Aromatherapy Recipes for Dogs

The aromatherapy recipes for dogs on this page are simple, easy to make, and effective for treating a variety of common dog health problems, such as anxiety, itchy skin problems, motion sickness, flea and tick problems, and much more. Try them out!

Our page on Aromatherapy for Dogs provides general information on aromatherapy, such as essential oils and hydrosols, how to use essential oils on dogs, and precautions to take when using essential oils on dogs.

If you want to look at a list of useful and safe essential oils for dogs, please access Safe Essential Oils for Dogs.

This page provides a number of aromatherapy recipes for the following dog health problems:

Anxiety
Arthritis
Bad Odor
Ear Infections
First Aid - Wound Care
Fleas
Hyperactivity
Itchy Skin and Allergies
Mosquitoes
Motion Sickness
Sinus Infection
Ticks

When making essential oil blends from these aromatherapy recipes, be sure to have dark glass bottles to store the blends. Also don't forget to clearly label each bottle!

All of the following aromatherapy recipes are very safe and gentle on dogs. However, to be on the safe side, before applying the oils topically, do a patch test to make sure that the essential oils do not irritate your dog. Take one drop of any of the blends and apply it to the sparsely coated area under your dog's "armpit". Check about 24 hours later for any signs of irritation such as redness.

Anxiety

This aromatherapy recipe is effective for calming dogs who have separation anxiety, noise anxiety, or fear of new places, people, or things.

You need:

1/2 oz. (15 ml) base oil (e.g. olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil)
3 drops Valerian
5 drops Lavender
2 drops Clary Sage
3 drops Sweet Marjoram

Use this blend topically on your dog. Rub 2 to 3 drops of the essential oil blend between your hands and apply it on the edge of your dog's ears, between the toes, on his inner thighs, or under his "armpits".

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Arthritis

You need:

1/2 oz. (15 ml) base oil (e.g. olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil)
6 drops Helichrysum
4 drops Peppermint
2 drops Ginger
3 drops Valerian

Use this blend topically to massage your dog's sore joints, or pain caused by arthritis or dysplasia. Put a drop or two on the inside of his ear tips as well.

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Bad Odor

These aromatherapy recipes are easy to make and your dog will certainly smell fresh and lovely!

You can add essential oils to an all-natural shampoo to fight bad dog odor.

To 8 oz. (240 ml) of an all-natural shampoo, add:

2 drops Chamomile Roman
2 drops Geranium
7-8 drops Lavender
3 drops Sweet Marjoram

On a damp, rainy day, the "doggie smell" from our four-legged friends may be more profound than ever. Use this quick-and-easy spray to get rid of that smell:

To 1 cup of distilled water, add:

10 drops Lavender
6 drops Sweet Orange
6 drops Peppermint
3 drops Eucalyptus

Mix well in a spray bottle.

Cover your dog's face and eyes with one hand and spray directly on your dog's body, avoiding the head. You can even spray your room with this blend. This is refreshing and the antibacterial properties of lavender and eucalyptus will sanitize your room as well!

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Ear Infections

This is one of the most helpful aromatherapy recipes for dogs with long ears! This essential oil recipe is effective in preventing and treating ear infections in dogs, and can be used after you have cleaned out your dog's ears.

You need:

1/2 oz. (15 ml) base oil (e.g. olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil)
4 drops Lavender
2 drops Tea tree or Niaouli
7 drops Bergamot
3 drops Chamomile, Roman

Mix the oils in a dark glass bottle and use a dropper to drip a few drops of the oil blend into the your dog's ear canal and gently massage the outside of the ear. Then, clean the ear with a cotton swab. The oil blend loosens and washes out all the dirt in the ear, making it less prone to ear infections. The antibacterial and antiviral properties of lavender and tea tree/niaouli speed up the healing of an ear infection.

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First Aid - Wound Care

Prepare this oil blend, store in a dark glass bottle and put it in your dog's first aid kit. It comes in handy for minor cuts, scrapes, bruises, insect bites, and other small wounds.

You need:

1/2 oz. (15 ml) base oil (e.g. olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil)
4 drops Lavender
1 drop Helichrysum
3 drops Marjoram, Sweet
2 drops Niaouli

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Fleas

You can either add the following recipe to 8 oz. (240 ml) of an all-natural shampoo to make a flea-repellent shampoo or to 1/2 oz. of a base oil to make an oil blend.

You need:

2 drops Citronella
3-4 drops Lemon
3-4 drops Clary Sage
7-8 drops of Peppermint

Apply a few drops of the oil blend to the neck, back, chest, legs, and tail of your dog. You can also add a few drops to your dog's cotton collar or bandanna to make an aromatic flea collar.

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Hyperactivity

This aromatherapy recipe is effective for calming hyperactive dogs.

You need:

1/2 oz. (15 ml) base oil (e.g. olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil)
3 drops Valerian
5 drops Lavender
2 drops Chamomile, Roman
3 drops Sweet Marjoram
2 drops Bergamot

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Itchy Skin and Allergies

You can either add the following recipe to 8 oz. (240 ml) of an all-natural shampoo to make a soothing shampoo or to 1/2 oz. of a base oil to make an oil blend for dog itchy skin. Use the oil blend topically on affected skin areas.

You need:

7 drops Lavender
3 drops Geranium
2 drops Chamomile, German
3 drops Carrot Seed

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Mosquitoes

This is one of my most frequently used aromatherapy recipes! It is an effective mosquito repellent (fleas hate the smell too!). If you live in a place where mosquitoes are aplenty, you need to protect your dog from mosquitoes since they transmit the heartworm disease.

You need:

20 drops of Citronella
10 drops of Lemongrass
10 drops of Rose Geranium
10 drops of Myrrh
8 ounces of Aloe Vera juice

Spritz this blend on your dog's coat every day (avoid eye areas). You can also spray this around doorways and on bedding to repel pests.

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Motion Sickness

This blend is effective in calming the stomach of a dog with motion sickness.

You need:

1/2 oz. (15 ml) base oil (e.g. olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil)
6 drops of Ginger
6-8 drops of Peppermint

Apply the oil blend to the inside tip of the dog's ears, under his "armpit", and on his belly.

You can also add a few drops of the oil blend to a cotton ball and put it in the car (in front of the air vent) to circulate the scent in the car.

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Sinus Infection

Dogs with sinus infection or other respiratory problems have nasal congestion and perhaps difficulty breathing. This blend can relieve nasal congestion and can be used in several ways.

For example, several drops can be massaged into the fur of the dog's neck and chest, or placed on a cloth bandanna. Or several drops can be added to the dog's bedding. Another good way to decongest the sinuses is to bring the dog into the bathroom when you are showering. Let the dog lay on the floor. Drop 6-10 drops of the blend onto the floor of the shower. The combination of the steam and vaporized oils can greatly clear sinus congestion. Finally, you can add the essential oils (without the base oil) to a diffuser and diffuse the oils for 5 minutes at a time up to several times a day.

You need: