Cedarwood essential oil has been used for centuries for various purposes, including aromatherapy, skincare, and pest control. But did you know that it can be safe for dogs and have several health benefits? In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of cedarwood essential oil for dogs and how you can use it with your pets.
What is Cedarwood Essential Oil?
Cedarwood essential oil is a natural oil derived from the wood of cedar trees. There are several different types of cedar trees and one of the most commonly used cedar trees for essential oil is the Atlas cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica). Atlas cedarwood is believed to be a close relative of the Biblical Cedars Of Lebanon.
Cedarwood essential oil is extracted through a process called steam distillation, which involves heating the wood chips or shavings in water to release the volatile compounds. The steam containing the essential oil is then cooled and collected, and the oil is separated from the water.
Cedarwood essential oil has a warm, woody, and slightly sweet aroma that is both grounding and calming. Compared to other essential oils, cedarwood has a more earthy and masculine scent than floral or citrus oils like lavender oil or lemon. It's often used in aromatherapy blends for its grounding and balancing effects on the mind and body. Overall, cedarwood essential oil has a unique and distinctive scent that is loved by many for its warm and comforting qualities.
Cedarwood essential oil has a rich history of use dating back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used cedarwood oil in the embalming process and believed it had purifying and preserving properties. In ancient Greece, cedarwood oil was used for its calming and grounding effects on the mind and body. Native Americans used cedarwood oil in their spiritual practices and believed it had healing powers. Cedarwood oil was also used in traditional Chinese medicine for its alleged anti-inflammatory properties. Cedar wood oil has also been studied for insect control; specifically fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Today, cedarwood oil has even been studied for hair loss.
Is cedarwood essential oil safe for dogs?
Yes, cedarwood essential oil is safe for dogs when used correctly. Many dog products on the market for sale today contain cedarwood oil. However, it's essential to use high-quality essential oils and avoid synthetic fragrances that can harm your dog. Always use a pure and premium cedarwood oil and dilute the essential oil before use. You can safely use essential oils with dogs (even tea tree :0) and to learn how to safely get started, grab my guide HERE.
What are the benefits of cedarwood essential oil for dogs?
- Can help relieve tension and worry
Cedarwood essential oil has a calming effect that can help soothe your dog's emotions. If your dog gets worried during thunderstorms, car rides, or when left alone, diffusing cedarwood essential oil in the room and car can help them feel more relaxed.
- Repels outdoor annoyances
Cedarwood essential oil can help protect your dog from annoyances when outside. You can add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to your dog's shampoo or dilute it with water and spray it on their fur. For a step by step guide to making a spray, click HERE. You can also make a dry dog shampoo powder and apply it to your dogs coat before going outside. To learn how to do that, click HERE.
- Promotes healthy skin
Cedarwood essential oil has skin cleansing and naturally deodorizing properties that can help maintain healthy skin and coat. You can add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to a carrier oil (to learn more about carrier oils, click HERE.) like coconut oil and massage it into your dog's skin.
- May support the respiratory system
Cedarwood essential oil has properties that can help support breathing. You can diffuse cedarwood essential oil in the room or add a few drops to a carrier oil and massage it into your dog's chest. For easy application, you can make a roller bottle. For a step by step guide to making a roller bottle, click HERE.
How to use cedarwood essential oil with your dog?
Aromatically (Diffusion)
To easily diffuse essential oils with your dog, you can:
-Be a walking diffuser by wearing the essential oil yourself as a perfume or in diffuser jewelry.
-Use an electric diffuser, such as an ultrasonic diffuser, by simply adding a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to the diffuser and letting it run in the room where your dog spends most of their time. Always give your dog the option to leave the room and monitor your dog for any signs of discomfort. To learn more about how you can safely use an essential oil diffuser with your dog, click HERE.
-Add a few drops onto a cotton ball or wood clothespin and place in strategic areas around your home.
-If you want to have some fun, you can even make a reed diffuser with cedarwood oil and place it in a strategic area to benefit your dog. Reed diffusers are super easy to make and the aroma output can be much less than other diffusers. This works well if you have a particularly sensitive dog or don't want a strong aroma. Click HERE to view a super quick video I made on Pinterest showing you what you need and how to quickly make one. Reed diffusers are great swaps for candles since you will still have a pleasing decoration and light aroma.
