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Are Essential Oils Safe for Dogs?

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Are essential oils safe for dogs? Essential oils have become increasingly popular for their therapeutic properties. But, if you own a dog or cat, it’s important to know what essential oils are safe to use around your four-legged furry friend!

Be sure to check out my guide to essential oils as well.

After doing some research, I’ve come up with this helpful guide to the safety of essential oil usage when it comes to dogs.

You can also check with your veterinarian before using any new essential oil on your pet just so you can be sure it is safe for them!

do you know which essential oils are unsafe for your pets

If you’re interested in essential oils, but you have a man’s best friend at home to think about, you might be curious if essential oils are safe for cats or dogs.

Disclosure: I work with Rocky Mountain Oils as a Brand Ambassador. This post also contains affiliate links.

In recent years, the popularity of alternative health care has been on the rise. More people are turning to herbs, homeopathy, massage, and other alternative treatments for many of the conditions that ail them, with millions of Americans discovering the wonders of essential oils. 

Make certain to read more about various essential oils, like Lavender Essential Oil to get as educated as possible.

Are Essential Oils Safe For Dogs?

For consumers looking to live a healthier and more natural life, essential oils are a great alternative. These concentrated oils are natural and effective remedies for a number of issues. And it is only natural when practitioners consider using them to help their pets, as well. But, are essential oils safe for dogs, cats, and other pets?

Those of us who have dogs know how much they become a part of our family. Dogs have a way of feeling less like a pet, and more like one of our children – albeit furry children.

At times, they feel so much like “one of us” that it is easy to forget that they are very actually very different from us. Essential oils that are safe and healing for humans can also be very helpful to our pets.

However, others can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure and can actually be fatal to our dogs. To further complicate the situation, it also depends greatly on how the essential oil is prepared and how you’re applying oils.

Here are some of the oils that have been deemed safe for dogs.

Essential Oils That Are Safe For Dogs

The following essential oils are affiliate links which means I earn a commission for each purchase, at no extra cost to you.

Essential oils that are generally considered safe for use around dogs include lavender, eucalyptus, bergamot, frankincense and tea tree oil. Other essential oils should be used with caution and great care on animals. Some of these include rosemary, citronella and peppermint.

Lavender

Lavender is considered one of the safest of the essential oils. Used for thousands of years, Lavender was actually one of the first antibacterials used on wounded soldiers in WW1.

This great smelling essential oil is calming and relaxing, making it an effective remedy for anxiety. Lavender also has antihistamine properties, making it helpful for dogs with allergies.

Mixed with carrier oils of coconut oil and honey, applying lavender essential oils topically can be great for treating localized infections and helping to heal other skin conditions.

Geranium

Geranium essential oil has a wonderful smell as a diffused oil, like fresh cut flowers, which makes it very pleasant to work with. It has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great massage oil for dogs with injured muscles. And like lavender, geranium is helpful for anxiety, as well.

So if you have an anxious doggo, you can pop some geranium into your essential oil diffuser and help calm them. 

Geranium is also a wonderful tick repellant and makes a helpful addition to homemade pet shampoos. It also soothes insect bites and can be helpful in the treatment of “hot spots.”

Spearmint

Spearmint is a fresh, invigorating essential oil that can be used to help care for your pooch in multiple ways.

When mixed with coconut oil and baking soda, spearmint makes an amazing doggie toothpaste that helps keep your canine’s breath fresh. It can also be used as an effective insect repellent for both dogs and humans alike!

The great thing about spearmint essential oil is that it is generally considered gentle and safe for use around dogs when properly diluted.

When using spearmint essential oil on pets, make sure to always dilute the oil before applying it to their skin or fur.

which essential oils are safe to be used around your doggo

Essential Oils That Are Dangerous to Dogs

Although some essential oils are great for our furry friends, there are many oils that should be avoided. Some of the most toxic include:

  • clove
  • garlic
  • rosemary
  • tea tree oil

…are especially toxic for pets and should not be used directly on them. Even if diluted, these oils should still only be used with great caution and care.

Incorrect use of essential oils can cause skin irritation, digestive issues or even more serious health concerns in animals so it’s important to make sure you are being careful.

Be Sure to Do Your Research

When it comes to using essential oils on your dog, the first step is always to do your research. Not only do you need to know if an essential oil is generally safe or not, but you also need to know how to use it properly. Even essential oils generally considered safe can be toxic to dogs when used incorrectly. 

So, if you have a question or problem, you can ask your veterinarian or the ASPCA animal poison control center for more information. The pet poison helpline can tell you if the essential oils are safe or if they’re going to cause something untoward.

Essential oils can be be wonderfully healing when used correctly. Exercise proper caution and take the time to properly research any oils before using them and you can help keep your dog healthy and happy for many years to come. 

Remember, always check with your veterinarian before use just to ensure the safety of your beloved pet.

Best Essential Oil Recipes:

With the right essential oils, it’s easy to make lifestyle changes that can be beneficial to your entire family. Essential oils provide a natural, safe option for dealing with common issues like stress, bad smells or skin irritations.

Once you know what essential oils will work best for your family, you can start incorporating them into everyday activities and routines to create a healthier, happier home.

Essential oils also offer an easy way to bring aromatherapy into your living space. Whether it’s helping everyone relax after a long day or bringing an energizing scent into the room in the morning, adding the right essential oil blend can instantly shift the environment and mood.

And you’re going to be ready for more clever essential oil blends. So, lucky for you, I’ve got some tips you’re going to love!

A tad bit about Rocky Mountain Oils:

Shipping –  All orders within the United States qualify for free economy shipping. Orders have an estimated delivery time of 2-7 business days!  They even have a neat little chart to help you estimate your shipping time if choosing the free shipping option.

Return Policy – Products can be returned for any reason, even if opened, for up to 90 days.  Yes, seriously!  They even send you a shipping label so you don’t have to pay to return the product.  No more worries about “what if it doesn’t work or I am allergic” simply return it!

Safe and Healthy – RMO provides GC/MS (Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry) test results from a verified third party, independent lab for each one of their essential oil products. In fact, on the bottom of your bottle is a batch number.  You can go to their site and enter your number.  This will give you the results of your bottle’s testing!

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