If you use essential oils you probably know you can use them around the home for cleaning and for cooking, you can use them as aromatherapy to relax, and you can even use essential oils for pets!
That’s right, if you’re a pet owner, it may benefit you and your pet to take the time to learn more about how essential oils can be used for your furry friends. Keep reading!

Essential Oils for Pets?
As pet owners, we want our pets to live their best lives. They are part of our family (hence why some of us call ourselves pet parents) so it just makes total sense that we are constantly looking for the best pet products to take care of them. Today we are sharing with you the best essential oils for pets – when used in small amounts, they can help bring some health benefits or decrease some unwanted symptoms, such as respiratory problems, nasal congestion, skin problems, and more.
However, it is important to use essential oils with a side of caution as some may produce adverse reactions on pets so we recommend not to use them in a small space. If you notice a negative reaction at any moment, make sure to call the pet poison helpline.
This is the best way to use essential oils on pets:
Cedarwood – This essential oil helps promote a healthy dog’s skin and coat and also repels pests like fleas and ticks.
Chamomile – Just like in humans, chamomile oil promotes relaxation and healthy sleep. It can also help with digestion.
Lavender – Lavender essential oil helps relieve anxiety. This is great for pets with separation anxiety. Add some drops of essential oil to a spray bottle with water and spray around the house.
Ginger – Relieves arthritis pain and discomfort from hip dysplasia and similar conditions. It can also help support healthy digestion.
Marjoram – This is great for the skin, helps with skin conditions such as skin irritations and skin infection, and is also a great insect repellent.
Clary Sage – It’s an easy way to help calm pets that are easily excitable.
Myrrh – Will help fight allergies and also promotes healthy skin and coat.
While this may sound great, you could also be worried about safety. Maybe you’ve heard horror stories about how essential oils can be dangerous to household pets. While that can be true, they are safe when you use them properly.
You also want to be sure you are using a quality grade essential oil. Many cheap essential oils on the market today are really just “perfume grade”, meaning they are okay for aromatherapy but not for other high quality uses, such as ingestion or with pets. Make sure to check the quality of the oil you’re using on your pets and avoid toxic essential oils!
Our favorite essential oils are from Young Living, as they produce high-quality oils, perfect for aromatherapy use, topical use, and more. Plus, if you already have essential oils for home air fresheners, why not make the most out of them with all of the extra uses they provide?

Essential Oil Safety for Pets
Know your animal. Large animals such as horses, sheep, cattle, llamas and alpacas, goats and other particular animal can have essential oils applied topically. With indoor pets like cats and dogs that are smaller, you need to use more caution to avoid issues like respiratory irritation. You may not be able to apply all oils topically because some potent oils put animals at higher risk. For smaller animals like birds and guinea pigs, you may not want to apply directly but use a water diffuser instead with a drop of essential oil to avoid toxic effects.
Cats do not have an enzyme in their liver that some animals have that helps them metabolize certain things. This means they are highly sensitive to things like chocolate, caffeine, toxic plants, and more. If you have cats, you need to be very cautious of the oils that they are sensitive to. You should never pet your cat after using toxic oils on your hands. You should never clean things with toxic oils that your cat will lick, and you should never diffuse toxic oils into the air where your cat will breathe. Make sure to research safe essential oils for you to use at home if you have cats.
As mentioned above, always use a high quality essential oil brand. You should be using therapeutic grade only on your pets. Also make sure you are blending correctly, diluting as necessary, and avoiding essential oil exposure that may be toxic.
Now that you know more about how to use essential oils for pets, you’re ready to give it a try. Maybe you’ve already been helping your pets without even knowing it, by using certain oils in the air and around the home.
WANT MORE ESSENTIAL OIL TIPS AND TRICKS? CHECK OUT THESE IDEAS FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG:
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- In fact, you can also use essential oils to calm pets or help them relax.
- Got an anniversary coming up? Try these essential oils for romance!
- Make a natural chest rub for toddlers with essential oils to improve their sleep.
- Learn how using essential oils in the bath can make you feel like you’re having a spa day at home.
- We know how you can use Lavender Essential Oil.
Psst… See these awesome puppy chow recipes!
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Which essential oil for pets are you going to try first?
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