Topical application
Add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to a carrier oil like coconut oil or jojoba oil and massage it into your dog's skin. Every dog is different and size, age, and health can factor in to how you dilute cedarwood oil. For my easy dilution guidelines chart, click HERE.
In conclusion, cedarwood essential oil can be safe and can have numerous benefits for dogs. It can help relieve tension, promote healthy skin, help the respiratory system, and help your dog enjoy the outdoors. However, it's essential to use high-quality essential oils and dilute them before use.
I like and use Young Living™ Essential Oils, the world leader in essential oils. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for you and your pets health and safety. To grab a bottle of cedarwood oil, click HERE (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)
*Essential oils are never a substitute for regular veterinary care and are never intended to treat or cure any illness*
Tea Tree oil is a highly versatile, purifying powerhouse! Well-known for its powerful cleansing properties, it's a popular choice for skin support- plus its potent odor neutralizing capabilities make it perfect as part of your DIY cleaning routine. One of the most important ways we can help keep our homes safe for our pets is by using toxin free cleaners and air fresheners. With such broad uses and so many different applications, Tea Tree stands out among the essential oils studied. Read on to find out if you should use Tea Tree oil on your dog, how to safely dilute it, and the positive effects this natural remedy can have on your dogs health.
What Is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea Tree oil is an essential oil that is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, which is native to Australia. It has long been used by Indigenous Australians as a natural remedy, but more recently it has become popular for use in human and pet products due to its wide range of benefits.
Tea Tree oil is gaining recognition and has been studied as an antiviral agent, with this study on PubMed.gov finding its application promising and highly encouraging in recurrent herpes infection. Not only studied against viruses - this essential oil also showed promising results for infections in this study, when used to treat prostatic abscesses in dogs! Also studied for localized dermatitis, analysis by investigating veterinarians found that 82% of the canine participants had good or very good responses after using a 10% tea tree cream for localized dermatitis. A multi-purpose powerhouse indeed!
Is Tea Tree Essential Oil Safe For Dogs?
The most important factors when using essential oils with dogs is quality of the essential oil, appropriate amount, and dilution! When you are using a high quality, pure, and premium essential oil, and you dilute it properly, it can be safe for your dogs. While there have been reported cases of melaleuca oil toxicosis, this review published on pubmed.gov, found that the oil was "used to treat dermatologic conditions at inappropriate high doses" this review also revealed that treatment with supportive care was sufficient to achieve full recovery.
When used appropriately, pure Tea Tree oil can be safe and beneficial for dogs. Tea Tree oil is also approved by the FDA as a food additive.
There are many products specifically labeled for use with pets that contain Tea Tree oil. Two of my faves are from Young Living™ Essential Oils, a blend called PuriClean™, designed to cleanse and refresh skin, and Animal Scents™ ointment, a protective and soothing salve that can be used to moisturize and soften skin.
Why Should You Dilute Tea Tree Oil For Dogs?
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts and a little goes a long way. Diluting Tea Tree oil allows us to use the smallest amount needed and easily cover larger surface areas rather than trying to rub a drop in. Essential oils are also highly volatile and evaporate quickly, diluting them extends the life and duration of the essential oil. Every animal is different and may react to the same essential oil in a different way, diluting the essential oil helps us minimize any potential for a skin reaction or sensitization, and helps us use essential oils safely. When diluted properly, Tea Tree oil can help support the skin and coat.
How To Dilute Tea Tree Oil Safely For Dogs
Diluting Tea Tree oil is as simple as mixing the essential oil with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil. You can use other carrier oils and oftentimes, I use fractionated coconut oil (coconut oil processed to stay liquid). Most people tend to already have olive oil and coconut oil in their pantry so an extra purchase isn't required. For more info on carrier oils, click HERE. In general, safe tea tree oil dilution ratios for use with dogs are:
0.5-1% for small dogs
2-3% for medium dogs
5-10% for large dogs
These ratios are guidelines only and keep in mind, that your dogs age, sensitivities, and overall health play an important role. You may need to dilute more, especially if your dog is new to essential oils or has a health condition. For my handy chart of essential oil dilution for dogs, click HERE.
