Over the years, I’ve had several readers write to me saying tea tree oil isn’t safe for dogs. One reader even asked me to take down my homemade dog shampoo recipe because it contained tea tree oil.
I get it. Our pets’ safety is always the top priority. And when there’s conflicting information online, it can be hard to know who (or what) to trust. That’s why I want to share my full response here — grounded in veterinary research, safe dilution guidelines, and my own ten years of safe use with my dogs.
What Is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea Tree oil is an essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, native to Australia. Indigenous Australians have long used it as a natural remedy, and today it’s found in countless human and pet products because of its wide range of cleansing and odor-neutralizing benefits.
Tea Tree oil has even been studied as an antiviral agent, with promising results in recurrent herpes infections. In veterinary settings, it’s been investigated as a supportive treatment for prostatic abscesses in dogs, and another study found that 82% of dogs with localized dermatitis responded well to a 10% tea tree cream.
Is Tea Tree Essential Oil Safe For Dogs?
The most important factors when using essential oils with dogs are:
- Quality of the oil
- Appropriate dilution and use
- Careful observation
When used correctly, tea tree can be safe for some dogs. The problems you may hear about usually involve undiluted or excessive use. Reviews of toxicosis cases on PubMed show that most involved inappropriately high doses, and the majority of dogs made a full recovery with supportive veterinary care.
What the Research Shows
- Toxicosis review (PubMed): Most cases involved undiluted or excessive doses. Supportive veterinary care typically led to full recovery.
- Fatality cases: In a large review of 443 canine/feline exposures, two deaths were documented — both under extreme and unusual conditions:
- A 7.5-year-old Old English Sheepdog was accidentally given 0.3–0.4 mL IV tea tree oil and immediately went into cardiac arrest.
- A 15-year-old Miniature Poodle had ~28.5 mL of undiluted tea tree applied topically once daily for 3 days. After the third dose, the dog developed severe ataxia and later died. These cases highlight inappropriate routes and massive doses — not normal, diluted use.
- Dermatitis study: In a controlled veterinary trial, a 10% tea tree cream for localized dermatitis resulted in 82% of dogs showing good or very good improvement.
- Prostatic abscesses: Tea tree was studied as a promising supportive treatment in dogs with infections. These studies were conducted in veterinary research settings, meaning veterinarians themselves formulated and tested tea tree under controlled conditions, demonstrating it can play a role in animal care when used appropriately.
What We Don’t See in the Literature
According to current scientific veterinary literature, there are no reports of dogs dying from diffusion at normal household use. While anecdotes may circulate online, they aren’t supported by published, verifiable research.
Current Veterinary Guidelines
The current Pet Poison Helpline states that products containing less than 1–2% tea tree oil are generally considered non-toxic for dogs when used exactly as labeled.
👉 All of the recipes I share here dilute tea tree to levels well under that guideline (see below for the exact percentages).
Why I Still Use Tea Tree (and When Not To)
So why do I continue to include tea tree in some of my recipes?
- I’ve used it safely with my own dogs for over ten years, with good results.
- I’ve found it particularly effective in certain circumstances, particularly for skin support and odor control.
- I don’t want to contribute to misinformation or fear when there is real research and guidance that shows it can be used responsibly.
That said, if you’re not comfortable with tea tree, don’t use it. You can swap it out for cedarwood, copaiba, frankincense, or lavender and still have effective recipes. Every dog is unique, and your comfort level as a pet parent matters too.
My goal isn’t to push tea tree — it’s to share safe, fact-based options so you can make the choice that feels right for your pets.
How to Dilute Tea Tree Oil Safely for Dogs
Dilution is the most important step in using tea tree oil safely with dogs. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and applying them “neat” (undiluted) is where problems occur. Mixing tea tree with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, or jojoba spreads the oil safely over the skin and reduces the chance of irritation or reaction.
For water-based sprays, always use an emulsifier such as vodka or witch hazel to help the oil disperse, and shake well before each use. Avoid spraying near your dog’s eyes, face, or sensitive areas — if you need to apply there, put the blend on your hands first and rub it in gently.
👉 Want to learn more about choosing the best carrier oils for pets? I break it all down in this post HERE.
Following proper dilution not only makes tea tree safer but also more effective, since a little goes a long way with essential oils.
Tea Tree Recipes
Homemade Dog Shampoo
- 1 cup liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 10 drops tea tree (~0.17% Very low, far below the 1–2% guideline.)
- 5 drops cedarwood
Combine the liquid castile soap and coconut oil in a bottle or jar, then add the essential oils and stir or shake gently to mix. Be sure to shake well before each use. Apply a small amount to your dog’s coat, lather, and rinse thoroughly.
Roller Blend for Skin Support (10 ml bottle)
- 6 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Tea Tree (~1% )
- Top with carrier oil
Add the essential oils directly into a 10 ml roller bottle, then fill the remainder with your chosen carrier oil. Attach the roller top, shake gently to combine, and roll on as needed.
Skin Spray (2 oz / 60 ml bottle)
- 5 drops Tea Tree (~0.4%)
- 5 drops Frankincense
- 1 oz vodka
Add the vodka to a 2 oz spray bottle, then add the essential oils and swirl gently to combine. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water, shake well before each use, and apply as needed, avoiding eyes and sensitive areas.
Outdoor Comfort Spray (2 oz / 60 ml bottle)
- 3 drops Citronella
- 3 drops Tea Tree (~0.25%)
- 4 drops Palo Santo
- 2 tbsp vodka
Add the vodka to a 2 oz spray bottle, then add the essential oils and swirl gently to combine. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water, shake well before each use, and spray before outdoor time, avoiding eyes and sensitive areas.
Final Thoughts
Tea tree oil is powerful — and like any tool, it needs to be used responsibly. The science shows problems occur at very high, undiluted doses or unusual exposures, not at the low levels used in carefully diluted recipes.
If you’re comfortable with tea tree, safe dilution is the key. If you’re not, that’s okay — there are plenty of alternatives. The most important thing is to make informed choices based on facts, not fear.
That’s why I’m careful about what I use with my own animals. I personally use and trust Young Living™ essential oils for my dogs, horses, and home. Their Seed to Seal® standard means I can feel confident that what I’m using is pure, safe, and effective.
👉 You can grab your bottle HERE. This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business — it helps me continue sharing safe, research-based resources for you and your animals!
And if you’re ready to go beyond one oil and truly feel confident using essential oils with your dog, I’d love to invite you to my mini course “Oily Dog Intro.” In it, I walk you through the what, where, how, and why of getting started — safely and easily.
👉 Check out the course HERE
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