Did you know that the same essential oils that you use on yourselves can be used on your dog?

Lots of us have jumped on the bandwagon of natural health and have now incorporated a lot more homeopathic remedies into our family life, but we shouldn’t leave our four-legged family members out!

A lot of the same essential oils (EOs) that we use for ourselves can also be used for the exact same purpose on our dogs! The only difference being that animal are A LOT more sensitive than people so it’s crucial to make sure that the EOs used are good quality pure essential oils with no fillers or additives.

Dogs are also very sensitive to smell, so we have to be careful how much oil you are using and how you are using it.

For example, if you are diffusing in a closed room with your dog, make sure to use less drops or leave a door open for the pet to leave if he becomes overwhelmed. You can also apply an oil diluted to your hands and let the dog smell from 8-10” away. Some recipes can be used in a spritz to spray the coat or can be petted on the dog.

Whatever way you are using EOs with your dog, introduce new oils slowly at first, less is more!

Dilution ratios for dogs should also be closely heeded, depending on size of the animal. To start I always add more carrier oil until I know how the animal will react. A carrier oil could be anything from olive oil, sweet almond oil to coconut oil

0-25 lbs – 75% dilution (1 drop oil to 4-5 drops carrier oil)

26-45lbs – 50-75% dilution

46-75 lbs – 25-50% dilution

76-90 lbs – 50% dilution

91 + lbs – 25% dilution

You can also create a spritz with distilled water and a few drops of essential oils. Spray the fur (avoiding the face and eyes). This application is great for a bug spray or cooling spray in the Summer.

Topical applications would include the area of concern (a rash or a painful joint), or you can just dilute and apply down head, neck and back of the animal. Here are some good oils to start with on dogs:

Lavender – Use for skin issues like rashes and scrapes. Apply down the back to enhance relaxation and help with stress.

Lemon – Add lemon essential oil to a ribbon at the door for ‘scent marking’. This will help older dogs find their way outside or help puppies associate the scent to house training. Or diffuse for a fresh and clean scent.

Peppermint – Helps with tummy issues (apply topically to area). It also helps to cool the animal in the Summer either by spritzing on coat or adding a drop to their water.

Ylang Ylang & Tangerine or Orange – Helps with grieving or loss. And reduction in anxiety.

Frankincense – Helps with anxiety and dogs going through a transition. For fearful dogs. Also good for skin issues like fatty lumps or skin tags.

One of the most commonly requested remedy is one for repelling fleas and ticks for your dog. Different EOs repel different bugs so here a few ideas on how to keep pesky critters away from your pooch!

Cedar Wood & Geranium are super flea and tick repellents!

Eucalyptus & Peppermint for stinging bugs.

Citronella and Myrtle for Mosquitoes and biting insects.

Here is an all-purpose recipes for bug repellant using essential oils:

Doggie Bug Spray:

-4 drops citronella

-3 drops cedar wood

-3 drops geranium

-2 drops myrtle

-2 drops peppermint

-1 drop thyme

Add to an 8oz bottle of distilled water. Shake well before every use. You can also add a 8 drops of Neem Oil to the mixture as it is a potent insecticide itself but it will also help the spray adhere to the coat for longer.

Sylvia Provenski
CanadianMoms.ca