Making a roller bottle is an easy way to dilute Tea Tree. Simply purchase some 10 ml roller bottles (Amazon is a good place to find inexpensive ones), add the desired amount of Tea Tree based on how much you are diluting it. Then simply top off the roller bottle with a carrier oil.
Here are a few recipes I like to use for my dogs skin. Note these recipes are at a 5% dilution.
5 drops Lavender
5 drops Tea Tree
3 drops Frankincense
3 drops Myrrh
4 drops Tea Tree
You can also dilute Tea Tree oil with water and make a spray or rinse. In general 5 drops per ounce of water for small dogs and up to 10 drops for larger dogs, can work well. Its always best to ere on the side of caution by starting slow, using less, and observing. In general, essential oils are best used in small amounts more frequently rather than a large amount once or twice.
Essential oils don't mix well with water so you will want to use an emulsifier to help the Tea Tree mix into the water. Vodka or witch hazel works well as an emulsifier when making a spray. Witch hazel also works well in a rinse. You can also use a carrier oil as an emulsifier, however some carrier oils will clog up the nozzle on your spray bottle. Keep in mind that emulsifiers help mix the essential oil in water but you still need to shake well before each use.
When using a spray, avoid your dogs eyes and head and sensitive areas. If you want to apply to the head for a specific reason, its best to apply to your hands and gently rub in, being mindful of where you're rubbing.
Here's one of my favorite sprays for skin:
Purchase a 2 oz. glass spray bottle and add 5 drops tea tree, 5 drops frankincense, and 1 oz. vodka. Then fill it the remainder of the way up with distilled or purified water. If you only have regular tap water, use that, but distilled/purified works better as the impurities have been removed.
Here's a spray I use to keep my dogs comfortable outdoors:
3 drops Citronella
3 drops Tea Tree
4 drops Palo Santo
Add to a 2 oz. spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon vodka, fill with distilled water, and shake well before you spray.
The Benefits Of Using Tea Tree Oil In Your Home
One of my favorite benefits of Tea Tree oil is its cleansing properties and I love to use it in home cleaning recipes. Using toxin free cleaners and air fresheners is the first place to start in making your home safe for your pets. To make an easy natural cleaner, all you need is half vinegar and half water. Adding Tea Tree oil gives a refreshing aroma and odor control as well as the added cleansing properties of Tea Tree.
You can also invest in an essential oil diffuser and simply diffuse Tea Tree any time your house is smelling like 'dog'. Start with a minimum number of drops based on your diffuser and remember to never lock your dog or any household member in a closed room while diffusing. Leave an open door so your dog can leave if desired, and keep in mind that some dogs will prefer to stay with 'mom' even when uncomfortable, so watch for any abnormal signs from your dog.
If you don't have a diffuser, you can add a few drops onto cotton balls or wooden clothes pins and stash in strategic areas.
Here are a few diffuser blends I love to use for odor that contain Tea Tree:
3 drops Lemon
3 drops Tea tree
2 drops Lemon
2 drops Tea Tree
2 drops Eucalyptus
3 drops Tea Tree
3 drops Kunzea
All in all, Tea Tree is an amazing oil with a lot of different benefits for you and your furry friend. It’s important to remember to always dilute the oil before applying topically to your dog. Using a high-quality pure essential oil from a trusted company is key to safely getting the most out of using this versatile oil! I personally love and trust Young Living–the world leader in essential oils. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for you and your dogs health! Grab your bottle HERE (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)
Have you used Tea Tree before? How did it work for you? Let me know in the comments below!"
If you're ready to dive in and start using essential oils for yourself and with your dogs, check out my mini course "Oily Dog Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your dog...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
Lemon essential oil has become increasingly popular in recent years, as people have begun to recognize its many uses for wellness and household applications. Have you been hearing about how lemon essential oil can benefit you? Not only does lemon essential oil smell fresh and uplifting, it can also support our bodies in staying above the wellness line. Lemon essential oil works well to cleanse air and eliminate odors, its aroma can also help reduce tension, and when taken internally lemon may provide immune and circulatory support. But is lemon oil safe for your dog? Read on to learn everything you need to know about using lemon essential oil with dogs.
