The Safety of Essential Oils in Dogs

To treat your dog naturally, use essential oils, derived from plants, to heal its skin, repel parasites or provide it with aromatherapy. You can safely use essential oils, if diluted in a carrier oil, on your dog's fur and skin. Unlike cats, dogs can metabolize the oils and benefit from their medicinal properties.

  1. Identification

    • Essential oils come from the steam or water distillation of different parts of plants, such as the stems, flowers, leaves, bark or roots, according to AromaWeb. These liquids contain the healing essence of the plant from which they are derived. These highly concentrated oils need dilution in a carrier oil such as sweet almond, olive or grapeseed oil before you apply them to your dog's skin. Essential oils have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that you can use to treat your dog naturally. Because dogs have a sensitive sense of smell, dilute the oils in oil or water at 25 percent of the amount you would use in humans, according to certified aromatherapist Kristen Leigh Bell.

    Uses for Essential Oils in Dogs

    • When using essential oils with dogs, use them only externally, never giving them to your dog to take internally. Add one to two drops of lemongrass or citronella oil to your dog's shampoo during a bath to rid it of fleas. Mix six drops of lavender or thyme oil with 1/2 gallon of water to clean any wounds or scratches on your dog to prevent an infection and speed healing, according to Valerie Ann Worwood, author of "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy." Combine two drops of eucalyptus oil with two drops of tea tree oil and mix this with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil to rub on your dog's coat, if it suffers from a cold, as a natural aromatherapy treatment.

    Hydrosols and Skin Sensitivities

    • If your dog has sensitive skin, you may want to try using a hydrosol rather than an essential oil on its skin. You can also use hydrosols on puppies, older dogs, and pregnant or nursing dogs to achieve the same effects as essential oils. Hydrosols come from the production of essential oils, as the by-product of steam distillation of plant matter. These liquids have the same water-soluble components in much smaller quantities as the essential oils produced. To use hydrosols, you do not need to dilute them; spray them directly on your dog's fur or mix them into your dog's bath water.

    Quality and Storage

    • When purchasing essential oils for use with your dog, choose aromatherapy-grade ones rather than commercial grade. Check with the manufacturer to ensure the oils contain only pure essential oils, not additional chemicals to cut the oil, which can harm your dog. Store the oils in dark glass containers in a cabinet away from light. If you make a blend of the oils, it will have a shelf-life of about one month, according to Francine Milford, author of "Aroma Care Pet Aromatherapy." When using essential oils on your dog's coat, always avoid its face. If you do not want to use a carrier oil to dilute the oils, you can also use vodka. Combine two drops of essential oil into 1 teaspoon of vodka, then mix with 6 teaspoons of water to make a body spray for your dog.