Every day I have the privilege of teaching people around the world all about the different ways essential oils can be used to help support our health, but did you know you can also use essential oils with your pets?
There are so many benefits from essential oils for our pets that its surprising how few people are aware of this so I just wanted to take the chance to help guide you with some helpful information. Please do be aware that if you are thinking of trying oils with your pets you do need to follow proper advice (I have included some important information in this article). Essential oils are very powerful and if used incorrectly can cause harm, it does really matter which oils you use and the strength you use them.
Below is my starters guide, introducing some gentle ways of using essential oils with your pets. If you find your pet enjoys these and you would like some more information I run regular free events teaching different ways to use essential oils in your life so please do get in touch with me.
My Starters Guide to Essential Oils for Pets
Which oils?
A very important starting place is to let you know that I only use doTerra essential oils, as they are certified pure therapeutic grade. Other brands often have added synthetic compounds which could lead to unexpected problems, so this blog only refers to using doTERRA CPTG oils - the brand really does matter, especially when it comes to health.
Essential information
Dilution: Our pets are so much smaller than us so it is very important that you dilute your oils before using them. I would normally start with a very low dilution to be sure that there are no adverse reactions for your pet, and remember even a highly diluted oil is still powerful.
Find out more about diluting essential oils for pets on this podcast.
Dogs
| Age/Weight | Essential Oil | Carrier Oil |
| Puppy 8 weeks or less | 1 drop | 2 Tablespoons |
| Small breeds less than 20 pounds | 2 drops | 2 Tablespoons |
| Medium-Large, more than 20 pounds | 2-3 drops | 1 Tablespoon |
| Elderly, over 12 years | 2 drops | 2 Tablespoons |
| Hot Oils | 1 drop | 4 Tablespoons |
Cats
Age/Weight | Essential Oil | Carrier Oil |
| Kitten weighing less than 6 pounds | 1 drop | 4 Tablespoons |
| Kitten, under 1 year | 1 drop | 1 Tablespoons |
| Cat, Adult | 1 -2 drops | 1 Tablespoons |
| Elderly, over 10 years | 1 drop | 4 Tablepoons |
Beware of some oils
There are some oils that you need to keep away from your pets due to the way animals metabolise, here are oils that you should NOT use with your pets:
Dogs: Melaleuca, Birch, and Wintergreen
Cats: Melaleuca, Birch, Wintergreen, Yland Ylang, Peppermint, Spearmint and Hot Oils (such as Oregano, Thyme, On Guard, Cinnamon, Cassia, Clove). Cats are generally smaller and more sensitive than dogs, so you do need to be cautious and careful.
Take Care
Please be cautious not to touch sensitive areas such as eyes, noses and mouths with essential oils as that would be very painful for both humans and pets.
And finally please be cautious if your pet has an existing health issue. There are essential oils you should avoid using with your pets during pregnancy, as well as if your pet has particular respiratory issues or epilepsy so do check first.
How best to use oils with your pets
Aromas are particularly powerful at influencing mood, smell, in particular, is an important sense for animals as they have significantly more olfactory receptors than we do, so will naturally be more sensitive to the powerful benefits of essential oils.
Diffusing Essential Oils
A diffuser is a great and gentle way for your pets to benefit from oils regularly, the water provides a perfect way to dilute the oils and you can easily see how your pet finds the smell and discover which oils they get the most benefit from. Always leave a door open when you are diffusing oils just in case your pet dislikes that particular smell. They will let you know if they like or don’t like a smell so make sure you watch their reactions and either avoid the oils that they don’t like or allow them to leave the room!
Petting with Essential Oils
You can also apply the diluted oils whilst massaging your pet on the back of the neck and along the spine, massage also has the extra benefit of further calming and soothing.
Adding Essential Oils to Diet (dogs only)
Some doTerra oils can be added to your dogs food for additional benefits, just remember to follow the dilution guidelines above and then add a few drops, you can add this to their food every day.
ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPES FOR PETS
For Cuts
5 drops Frankincense
5 drops Myrrh
10 drops Lavender
1Tbsp Colloidal Silver
Topped off with alcohol-free Witch Hazel or Organic Aloe Vera Juice
Fresh Breath (not for cats)
7 drops Myrrh
7 drops Peppermint
Topped off with carrier oil or water in 30ml spray bottle
Shake before use, lift lips, spray once each side of mouth.
Calming Blend
10 drops Lavender
5 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Vetiver
2 drops Frankincense
Topped off with Fractionated Coconut Oil in 30ml spray bottle
Digestion
10 drops Ginger
2 drops Peppermint
2 drops Coriander
2 drops Fennel
2 drops Myrrh
Topped off with Fractionated Coconut Oil in 30ml spray bottle
Some of My Favourite Oils for Pets
doTerra OnGuard
This is a brilliant blend for immune health for all of the family and can be safely diffused in your home around dogs and cats (just do check for any adverse reactions at first). It is a lovely oil to diffuse daily, helping cleanse your home with the added benefit of a beautiful scent.
Frankincense
This is absolutely one of my favourite oils, and when in doubt this is the oil I turn to it has so many wonderful benefits. You can even use the doTerra Frankincense Touch roll-on as it is already pre-diluted. You can roll it in the palm of your hand - only a small amount is needed, rub your hands together and then pet your dog or cat to distribute over their fur. With this oil you don’t need to worry if your pets ingest, in fact they will gain from the extra benefits of ingesting the oil when they groom themselves. This is great for their immune systems.
Terrazyme
This is brilliant at supporting our digestion, it is one of the best digestive enzymes on the market, and this does include the pet-specific digestive enzymes that are out there. If you have a dog and they are under 25 pounds you can break open the Terrazyme capsule and sprinkle half of it on their food twice a day. And if the dog is over 25 pounds, they can have a full capsule.
For more information
Disclaimer:
Please remember that these are powerful oils and supplements and shouldn’t be used without checking directions on how to use these safely. Always consult with your doctor if you are unsure or you are taking medication.
The information in this blog is intended for education purposes only, the statements have not been evaluated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Theraputic Good Association (TGA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with a medical practitioner. These suggested uses applu only to certified Pure Theraputic Grade (CPTG) Doterra Essential Oils.
What Next?
If you’d like to learn more about how you can use essential oils for health and happiness, then you can join our online community
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Happy and healthy living!
Tanya