Usage of essential oils can vary within different species.
My own dog – a tiny, grouchy Papillion – gets a lot of interaction with essential oils because of the home she lives in. We diffuse oils around her and use small amounts in water to mist over her on rainy nights or when we have new visitors in the home. Lavender works wonderfully to keep her in a calm and happy canine place. Here's a link to an easy Pet Room Spray that contains lavender. Just remember – and this is important – 1, 2 or 3 spritzes at a time is all it takes with a dog who weighs less than seven pounds.
As always, my first recommendation with pets and oils is to consult with a knowledgeable veterinarian.
Do
- ...treat your pets with the same loving care as you treat your children - With small animals at home, any direct usage of essential oils should be handled with the same general care and consideration that goes into usage of oils by children.
- ...pay attention to how your animals respond when you use oils in the home - If they clear out of a room when you are diffusing or using oils, they are telling you that they don’t like the oil or it is too much for them to handle. Dogs have a strong sense of smell, and will likely disappear when you overdo it.
- ...stick with lavender - In diffusion and low percentage dilutions, lavender is the stand out oil that many pets respond well to and seem to enjoy.
- ...seek qualified research from pet experts – There are now several great resources, both printed and online, written by holistic vets who have been working with pets and essential oils.
Don't
- ...assume animals will respond to essential oils the same way humans do - Not all oils are companionable to all animals. There are large differences within species of animals and the two pets commonly found in homes – dogs and cats – are vastly different. Cats can have very negative reactions to certain common essential oils like rosemary, clove, tea tree and oregano and should avoid any exposure to these oils unless otherwise advised by a qualified practitioner.
- ...leave essential oils where animals can get into them – Animals are curious and love to explore. Keep essential oils out of reach and out of areas they can inadvertently ingest them.
- ...keep animals in enclosed areas with essential oils – We sometimes hear of pet owners adding essential oils in kennels and crates to keep pets calm. Animals cannot speak to us to let us know when they are overwhelmed with an aroma, so the best approach is to leave essential oils out of small, contained spaces with pets.
- ...assume that fur dilutes the essential oil – Dilution is when the oil is added to another medium to reduce the strength and potency of the oil. Fur is not a diluting agent and applying essential oils to fur is still direct application.
9 Comments
Laura M 1679009030
January 30, 2019 - 8:20am
This IS very helpful. I’m a cat owner and have mentioned that I use a diffuser (because of migraines) to my vet. I’ve noticed that my cat DOES react to the oils that I use, especially since he sleeps on our bed with us. He already has allergies himself due to poor air quality of our rental home, but cats DO also have a very sensitive nose issue and as you mentioned, it’s best to see how they react.
Thank you
Elva B
June 21, 2018 - 8:35am
Thank you for this information. It is very helpful.
Kedra O
April 22, 2018 - 3:44pm
Thanks for this article. Very helpful.
Jean Y
April 20, 2018 - 1:14pm
Great combination!
Lynda L
April 17, 2018 - 6:58am
Thanks for this! I’m wondering the same thing as Melissa, which oils are safe oils to diffuse. There is a lot online about this, but a lot of it is conflicting information.Please help.
Aura Cacia
April 19, 2018 - 11:22am
Hi Lynda! Thanks for the question. We cannot make specific recommendation beyond diffusion of oils for the sake of safety as that is not our expertise. In general, we want to convey caution but also that many oils used in diffusions are generally safe for most household pets. Citrus oils and floral oils (in general) as groups are fairly safe for indoor pets in diffusion as well, but beyond that it depends on the animal. Our recommendation is to avoid prolonged, unchecked diffusions that saturate the airspace with essential oils. A 15 minute diffusion of 18 drops of essential oil is plenty. One diffusion exception that it is not ideal practice to have diffusions with caged birds or any caged animals in enclosed spaces. Above all else, consulting a registered veterinarian is always the safest option if there are animals you have specific questions about. We hope this helps!
Melissa F 213279171
April 16, 2018 - 3:33pm
Do you have any pet safe oil blends to share? I would love to use my diffuser again!
Aura Cacia
April 19, 2018 - 11:24am
Hi Melissa! Thank you for your questions! Please see our response above to help guide you in diffusion best practices with pets. We hope that helps clear anything up!
Livia P
April 15, 2018 - 3:20pm
I’m so excited to learn about this for my furbabies
We'd love to hear your perspective.
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