Essential Oils for Pets — Learn to Safely Use Them

By Caryn Gelhmann

We love our fur babies! They entertain us and give us emotional support when we need it most. So it’s only natural that we want to give them the best life possible. We lavish them with cozy, clean beds, good food, lots of care and attention. But have you ever considered using essential oils for pet care?

In times past, when farm animals and pets needed help, pet owners relied on home remedies. It’s only been within the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that veterinarians became our go-to for pet health care.

Now, people are not only taking a more holistic approach to their own healthcare; they are caring for their animals holistically, as well. Interestingly, French veterinarians have been at the forefront of using essential oils for pets. In the early 1900s,  French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse treated a severe burn on his hand with lavender essential oil. He was amazed at his speedy recovery, so he began using essential oils on dogs and horses. And it worked! Thirty years later, Dr. Louis Sevelinge also began using essential oils to treat animals. Ever since, essential oil therapy has gained in popularity today. So much so that it’s common practice that even some essential oil therapies are covered by insurance companies in France.

A Word of Caution on Safety About Using Essential Oils for Pets

Aromatherapy is very versatile but it’s important to do your research. Some animals, such as cats are highly sensitive to essential oils, so proceed slowly and carefully. Just because a recipe is “natural” doesn’t mean it can’t harm your pet if misapplied. Also please remember that using straight or neat essential oils on your pets can be too harsh. Essential oil hydrosols on the other hand are very effective, yet mild. You can read more about hydrosols in e3’s blog post, Hydrosols for Pets — The Safest Aromatherapy Option.

What’s amazing is that just as animals are drawn to eat plants that make them feel better, you’ll find that they’re drawn to essential oils that will help them. You can see this for yourself by putting, for example, a drop of Lavender on one hand and Clary Sage on the other. Then hold your hands out. Your pet will often lick the hand that has the beneficial oil they need. If they’re repulsed by the scent, by all means, don’t use it. Their sense of smell is powerful, it could be too overwhelming!

We’ve found the following list of essential oils for pets is very useful to keep on hand for the most common pets. (Then you can search our blog for recipes, such as our essential oil recipe for fighting chicken mites here.) With these oils, you can make shampoos, skin conditioners, flea collars, cage/bedding cleaning solutions, and more. If you have farm animals like goats and cows, you might want to add Fennel to the list…

Cedarwood Atlas

Chamomile Roman & German

Clary Sage

Eucalyptus radiata

Geranium

Lavender

Niaouli 

Orange Sweet

Peppermint

Thyme ct. linalool

Since dogs are the most popular pet in the U.S., here are a few canine fur care recipes using some of these essential oils for pets:

Deodorizing Shampoo

5 drops Cinnamon Leaf

5 drops Caraway ( or Coriander)

3 drops Black Pepper

3 drops Bay Laurel

Add the oils to 8 oz of all-natural shampoo base.

Flea and Insect Repelling Shampoo

4 drops Clary Sage

2 drops Citronella

8 drops Peppermint

4 drops Lemon

Add the oils to 8 oz of all-natural shampoo base.

Woodsy Conditioning Shampoo

6 drops Atlas Cedarwood

4 drops Rosemary

2 drops Patchouli

3 drops Vetivier

Add the oils to 8 oz of all-natural shampoo base.

We found these recipes in the book, “Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to the Use of Essential Oils & Hydrosols with Animals,” by Kristen Leigh Bell. While we focused on recipes for dog shampoos today, there are many other recipes for other pets in this book, which is a great read, if you’re interested in aromatherapy for your pet. She shows how you can safely use essential oils, and especially hydrosols, for your pets from large animals like horses to small pets like dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, and more.

As always, we invite you to share your specific concerns with our staff of trained aromatherapists. If you have questions, feel free to contact us via the website or on our social media channels. And be sure to download your free copy of our DIY blending ebook, The Art & Science of Blending Essential Oils. You’ll want to use it to record your pet’s preferences for the essential oil blends you try.

Thank you for the photos Cynthia Smith and Autri Taheri