Lemon essential oil has a rich and ancient history and is usually made from the cold-pressed peel of the lemon citrus fruit. Limonene is a main constituent and is what gives lemons their unmistakable scent. A study found on PubMed.gov suggests that lemon essential oil can be effective in combatting various bacteria and microbes. Lemon has also been studied for cognitive function and improvement as well as mood enhancement and for skin benefits.
Lemon essential oil can be safe to use with dogs if you are using a high quality, pure, and unadulterated lemon essential oil. You also need to dilute the lemon essential oil. Diluting and using lemon essential oil is easy. My 2 favorite ways to do this are by making a spritzer or by using lemon in a diffuser. An essential oil diffuser is an electronic device that disperses essential oils into the air.
I like to use ultrasonic diffusers which use a metal or ceramic plate that vibrates and disperses the essential oil in water, making a fine mist. This keeps the oil at a low and safe concentration and allows you to breathe in deeply and enjoy the scent and properties of the essential oils. Ultrasonic diffusers don't use heat which can lessen the benefits of an essential oil.
You can check out one of my favorite ultrasonic diffusers HERE!
If your dog has a medical condition, or is unhealthy, you should speak to your holistic veterinarian before using lemon essential oil or any essential oil with them. Again, it is of the utmost importance to make sure that any product you use contains pure essential oils and not adulterated additives or other chemicals. Also it's important to dig deep when googling 'oil poisoning' or 'are essential oils bad for dogs' and not let that scare you from using essential oils. Oftentimes, the whole story is lacking important facts such as quality of oil, amount, and the way it was used. Essential oils can be safe to use with dogs if they are pure and diluted!
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and you don't actually need to apply essential oils topically to enjoy the many benefits from using them. You can simply let your dog smell from the bottle, use an essential oil diffuser, or simply make and wear a perfume of essential oils.
Since lemon is works so well for odor, I like to make a spray solution by adding 12 drops of lemon essential oil into a 2 ounce spray bottle and then filling the bottle up halfway with vodka and halfway with distilled water. Then spritz it around your dogs bedding for a refreshing natural fragrance (for a step by step guide to making a spritzer, click here). You can also add a few drops of lemon onto a cotton ball and stash in strategic places.
For odor control with a diffuser, simply add the amount of drops your diffuser calls for or try these essential oil blends with lemon:
For some calm plus focus
2 drops lemon
2 drops lavender
To cleanse and purify
2 drops lemon
2 drops eucalyptus
For happy time
2 drops lemon
2 drops orange
For odor
2 drops lemon
2 drops cinnamon
Remember to always give your dog an out when using a diffuser. Leave the door open and allow your dog to come and go. Keep in mind that our dogs may choose to be with us even if they are uncomfortable, so watch your dogs for any signs like watery eyes, itchiness, stupor, or general uncomfortableness. Also, some dogs may be sensitive to certain smells so always start slowly with a minimal number of drops and monitor their reactions closely as you continue using the diffuser around them.
Lemon also makes a great addition to natural cleaning products. You can make an effective cleaner that is much safer than other chemical cleaners on the market, simply by mixing half vinegar, half water and adding about 10 drops of Lemon essential oil per cup.
Your dog will benefit from lemon essential oil without topical application. If you choose to apply lemon directly to your dogs skin or fur, you'll want to first dilute it in a carrier oil like coconut oil, or olive oil (for more info on carrier oils, click HERE). This ensures that the concentration of oils is low enough so as not to irritate their skin. Lemon is a citrus oil and can cause photosensitivity with application. This simply means it can cause an exaggerated response to sunlight, resulting in sunburn and skin irritation. If you do choose to apply lemon oil topically, apply at night or to areas that won't receive direct sunlight for 12-24 hours.
There are many benefits associated with using lemon essential oil for our canine companions! Lemon essential oil works so well for cleaning and odor control and the aroma is uplifting and focusing. By using a high quality, pure, and premium essential oil and by diluting it, we can safely use lemon with our dogs. Using essential oils that contain additives is dangerous for us and our canine companions and can be toxic.
