5 Safe Ways to Use Essential Oils with Your Dog

Most dog owners wonder if essential oils are good for their dogs. Although it is a controversial topic, with some saying that you can and others against it. It has worked for many, what is important is to ensure that you follow the guidelines given. Therefore, although it is normal to use oils around your dog. It is okay to introduce them as long as you go about it safely. Since many fear how safe and effective it is to their dog in terms of their well-being and health. Below are some safe and effective ways to use essential oils on your dog that you can consider.

Allow your dog’s sense of smell to guide them

To begin with, one safe way is to let your dog’s powerful sense of smell led her to heal. Giving your dog the freedom to inhale is vital. To do this, leave your do open when you are diffusing or formulating an essential oil. In this way, you allow her to leave if she wants to.

This process of self-selection works effectively and is meaningful through the inhalation route of absorption. Plus, sometimes all your dog needs to heal is inhalation. Besides, it should not feel like through inhalation you are losing its effectiveness. Dogs unlike humans have three routes of administration once they inhale something. Hence, when they breathe in, the airflow splits into few paths. One helps to breathe and others help in smelling. 

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Offer the oils gently and respectfully

If there is an essential oil for fleas on dogs recommended to you by their veterinarian. Offer it gently and with respect, for dogs’ inhalation is simple. Open a bottle of the essential oil and hold it to where your dog can approach like a distance of one or two feet from her nose. This is a respectful distance and if they like it they will blink rapidly.

Most importantly, do not allow your dog to lick the oil or touch the bottle. Also, be patient, offer one essential oil at a time, and pay attention to their signals. But avoid forcing or chasing your dog to smell it. Some signs that show your dog is no longer interested in the oils are, lack of interest, turning their back to you. When this happens wash your hands and let them be. 

Avoid using essential oils on your dogs’ skin

The reason essential oils are so powerful for dogs is that they have an incredible sense of smell. Thus, you need to respect your dog and do not apply the essential oils to your dogs’ skin or fur. If the advice you are taking is not from someone with a strong background in clinical aromatherapy.

They may advise you wrongly on using the oils on the dogs’ ears, skin, and fur. Plus, recommendations for ‘safe oils’ that you get on blogs or online, many at times do not consider dilution, dosing, or the animals’ health concern. Hence, it is best to use what you know is safe. 

Use plain hydrosols

When it comes to not applying to the skin or fur, the exception is to use plain hydrosols. These are essential waters and they have no concentrated oils. They are safe for dogs as they are by-products of distillation. However, you mustn’t force your dog to be sprayed by a hydrosol, allow your dog to choose its hydrosol. Spray it on a cloth and let your dog sniff it. If she licks it or rubs against it, she likes it. After, you can spray it on her. 

Use a diffuser

Through using a diffuser, it makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the treatment. However, remember that you and your dog do not have similar tastes. Hence, in case you love how a certain essential oil smells, your dog may not like it as well. Allow her to leave the room if they need to when you diffuse the oils. Plus, note if they regularly leave as you diffuse a certain oil, it is best not to use it in your home or any spaces that the dog stays.