creates a calming atmosphere, depending on the oil you choose
• Prevents prolonged and strong exposure to oils

Cautions

• Do not spray on pillows and toys, as this might lead to accidental digestion
• Do not spray in areas where your pet plays, sleep, or eat

Topical Application

How to Use

• Dilute the essential oil with coconut oil
• If you have created a mist for your dog, spray your dog lightly three times
• If applying to a bird, do so on a featherless body area, like the feet. This helps avoid greasy feathers that interfere with the bird’s ability to control its body temperature. (If handling the bird is not feasible, dab a small amount of oil on your pet’s perch)

Benefits

• Provides comfort for a long time

Cautions

• Only use those oils that your vet approves
• Do not stroke the pet in the area where you have applied the oil
• Keep pets off of surfaces that you have cleaned with essential oils because they will lick their fur to clean themselves and may then consume the oils
• Since essential oils and hydrosols are not soluble in water, they should never be introduced to an aquarium. They would irritate the fish or perhaps kill them. Moreover, hydrosols have the ability to change the pH of water.

Can I Use Lavender Oil on My Dog?

When used properly, lavender oil is generally regarded as safe for dogs. Many pet parents use it to ease anxiety symptoms, which may help their dogs know it’s time to relax.

Dilute lavender oil by adding one drop to almond or coconut oil (carrier oil). Next, either apply the diluted solution to the dog’s skin along the affected area, in between the pads of his back feet or mix it with food.

Are Essential Oils Safe for Cats?

Dogs are more tolerant of essential oils. As for cats, they have sensitive skin, which is why you should dilute essential oils more than you do for dogs.

Here’s a list of safe and unsafe essential oils for cats:

Safe

• Cedarwood
• Turmeric
• Frankincense
• Copaiba
• Petitgrain
• Arborvitae
• Lemon
• Lavender
• Peppermint

Unsafe

• Basil Oil
• Birch Oil
• Clove Oil
• Cinnamon Oil
• Dill Oil
• Tea Tree Oil
• Fennel Oil
• Oregano Oil
• Thyme Oil
• Peppermint
• Rosemary Oil
• Wintergreen Oil
• Spearmint Oil
• Citrus Oils (Grapefruit, Bergamot, Lemon, Lime, Tangerine, Orange)

Top 5 Pet Essential Oils for Pets and Their Benefits

Lavender Essential Oil

• It has a soothing aroma that calms the body and mind
• It helps reduce anxiety and stress
• It improves mood
• It improves sleep duration and quality
• It relieves inflammation and pain
• It helps with muscle spasms
• It helps heal infections and wounds
• It moisturizes your pet’s coat and skin
• It prevents hair loss 

While most dogs might tolerate lavender essential oil well, certain breeds can develop skin irritation or allergic responses. Consequently, it is best to conduct a patch test prior to applying lavender essential oil to the skin or coat.

Chamomile Essential Oil

• It helps relieve digestive problems, such as cramps, gas, indigestion, and diarrhea
• It promotes wound healing
• It reduces stress and anxiety
• It soothes skin conditions 
• It alleviates inflammation and pain

Nursing and pregnant dogs and cats should not come in touch with chamomile oil. 

Frankincense

• It enhances mood by reducing stress
• It improves respiratory health
• It relieves asthma symptoms 
• It stimulates blood circulation 
• It regulates blood pressure
• It boosts cognitive function 
• It has antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that support immune system function, skin health and wound healing

Nursing and pregnant dogs and cats should not come in touch with frankincense oil. It might also inflame allergies. 

Lemon

• Its citrusy aroma energizes the mind and uplifts the mood
• It helps fight infections
• It has antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the spread of harmful germs
• It stimulates the pet’s hygiene and coat
• It can enhance your pet’s cognitive function
• It stimulates dopamine and serotonin production, which can reduce depression and anxiety
• It can improve concentration
• It supports detoxification and digestion
• It can relieve indigestion, nausea, constipation, and bloating

Cedarwood

• It helps treat or prevent bacterial and fungal skin infections
• It reduces pain and inflammation caused by joint conditions, arthritis, and dysplasia
• It improves blood circulation, which might give your pet a healthy coat
• It is a natural pesticide and insect repellent
• It promotes sleep and relaxation

Certain essential oils are considered safe to use on or around pets, but not all of them are. Essential oil toxicity can occur when owners give their dog or cat any kind of oil, so they should proceed with caution. Before applying an essential oil topically, always dilute it.

When using essential oils, pay special attention to the cues your pet is sending you. It is not right to make your pet smell something they have intentionally avoided and are running away from.

For pet-safe essential oils, visit the Maverick Oils website.