I use Young Living™ Essential Oils-the world leader in essential oils. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for you and your pets health!
Essential oils can be a safe option for our pets health. To eliminate overwhelm and fear and learn more about how to use essential oils with your dog, download my free guide "Getting Started Using Essential Oils With Your Dog" HERE
*Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and the information in this blog is not meant to provide medical advice nor be a substitute for veterinary care.*
Frankincense is a natural product that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. But is it safe for dogs? In this post, let's take a look at the safety of frankincense oil for dogs, plus some tips on how to use it safely.
What Is Frankincense?
Frankincense is an aromatic resin that comes from the Boswellia tree. Frankincense essential oil is then extracted by steam distillation of the resin. Frankincense is noted as an incredibly beneficial natural remedy that has been used for thousands of years for a variety of purposes. Some of the touted benefits of frankincense oil include support for the immune system, cognitive health and respiratory health. It has also been used in religious ceremonies and as a natural fragrance in perfumes and cosmetics. There is also research on its effects on certain types of cancers. According to this study on PubMed.gov, "Frankincense, pine needle and geranium essential oils have been reported to play critical biological activities in cancer". This review published on PubMed.gov, states "Contemporary studies have shown that resin indeed has an analgesic, tranquilising and anti-bacterial effects." I have even seen frankincense on the ingredient list in natural pet flea products.
Is It Safe for Dogs?
Many natural pet care advocates believe that frankincense can be safely used to support a wide range of health concerns, as long as it is used in proper amounts and a pure, high-quality essential oil is used. Most experts agree that using frankincense essential oil is generally safe for dogs when a 100% pure and unadulterated essential oil is used and properly diluted.
I believe the two most important factors in safely using any essential oil with your pets is quality and dilution. I use Young Living™ Essential Oils-the world leader in essential oils. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for you and your pets health!
If your dog has a pre-existing medical condition, you should speak to your holistic veterinarian before using frankincense oil or any essential oil on them. Again, it is of the utmost importance to make sure that any product you use contains pure essential oils and not adulterated additives or other chemicals. Also it's important to dig deep when googling 'oil poisoning' or 'are essential oils bad for dogs' and not let that scare you from using essential oils. Oftentimes, the whole story is lacking important facts such as quality of oil, amount, and the way it was used.
Tips for Using Frankincense Oil Safely with Your Dog
If you do choose to use frankincense oil with your dog, it is important to follow a few safety tips to ensure a positive outcome.
Start low and go slow. The easiest way to start using essential oils with your dog is by wearing them as a perfume and becoming a walking diffuser.
To do this, simply apply a drop of frankincense essential oil to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, make a scent tent over your nose, inhale deeply, then apply the residue to the back of your neck or pulse points. Observe how your dog reacts to you! You are also half the equation with your dog and when you remain calm and balanced, that helps your dog remain calm and balanced!
Start using essential oils now, before you want to use them for a specific concern. Wearing them during play time or cuddle time helps your dog associate positive feelings with essential oils which adds to their benefits.
Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell. Their noses are about 100,000 times more sensitive than that of a human, allowing them to detect odors that humans would miss. This is made possible by millions of olfactory receptors in their noses, which allow them to pick up even the faintest scents. Dogs also have specialized parts of the brain that are dedicated to processing these scented signals, and they can detect even subtle changes in odor that humans would miss. This is why it's often all that is needed to simply let your dog enjoy the aroma of an essential oil.
Once your dog is used to your new perfume, try running an essential oil diffuser. This is another favorite way to use essential oils! I like to use ultrasonic diffusers which use a metal or ceramic plate that vibrates and disperses the essential oil in a fine mist, keeping the oil at a low and safe concentration and allowing you to breathe in deeply and enjoy the scent and properties of the essential oils. Ultrasonic diffusers don't use heat which can lessen the benefits of an essential oil.
You can check out one of my favorite ultrasonic diffusers HERE!
