Hey there, fellow horse owners! Are you curious about using tea tree essential oil on your equine pals? Well, you're not alone! Tea tree oil has gained quite a reputation for its natural health benefits, and we're here to explore whether it's a good idea to use it on our beloved horses.
Tea tree, also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is a plant native to Australia. Its essential oil has gained popularity worldwide due to its many beneficial properties.The oil has been used for centuries by indigenous people for its wellness properties. It was traditionally used to treat a variety of conditions affecting the skin. In modern times, tea tree oil has become popular for its cleansing properties and is commonly found in skincare, haircare, and cleaning products. As for its scent, tea tree oil has a strong, medicinal aroma that might not make it your favorite smell, but don't worry, I've used it quite a bit with my horses and they don't seem to mind the aroma at all-lol!
First things first, let's talk about using essential oils with horses. Yes, you can use essential oils and aromatherapy safely with horses (grab my free guide to get started safely using essential oils with your horse HERE). I believe two of the most important factors to safely using essential oils with horses are quality and dilution. Unfortunately, the essential oil market is highly adulterated and it’s hard to find a pure and premium essential oil. I use Young Living™ Essential Oils, with their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know that you have 100% pure essential oil in the bottle. Then you can simply dilute them and enjoy using essential oils. For more info on specifically diluting essential oils with horses, click HERE.
So, what can tea tree essential oil do for your horse? Tea tree is known for its cleansing properties, making it a fantastic natural remedy to add to our natural horse care routine. This potent essential oil can also help repel outdoor annoyances and pests. It can also assist in supporting skin. Additionally, tea tree oil can be used to neutralize odors and promote the appearance of healthy hair and hooves.
According to this study on PubMed.gov, Tea tree oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against the bacteria that cause rain rot. Tea tree oil has also been studied for use with dandruff and this study reported positive benefits against nail fungus.
I like to use tea tree oil at the barn to:
- Clean my brushes and grooming equipment
Simply add about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil to 2 tablespoons of natural Castille soap, in a 5 gallon bucket, and fill up with water. Soak your grooming equipment for about 10 minutes, then rinse and let air dry.
- Boost my natural cleaner at the barn
I like to make a cleaner of half water, half vinegar in a 16 ounce spray bottle. Then I add about 20 drops of tea tree and 20 drops of lemon.
- Boost my natural hand soap at the barn
I like and use Castile soap, which is a natural soap that traditionally was made from olives. All ya do is add 2 tablespoons of Castile soap to a foaming hand pump, then add about 10 drops of tea tree and fill up with water. Easy peasy and very cost effective. If tea tree isn't your favorite aroma, add a few drops of lavender, frankincense, or your favorite essential oil.
- Make a 'get rid of the gunk' hoof spray (for my favorite hoof spray DIY, click HERE)
- Boost my all natural hoof oil (for my favorite hoof oil DIY's, click HERE)
- Boost my mane and coat spray ( to see how I make a mane detangler, click HERE)
- In my natural fly spray
I also, from time to time, like to make a roller bottle with tea tree. This dilutes the essential oil and makes for easy application for skin support. Simply grab a 10 ml roller bottle on Amazon, fill it up with a carrier oil(fore more info on carrier oils, click HERE), add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil, and apply to desired area as needed. You can also grab my step by step guide to making a roller bottle HERE.
As you can see, there are many ways to incorporate tea tree essential oil at the barn and tea tree can be a valuable tool to add to your natural horse care routine. I feel good about using tea tree oil as a natural alternative to traditional remedies, especially since I don't feel the need to wear gloves when applying it and I don't even have to worry about turning my hands green. Happy horsekeeping!
If you're ready to give Tea Tree oil a try, you can grab a bottle HERE, this will take you straight to Young Living™ Essential Oils, my go company for essential oils. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for you and your fur kids health and safety. (This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission from your order at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business! I'm so excited to help you get started, that I'll connect with you once you order and send you something special!)
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
