But if used appropriately, it can provide a great deal of relief to your dog for several ailments.
- What is aromatherapy for dogs?
- Who uses it and why is it used?
- Are essential oils safe?
- Aromatherapy blends for common problems
What is Dog Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of pure, essential oils to create a sense of well-being, balance and health. Essential oils are taken from plants and have a number of ingredients that contribute to their healing abilities.
Essential oils are either breathed in or applied directly to the skin. They contain plant hormones and chemicals that act as messengers in the body to influence the immune, endocrine, reproductive, digestive and respiratory systems. They have also been shown to have antibacterial effects.
Dog aromatherapy can help with:
- Boosting your dog’s immune system
- Combating viruses
- Fighting off bacteria
- Preventing the growth of yeasts and molds
- Repelling insects
Who Uses Dog Aromatherapy and Why Is It Used?
Whether applied directly to the body or used throughout the home, many people swear by aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy dog treatment is more commonly used by holistic groomers and pet salons in order to treat and prevent one or more of the following:
- Dog bad breath
- Dog flatulence
- Itchy dog ear infections
- Dog motion sickness
- Dog skin rashes
- Dog skin inflammations
Seek a proper diagnosis from your holistic veterinarian before addressing these issues with aromatherapy.
Besides its proven benefits for the treatment of common physical irritations, dog aromatherapy can also help with certain minor psychological problems.
Specific essential oils have been shown to relax the mind and body. This could work well for a hyper-active dog or a dog that has trouble sleeping.
Are Essential Oils Completely Safe?
We often tend think that natural means safe. Much of the free dog health advice found online will lead you to believe that this is the case – it is not. Essential oils should be used with extreme caution.
There have been many reports of animals being poisoned because of the owners’ inappropriate use of essential oils.
If you are interested in trying dog aromatherapy, please read the following precautions, and as always, check with your veterinarian before beginning.
- Never give essential oils by mouth or in food
- Never use oils in or on cats (they tend to be overly sensitive to them)
- Avoid using directly on the skin, unless advised to do so by your veterinarian
- Essential oils must always be diluted prior to use
- Always try a very small amount first to test for sensitivity
- Do not apply oils to pregnant animals
- Only use essential oils that state their origin on the bottle
- Avoid using oil blends
The following section contains recommended uses and dosages for essential oils. The following information comes from Francois Rapp, an internationally renowned aromatherapist and alchemist:
Dogs have a predictable set of physical ailments that may occur during their lifetime and can be improved through the use of aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy dog blends will:
- Soothe and heal skin problems
- Relieve Itching
- Remove and prevent fleas and ticks
- Relieve the pain of rheumatism and arthritis
- Revive energy
- Contol pet odor
Let’s get into the details about how to prepare them…
Dog Aromatherapy Blends for Common Problems
Before applying any of the following dog aromatherapy treatments, be sure to review the precautions above…
Blend to Ease Arthritis
As recommended by some veterinarians and many free dog health advice websites, soften your dog’s bed (a heated doggie water bed is the absolute best!) to make it very cozy and warm. If your dog is an “outside” pet, allow him to sleep inside.
A little moist heat, applied directly over painful joints, can be a great comfort to arthritic pets. Get him a warm sweater or apply a moist heating pad. Massage the painful area twice a day with the following blend to soothe the pain away.
Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill.
- 12 drops Birch
- 8 drops Juniper
- 7 drops Rosemary
Blend to Relieve Itching
Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with Calendula oil. Apply to afflicted area.
- 5 drops Geranium
- 3 drops Roman Chamomile
- 4 drops Lavender
See our Dog Itchy Skin page for more about relieving itchy skin naturally.
Blend to Boost Energy
Prepare the following dog aromatherapy blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill. Massage the spine gently. Use in the mornings only.
- 6 drops Lavender
- 5 drops Rosemary
- 2 drops Peppermint
Blend to Combat Fleas
Fleas are dog care’s nemesis. They can hide in your pets’ fur and in your carpets, window coverings and other areas inside and outside of your home.
Prepare the following blend by pouring the following ingredients into a 1-oz spray bottle:
- 7.5 ml Mint essential oil
- 22.5 ml rubbing alcohol (note: alcohol may sting if your dog’s skin is red and inflamed)
Fleas absolutely hate mint! Spray the affected areas of your home, including your dog’s bed. Spray directly onto your dog, holding the bottle about 10 inches from him. Avoid spraying on the head and eyes.
Find more advice on our Dog Flea Medicine page.
Blend to Control Pet Odor
Before administering this blend, have your holistic veterinarian diagnose the cause of the odor and recommend a treatment. Then try this natural and aromatic spray to control the problem over the short-term.
- 10 drops Geranium
- 6 drops Lemon
- 10 drops Lavender
Pour the essential oils into a 1-oz spray bottle filled with water. Shake vigorously several times before each use. Spray directly onto your dog, holding the bottle about 10 inches from him. Avoid spraying on the head and eyes.
Blend to Ease Rheumatism
Like humans, many dogs suffer from rheumatism as they age. Your veterinarian may recommend specific dog care medications or natural therapies. You can apply and massage the following blend in the morning and night to alleviate pain.
Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill.
- 8 drops Birch
- 8 drops Juniper
- 7 drops Rosemary
Blend to Relieve Skin Problems
Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with Calendula oil. Apply to afflicted area.
- 5 drops Lavender
- 6 drops Geranium
See our Diagnosing and Treating Dog Skin Conditions page for more natural skin remedies.
Blend to Combat Ticks
Check your home and pet for ticks – look in his bed, window coverings, walls, etc. Burn or squash the ones you find to prevent them from coming back, but DO NOT burn them while still on your dog!
If your dog has an embedded tick or three, see our Proper Dog Tick Removal page for the technique and tools that will help your dog avoid potential infection and other problems.
Prepare the following tick-prevention blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill.
- 10 drops Tea Tree
- 10 drops Lavender
Apply 1 drop of Lavender and 1 drop of Tea Tree undiluted essential oils before extracting ticks from your pet. This will disinfect the inflamed area. It may sting a little bit (as alcohol would) but it works great!
Our Dog Flea and Tick Medicine page has more information about ticks and your dog.
Do you believe in holistic pet care? If so, please tell your friends about us. Thank you for supporting our efforts!