When using a diffuser, be sure to start with a minimum number of drops like 2-4 and work up to more if needed or preferred. Always give your dog an out by leaving the door open. Keep in mind oftentimes our dogs prefer to stay with us even when uncomfortable, so watch for signs like restlessness, stupor, watery eyes, or itching.
Essential oils are made up of extremely small molecules, which means that they can easily penetrate the membranes in your nose and enter your bloodstream. The effects can be felt almost immediately after inhaling an essential oil. As you continue to breathe in this scent, it is absorbed by the olfactory bulb in your brain, which triggers certain chemical and electrical responses that can help to improve your mood and overall well-being. Our dogs can benefit in the same ways from inhaling an oil. Inhaling essential oils is one of the quickest ways to deliver the benefits that they have to offer. This method is perfect for you and your dog to enjoy natural ways to support health.
Frankincense pairs well with lavender oil, cedarwood, and vetiver, which are generally regarded as safe essential oils.
You can diffuse frankincense on its own or try one of these essential oil blends:
Be Calm
2 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
Be Balanced
2 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
2 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
Harmony
2 Drops Vetiver Essential Oil
2 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
Topical application
When using frankincense essential oil topically with a dog, it is important to dilute the oil in a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil. I prefer fractionated coconut oil, which is simply coconut oil processed to remain liquid and have no aroma. It's less greasy and absorbs well. This will help prevent skin irritation and allows for smaller amounts of essential oils to be used. Fore more info on carrier oils, click HERE
For my recommended dilution guide for essential oils and dogs, click HERE!
Frankincense can be helpful in supporting skin and overall wellness in your dog. It is much better to use a very small amount more frequently than a large amount infrequently.
Once you dilute the frankincense oil, you can apply with your fingertips and gently massage the area of concern. This oil blend works to help soothe skin:
Skin Love
Add 3 drops Frankincense and 3 drops of Myrrh essential oil to a 10 ml roller bottle. Then fill the remainder of the bottle up with a carrier oil. Gently invert back and forth to mix, and apply to areas of concern as needed.
If you are looking for a natural way to support your dog's health and well-being, using dog friendly essential oils like frankincense can have its benefits. When using frankincense topically or inhaling it, it is important to be 'oil safe' and use a 100% pure and unadulterated oil with proper dilution methods. With proper use, frankincense can be an effective and safe way to support your dog's health and well-being. To grab a bottle of Frankincense essential oil, click HERE!
It is also best to consult with a holistic veterinarian before using essential oils, as each dog will respond differently and a holistic veterinarian will look at the whole picture as essential oils can be effective, but they are often only a piece of the puzzle.
Essential oils can be a safe option for pet health. To eliminate overwhelm and fear and learn more about how to use essential oils with your dog, download my free guide "Getting Started Using Essential Oils With Your Dog" HERE
*Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and the information in this blog is not meant to provide medical advice nor be a substitute for veterinary care.*
Essential oils have been around and used for centuries for aromatherapy. Today, they have grown in popularity for their beneficial properties and pleasant scents. Many people use essential oils to boost their mood and improve their well-being, or to improve the air quality in their home. Essential oils can help create positive feelings, add tranquility and relaxation, and help to balance and uplift emotions. One of the easiest ways to use essential oils is by diffusing them into our environment. When essential oils are diffused, it means to disperse the essential oil into the air. Diffusing essential oils is a safe and effective way to enjoy their benefits without having to apply them topically.
Did you know that your dog can benefit from diffusing essential oils as well? Our dogs will experience many of the benefits that we enjoy when we diffuse essential oils. Diffusing essential oils around dogs can help calm and relax your dog, promote healthy emotions, support respiratory health, and more. Plus, we are half the equation! Our dogs sense and act on our emotions. If we remain calm and balanced, we help our dogs be that way as well. Diffusing essential oils is also a great way to purify the air and have a great smelling home, even with pets!
There are a variety of ways to diffuse essential oils around dogs.
The easiest method is to become a walking diffuser for your dog by wearing the essential oil yourself. This gets your dog used to essential oils in a safe way. When diffusing essential oils around dogs, it is important to take into consideration their sensitivity to essential oils.
Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is so powerful that they can detect odors that we cannot. This is why dogs are often used as police or search and rescue animals – their noses can lead them to clues that humans would never be able to find. When you wear an essential oil as a perfume, your dog will be inhaling the aroma!
Another way to diffuse essential oils is is to add a few drops of oil to an ultrasonic diffuser designed specifically for dispersing essential oils into the air. These diffusers release a fine mist of oil into the air, which helps to distribute the scent evenly around the room and also dilutes the essential oil for safe use as well. You can check out one of my favorite diffusers from Young Living™, The Desert Mist Diffuser HERE.
When diffusing, always make sure the room is well-ventilated and leave the door open so your dog can leave if they want to. Keep in mind, some dogs will prefer to stay with their owner no matter what, so keep an eye out for any signs that your dog isn't comfortable. For example; sneezing, watery eyes, scratching, pacing, or listlessness. It is important to start slowly and only use a few drops of oil at first. This will help to ensure that your dog does not have an adverse reaction to the scent.
If you're new to diffusing essential oils around dogs, start by diffusing a single oil at a time and a minimal number of drops. You can gradually increase the number of oils you diffuse by creating a blend as your dog becomes more accustomed to them.
Another option is to put a drop of oil on a cotton ball and place it in strategic areas in your home, or near your dog's bed or crate. Wooden clothespins work well too. You can also add a drop of essential oil to your dog's bedding or favorite toy.
You might be asking-Is it safe to diffuse essential oils around my dog?
Yes , diffusing essential oils around your dog CAN be safe. The number one safety factor is QUALITY.
When it comes to essential oils, quality is key. Not all essential oils are created equally and the industry is not well regulated as essential oils fall under cosmetics and trade secret laws. The plant’s location, climate, soil, age, as well as extraction methods and time, all play a role in the essential oil’s composition and potency. It's important to use essential oils extracted from plants that have been grown and processed without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals, and to do your research to make sure that you are using a premium, high quality, and pure essential oil. How do you do that-you ask?
Find a company that you trust and ask the following questions:
- Do you own your farms?
- Can I visit the farms?
- Do you have fully equipped labs?
- Do you have trained staff in aromas?
- Do you visit suppliers distilleries?
- Do you test for peak harvest times?
- Do you harvest at peak times?
- Do you discard mistakes?
- Do you distill without using solvents?
- Do you bottle your own oils?
Remember not all essential oils are created equally and using essential oils safely relies on using a pure, high quality, and premium essential oil that is carefully cultivated from seed to seal.
I use essential oils from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. They own many of the farms where their essential oils come from. I've actually been to several of them, and helped harvest and plant. Young Living™ has a Seed To Seal™ guarantee that you can read about HERE. If you want to qualify your own company, make sure to ask the above questions and that you get a yes to each and every one, like I have with Young Living™.
What essential oils are good for diffusing around dogs? Depends on what outcome you are looking for....here's a list of some of the essential oils I love to diffuse on a daily basis for me and my dogs based on desired outcome:
(For more information on each essential oil listed or to purchase the essential oil, simply click on the essential oil. 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!)
Calmness and Relaxation
Grounding
Balancing
Pick Me Up
Respiratory System
Immune System
Focus
Positive Atmosphere
Odor
So, if you are looking for another tool in your toolbox for your dog's health and wellbeing, give diffusing essential oils around them a try! Not only will you benefit by diffusing essential oils around your dog, you will also help affect their emotions in a positive way and support their overall health!
If you're ready to dive in and start using essential oils for yourself and with your dogs, check out my mini course "Oily Dog Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your dog...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
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A Healthy HomeAnimal Scents™Bergamot Essential OilBetter SleepCar Diffusercarrier oilCopaibaDIY Chest RubDIY Perfumeessential oils and dogsEssential oils and horsesEssential Oils In FoodEucalyptusFallFrankincenseHolidayHorse TreatsJade Lemon Essential OilKidScents®LavenderLemonLemongrassMastrante Essential OilMelrose™Muscles & TendonsOrange Essential OilPeppermintPersonal CarePine Essential OilRoman chamomileRosemarySpearmintTea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)Trailering HorsestravelValor™Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
