Being around dogs makes you realize one special quality about them: They like to share. If you throw your dog a ball or frisbee, they will get it and bring it right back to you for more play, looking to share the game with you.
They also like to share the couch with you, your bed and, since most of their owners mirror these sharing qualities, ice cream cones and treats from the table are other shareable.
But do you know what else can you share with your pet companion?
Essential oils!
Imagine sharing your couch with a sweet smelling doggy companion instead of one with the overpowering smell of wet fur.
Contents
Dogs and essential oils: Why your dog needs essential oils?
Is using essential oils on a dog just a pampering habit or is it an essential health benefit?
Pet aromatherapy has been in existence for a long time because it does have incredible health benefits. Yet, it is important to identify the best oils for your dog.
Just like human beings, scents strongly influence the emotions of our pets. Good smells attract them and bad ones repel them.
Dogs use their sense of smell to survive in their environment. It is this well-developed sense of smell that helps them to enjoy the beauty of essential oils.
Essential oils have been found to help reduce anxiety in dogs as well as fight bacterial and fungal infections and inflammations. They can also be used to influence a dog’s mood and memory.
It is important to note that not all essential oils are dog-friendly. Here is a comprehensive list of oils to avoid for your dog:
- Bitter Almond
- Anise
- Camphor
- Birch
- Calamus
- Cassia
- Clove leaf
- Boldo
- Horseradish
- Hysop
- Goosefoot
- Mustard
- Wintergreen
- Sassafras
- Pennyroyal
- Thyme
- Rue
- Wormwood
- Yarrow
Things you should consider when using essential oil on your dog
Age
For large breeds wait until the dog is at least 8 weeks old and for smaller breeds wait until they are 10 weeks old. This allows their sense of smell to develop enough to harness the benefits of the oils and also gives their bodies the ability to absorb the oil without adverse effects.
The environment
Introduce oils when the dog is happy and healthy not when it is ill. Allow the dog to naturally get accustomed to the oil through smell before you apply it.
Watch out for signs like smelling the oil repeatedly to show the dog likes it but if it drools, sneezes, whines or begins to pace the oil is an irritant.
Using blends
Blends work better than pure oils on dogs because they tend to respond well to the smaller doses of the oils. This is not to say that pure oils are not to be used but they should be diluted so that the components therein are not too heavy for your pet.
How to use essential oils to calm a dog?
Essential oils can be used to place a dog in a positive space. They can reduce anxiety, aggression, fear and sensitivity.
Essential oils for dog anxiety and fear
A distressed dog will whine whether because of anxiety and fear. It is a painful sound for dog lovers because it relays the vulnerability of the animal while you helpless.
Oils to use
Lavender has the same calming effect on dogs that it has on humans. It relaxes the dog and calms its nerves. You can also use sweet marjoram which also has a very calming effect on the animal.
Application
Use lavender in a blend with sweet marjoram and sweet orange oil to give the dog a happy boost in its mood and calm it when it is in this positive space. let the dog sniff at the oil repeatedly until is visibly calmer.
It is imperative to lead the dog in a happy space in order to allay its anxiety and this is what the sweet orange does. It prepares the way for the lavender and sweet marjoram to soothe the dog by invigorating the dog’s senses.
Essential oils for dog aggression
Aggression in a dog is difficult to handle especially when it is a pet that is always near you. It is always a symptom of a larger, underlying problem which cannot be dealt with until the dog is calm.
More and more owners are against chemically sedating aggressive animals when safer, natural options like essential oils are available to calm the dog.
Oils to use
Once again lavender and sweet marjoram feature highly in helping the dog overcome stress. Their calming effect immediately relaxes the nerves and dulls the edge of aggression sometimes even lulling the dog to sleep.
In this case, make sure any blends you use do not have invigorating or stimulating effects as the more agitated the dog is the more aggressive it becomes.
Application
Approaching an aggressive dog is not advisable even to try and dispense the oil treatment. Instead, place a few drops of the oils on its bed or place a cloth with the oils near it and let it sniff the oils at its pleasure.
Once it is calm you can check for the source of its aggression.
Essential oils for sound sensitivity at dog
Dogs that have had a traumatic experience will associate certain sounds with that event. While you cannot keep the dog indoors at all times you can understand the symptoms that lead up to the reaction to the sound.
Oils to use
Animals with sound sensitivity will shrivel when the offending sound is identified. To beat the sense of helplessness and fear that comes with the sound use citrus essential oils like orange and lemon. They will give the dog a mood boost, causing it to be invigorated, wanting to play.
This creates an alternative experience for the dog even within the existence of the sound and this happy reality slowly replaces the bad memories induced by the sound.
Application
Let the dog sniff at the oil although it is best to use oils in a blend. Blends will dilute the oils allowing the dog to enjoy the oil in a muted form without experiencing adverse health reactions.
Essential oils for separation anxiety
Dogs experience separation anxiety when they are put in new environments, placed with new people or are separated from their siblings.
Separation anxiety manifests itself in fear, aggression and anxiety.
Oils to use
Chamomile and ylang ylang are great for anxiety and have the mild inviting smell that will not irritate the dog.
