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Safe Essential Oils for Dogs
Safe essential oils for dogs are good to have for the treatment of a wide variety of dog health problems.
So you want to try using essential oils on your dog, but there are so many essential oils! Not sure which ones to choose from? Unsure which oils are safe for your dog?
You have come to the right place! This page will give you information on some safe and useful essential oils for dogs, what they are effective for, as well as some
guidelines for buying essential oils.
For more general information about aromatherapy for dogs, access this page.
Want to try making some oil blends for your dog? Visit our page on Aromatherapy Recipes
for Dogs for some easy-to-make recipes.
There are quite a few essential oils for dogs that are safe for use, but you do not have to buy all of them! There are a few "must-have's" that you should get if you want to give your dog aromatherapy. There are also a few "good-to-have's" depending on the kind of healing your dog needs.
With this in mind, here is a list of some safe and basic essential oils for dogs, together with a brief description of their properties and uses for your quick reference.
Safe Essential Oils for Dogs
| Essential Oils |
Properties & Uses |
| Bergamot |
Antifungal, soothing.
Excellent for ear infections caused by yeast or bacterial overgrowth.
Caution: Can cause photosensitization. Avoid the sun after use. |
| Carrot Seed |
Anti-inflammatory, tonic, with moderate antibacterial effects.
Good for dry, flaky, sensitive skin which is prone to infection.
Can rejuvenate and stimulate tissue regeneration, thus effective for scar healing. |
| Cedarwood |
Antiseptic, tonifying, circulation-stimulating.
Good for skin and coat conditioning and dermatitis of all types.
Flea-repelling. |
| Chamomile, German |
Anti-inflammatory, non-toxic, gentle and safe to use.
Good for skin irritations, allergic reactions, burns. |
| Chamomile, Roman |
Antispasmodic, analgesic, nerve-calming.
Good for soothing the central nervous system.
Eeffective for relief of muscle pains, cramps, teething pain.
A "must-have" oil for dogs! |
| Clary Sage |
Nerve-calming, gentle when used in small amounts and properly diluted.
Sedates the central nervous system. |
| Eucalyptus Radiata |
Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, an expectorant.
Good for relief of chest congestion.
Effective in repelling flea. |
| Geranium |
Gentle and safe, antifungal.
Good for skin irritations, fungal ear infections.
Effective in repelling ticks. |
| Ginger |
Non-toxic, non-irritating and safe to use in small amounts, properly diluted.
Good for motion sickness, aids digestion.
Effective for pain relief caused by arthritis, dysplasia, strains and sprains. |
| Helichrysum |
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerative effects; extremely therapeutic.
Excellent for skin conditions and irritations (e.g. eczema).
Effective for healing of scars and bruises.
Effective for pain relief. |
| Lavender |
Very safe and gentle, antibacterial, anti-itch, nerve-calming.
Good for many common animal ailments, e.g. skin irritations, first aid.
A "must-have" oil for your dog! |
| Marjoram, Sweet |
Strong antibacterial, calming, a muscle relaxant.
Good for bacterial skin infections, wound care, insect repelling. |
| Niaouli |
Antihistaminic, powerful antibacterial properties, yet less likely to cause irritation than Tea Tree.
Good for ear infections and skin problems caused by allergies.
A "must-have" for dogs! |
| Peppermint |
Antispamodic, stimulates circulation, insect-repelling.
Good for arthritis, dysplasia, sprains and strains.
Works well with ginger to treat motion sickness.
Another "must-have" for dogs! |
| Sweet Orange |
Falming, deodorizing, flea-repelling.
Caution: Can cause photosensitization. Avoid the sun after use. |
| Valerian |
Nerve-calming.
Good for treating dog anxiety such as separation and noise anxiety. |
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Buying Essential Oils for Dogs
If you are new to aromatherapy, you may not know where and how to find pure, therapeutic grade essential oils for dogs. There are indeed a lot of places where we can buy essential oils, and you may even notice quite a big difference in price for the same oil at different stores.
The following guidelines will show you how and where to get high-quality essential oils for your dog:
- Look for essential oils that are bottled in amber, cobalt or violet glass bottles.
- Look for important information of the oils (either printed on the label, and/or on the store's website, brochure, etc.):
* Scientific name of the oil (e.g. Lavandula angustifolia);
* Common name of the oil (e.g. Lavender);
* How the oil was extracted;
* Country of origin;
* Method of cultivation (e.g. organic, cultivated, wildharvested, etc.)
* The words "100% pure essential oil".
- Essential oils are generally expensive, so don't go for unreasonably cheap oils since cheap oils are likely to be adulterated.
- Avoid buying essential oils at supermarkets or health food stores (they may be cheaper but usually of a lower quality).
We recommend this online supplier. Take a look at their essential oils:
References
K.L. Bell Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals (Findhorn Press, 2002).
A.D. Shojai New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats (Rodale Press, 1999).
Japan Pet Aromatherapy Association
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