Are Essential Oils Safe to Use Around Dogs?
Essential oils are said to heal stress, anxiety, and even aches and pains. But do they have the same effect on our dogs? With the rise in popularity of essential oils, many pet parents are curious about whether they should use essential oils for their doggos. We have all of the answers to your questions about essential oils below!
Safe Essential Oils for Dogs
Some essential oils are safer for dogs than others! Vets generally approve the following essential oils for doggos:
- Lavender – One of the most popular essential oils. Can help with allergies, burns, insomnia, anxiety, and car sickness!
- Peppermint – Peppermint smells delicious and is very useful for both the respiratory system and for soothing achy joints.
- Frankincense – This handy essential oil supports the nervous system and digestive tract. It’s also very helpful for cellular health and immunity.
- Copaiba – Copaiba is lesser-known essential oil, but it supports the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, musculoskeletal, digestive, urinary, and nervous systems.
- Petitgrain – Dogs with stress or anxiety will benefit greatly from petitgrain, which can calm down the nervous system and digestive systems.
Essential Oils Dangerous to Dogs
Arguably more important than knowing which essential oils your dog can use is knowing which essential oils are dangerous for your pup. You should keep your dog away from these essential oils:
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon essential oils can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, fluctuations in heart rate, and low blood sugar.
- Pine – Pine can contribute to skin or stomach irritation, drooling, weakness, loss of coordination, vomiting, and damage to the central nervous system.
- Citrus – Skin irritation, agitation or lethargy, vomiting, tremors, and seizures can all result from citrus essential oils.
- Tea tree – Can result in depression, paralysis of back legs, vomiting, loss of coordination, low body temperature, and skin irritation.
- Sweet birch – Symptoms of toxicity include kidney failure, seizures, gastrointestinal ulcers, and death
- Wintergreen – Vomiting due to severe upset stomach and ulcers, can also result in renal and liver failure
- Pennyroyal – Can result in vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, or even death
- Ylang ylang – Can result in vomiting, difficulty breathing, weakness, and instability.
How to Use Essential Oils for Dogs
As with many things, when it comes to essential oils, less is more! For starters, add about 3-6 drops of essential oils to carrier oil, always using a smaller amount for small dogs rather than big dogs. You may also consider using a hydrosol rather than a fully-concentrated essential oil to reduce risk. Vets also warn that essential oils should not be used around your dog’s eyes, ears, nose, or genitals. You should also be careful when using them with pregnant or nursing pets.
Ask your vet about using essential oils for your dog. They can be a great solution for all kinds of issues, but can also be very dangerous. Be careful and they may really benefit your dog!