Saying goodbye to your pet? Comforting essential oils for both of you

Caryn Gehlmann, Clinical Aromatherapist

It’s never easy to say goodbye to your pet. They are beloved family to us and part of our everyday routine. The loss can be hard to face but we get to a point where we can’t let our dear friend suffer any longer. Read on to get specific recommendations on essential oils and aromatherapy practices that can offer comfort to your pet and solace for you.

This Q&A with Caryn is in response to an email I recently received from a longtime e3 customer, Holly:

I need to ask your help please. I am saying goodbye to my 12.5 year old Jak in the next few days. He has osteoarthritis in both hips. We have exhausted all pharmaceuticals and holistic therapies. He is in constant pain (deep teary sigh). What blends do you suggest for me or us as we move through this time of life?

Essential Oils to Comfort Your Pet at the End of Life

After sharing my condolences, I asked Holly if she had Lavender hydrosol, or Rose or Bergamot essential oil. I told her to put one drop on a tissue and hold it about two feet from Jak’s nose to see how he’d respond. If there was no response, she could hold it a bit closer. And then to look for signs that would show her that it brought him some comfort, such as a deep breath or sigh.

If you find yourself in this difficult situation and are looking to ease any pain, anxiety, or distress during your pet’s final days, see below for some additional recommendations.

My #1 aromatherapy solution to comfort your pet

My favorite aromatherapy product is not an essential oil, it’s a hydrosol. Hydrosols provide gentle yet effective results and the low odor intensity does not overwhelm your furry companion’s acute sense of smell. Lavender hydrosol is gentle, soothing, relaxing, and antibacterial!  Learn more about how to use a hydrosol here — e3’s Love Your Pet Lavender Hydrosol.

Here are some ways you can use Love Your Pet to comfort your dog:

• Spray on pet bed or blanket.
• Spray in the air near your pet or on the dog collar.
• Lightly spray on your dog’s coat or use it to treat small irritations.

If you have to say goodbye to your cat, spray Love Your Pet onto a small towel or cloth and leave it in an area where your pet normally sleeps. Cats are more sensitive so allow your cat to choose if she wants to lay on the towel or not. Read e3’s animal care page or the article Essential Oils for Pets — Learn to Safely Use Them for more safety recommendations when using aromatherapy with your pets. And don’t hesitate to discuss any questions you have with your vet.

Here are some additional essential oils that you can try using to see if they comfort your dog (these suggestions are not for cats, for them stick with the hydrosol only):

Lavender: Known for its calming properties.

Roman Chamomile: Helps with relaxation and anxiety.

Frankincense: Can provide comfort and reduce stress.

Rose: Helps with emotional distress.

Bergamot: Helps ease stress and anxiety.

• Apply to toy, blanket, or bandana: This is my preferred approach because if the dog isn’t responding well to the aroma you can easily remove it.
• Diffusion: Use a diffuser in the room where your dog is resting. Make sure the room is well-ventilated and that your dog can leave the room if he or she chooses. If they are not mobile, don’t run the diffuser 24 hours a day, instead, run it for intervals and watch to see how your dog responds.
• Topical Application:  Heavily diluted oils (0.25% to 0.5% dilution) can be applied to the back of the neck or the spine. However, this should be done with extreme caution with essential oils that you know are safe for dogs.* Apply a small amount to their fur, avoiding the face and paws.

* Some essential oils to avoid with your pet include: Tea tree, Peppermint, most Citrus oils, and Pine oils.

For more tips see Essential Oils for Dog Anxiety and Stress.

Essential Oils to Comfort You When Grieving Your Pet

When Holly reached out to me about losing Jak after twelve years, I also encouraged her to remember to care for her own emotional needs by using an aroma that was comforting to her. In fact, with diffusion, you can choose an aroma that is comforting for both you and your pet as you say goodbye.

Here are essential oils that are known to provide comfort during the grieving process of saying goodbye to your pet:

Lavender: Known for its calming and relaxing properties.

Bergamot: Helps with stress and anxiety.

Frankincense: Can provide a grounding and comforting effect.

Ylang-Ylang: Good for emotional balance.

Rose: Helps with grief and emotional pain.

e3’s Solace Blend: Designed to support your mind, body, and spirit. It combines the calming effect of Geranium and Ylang Ylang, with pain-relieving Helichrysum and Wintergreen, and uplifting Peppermint essential oils.

You can find simple application recommendations on our product pages or read this post with a lovely exercise you can practice daily to provide emotional relief when you’re grieving, Subtle Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Grieving.

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. And be sure to sign-up for our newsletter with more essential oil tips the whole family can enjoy and for a 20% coupon off your next order.

Photos by Patrick Schätz and Jordan Whitt