Application
Use the oils in a blend to ensure the dog draws on the benefits of both oils. Use them as a spray in the air or place a few drops on the dog’s bed to allow it to work consistently.
9 calming essential oils for dogs
1. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is great for warding off illnesses like inflammation but it also has a calming effect. It is considered one of the most versatile essential oils available. It can be used in the warm bath water or as a shampoo dog so that it infuses into the steam and the dog can inhale it easily.
Alternatively, use it in the air freshener so that the dog can inhale it at all times. This is a good idea if your dog spends a lot of time indoors.
Tea tree oil fights all kinds of infections and it is distinct in aroma so the dog will always associate it with a good memory.
Disadvantages of tea tree oil are that it has a strong smell and it should not be used without diluting.
2. Lavender oil
Lavender oil is well known and respected for its calming and relaxing properties. It can be used in its pure form or diluted in a blend or with water.
Lavender has a mild smell that is very inviting making it easily assimilated by the animal. It can ease car sickness and car anxiety as well as during intensive training to calm the dog after.
Place a few drops of the oil onto the dog’s bed so that it can inhale it naturally as it sleeps. Even if it wakes up agitated at night, the lavender will lull it back to sleep.
Lavender oil has insect repellent qualities. It also regulates sleep patterns.
Be aware that it is not advisable to use on a pregnant or breastfeeding dog.
3. Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is a great insect repellent but it must be used in a blend when used to calm a dog. This is because it has a strong smell that can disorient the animal’s sense of smell.
It has a calming effect that soothes the dog when used in small doses.
4. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is such a nourishing oil that is safe to be ingested by dogs, unlike most essential oils. It contains lauric acid which helps build the dog’s immune system. The oil is great for both topical and internal use.
Disadvantage of coconut oil is that it has a high caloric density.
5. Cedar oil
Cedar oil is extracted from cedarwood and is great for all dog breeds. It has been lauded for its insect repellent qualities and is a great antiseptic and expectorant for dogs suffering from a kennel cough.
It is well respected for its calming ability for dogs with severe separation anxiety, nervous aggression or those that are generally shy or timid.
Also, it is very good for stimulating circulation.
6. Oregano oil
This is another oil that can be administered orally or topically. Being an essential oil it requires a carrier oil in order to be effectively applied.
Oregano oil is a potent antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial agent.
Be aware that it is not advisable to use on a pregnant or breastfeeding dog.
7. Eucalyptus oil
This is very effective oil in combating stress and anxiety in dogs. It opens the nasal passageway allowing for deep breathing which relieves the shallow breathing that comes with anxiety.
It is not advisable to use eucalyptus oil on small breeds or puppies.
8. Frankincense oil
You can make a blend at home featuring frankincense oil.
Frankincense has been used since time immemorial for its soothing and relaxing qualities. It is gentle and safe and with a sweet fragrant smell about it and is considered a great all-around oil for dogs. It is effective in calming anxiety in dogs because of its light soothing fragrance.
Frankincense oil can be very expensive owing to its fragrance.
9. Neem oil
Neem oil is one of the most powerful and effective essential oils available today. It has been touted as the miracle herb responsible for treating a myriad of dog-related ailments and discomforts. It is strong yet soothing alleviating a lot of discomforts that cause dogs to get agitated.
Use it in a blend with oil like lavender so that as it lessens the anxiety causing irritation, the lavender soothes the animal’s senses.
Essential oil recipes for anxiety at dogs
Recipe 1
Topical application
Ingredients
Preparation
You will notice that all the above ingredients have a beautiful fragrance that is not overpowering to the dog’s sense of smell.
Put 2-3 drops of the essential oils into 5 drops of the carrier oil. Mix thoroughly and massage gently into the coat of the dog spreading it around the head areas but not too close to the nose. The gentle whiffs will soothe it continuously.
Recipe 2
Ingestible
Ingredients
Preparation
All the above oils are safe to be ingested.
Mix the two citruses with the coconut oil and massage onto your hand. While you are not scooping the mix into the dog’s mouth, allowing it to sniff it and occasionally lick it off your hand is not harmful.
The coconut oil works well within and externally while the citrus scents pick the dog’s mood up.
Make sure the orange and lemon oils are food grade.
Recipe 3
Airborne
Ingredients
Preparation
Some of these oils feature strong scents that need to be tempered with milder ones.
Tea tree is advised in small doses for dogs so putting it in a blend and spraying it into the air makes it milder and more consumable for the dog.
Place 1 drop of the tea tree oil in half a glass of water and add in 2 drops of the remaining oils before shaking well. Spray periodically with the dog around.
Conclusion
Because of the overdeveloped sense of smell of dogs, you must remember to dilute the oils before using them.
Also, only use therapeutic grade oils with your dog to ensure that it is receiving quality components that will interfere with its health.
Finally, never enforce the use of oil if your dogs don’t like it.
Image credits: Pixabay.com, Unsplash.com and Amazon.com
What a great resource. I shall share this with a friend 🙂
Thank you, Tandy. I hope you will find another articles interesting as well.