Essential oils are used more and more in our pets to relieve many everyday ailments. They are an alternative remedy to drug treatments. However, they must be used with caution in our four legs, just like in humans. 

Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell: they have around 200 million olfactory receptors, compared to only 5 million for humans. The smell of essential oils is already powerful for humans, so it must be taken into account when using them in dogs because the latter can be inconvenienced or irritated. The essential oils are tolerated by the dog for the most part, on the other hand, they are badly accepted by the cat. Tea tree essential oil, a versatile essential oil that is effective in humans but also in dogs, is therefore toxic to felines. Caution is therefore required when you want to use them for your dog but shelter a cat under your roof. 

In general, care should be taken to always dilute essential oils in dogs regardless of their mode of administration (diffusion, oral route, cutaneous route, etc.). The rule is 1% dilution. For example, a tablespoon of olive oil, salmon oil or honey = 1 drop of essential oil. It is not recommended to administer essential oils orally to your dog without the advice of a specialist.

Essential oils should never be given orally pure to the dog, they risk attacking the oral and gastric mucous membranes. Adding essential oils to your pet’s water bowl is therefore contraindicated: since essential oils do not mix with water, he would ingest pure and concentrated drops, which could cause potentially serious burns.

Constantly exposing your dog to essential oils can have dangerous effects on his health. They are to be used on an ad hoc and sporadic basis. As the dog’s sense of smell is powerful, essential oils should not be applied near its mouth and nose, the same goes for the ears.

Some essential oils are also contraindicated during gestation and lactation in bitches.

Potentially allergenic essential oils such as bay leaf, cinnamon, lemon, or even peppermint, must be used with vigilance by making a test beforehand, that is to say by applying the essential oil on a small dog’s coat area and waiting 48 hours.

The most common ailments treated with essential oils in dogs are parasites, joint pain, stress or even wounds.  

• To fight against parasites 

Essential oils with repellent properties help fight fleas and ticks in dogs. This is the case of the essential oil of tea-tree, lemongrass (Lemongrass), lavandin, true lavender (and not aspic), cinnamon, Atlas cedar, rose geranium, eucalyptus lemon or peppermint.

They are used diluted in the form of a spray, a few drops in the shampoo, or even placed on a fabric ribbon (collar).

• To treat an insect bite

An anti-irritation synergy based on essential oils can be applied directly to the affected area.

Synergy anti-irritation basic recipe : 

• 20 drops of lavender aspic essential oil

• 10 drops of field mint essential oil

• 5 drops of tea tree essential oil

Dilute the essential oils in 20 ml of vegetable oil of calendula, calophyllum or aloe vera gel. Rub 2 to 4 drops of the mixture onto the sting. Repeat every 30 minutes for 2 hours. 

• To soothe states of stress

Dogs also suffer from stress and are therefore potentially receptive to essential oils with calming properties such as Roman chamomile, shell marjoram, lavender, ylang ylang, verbena and sweet orange. The preferred mode of dissemination is dissemination. A massage based on these essential oils diluted in a vegetable oil such as argan oil for example (excellent for the coat), will also relax an anxious or frightened dog, before a visit to the veterinarian or the groomer for example. 

• To relieve the joints 

Osteoarthritis is more and more present in our pets because their life expectancy increases. Likewise, athletic dogs (agility, cani-cross) are extremely stressed on their joints and may suffer from pain and / or stiffness. A synergy of essential oils to be applied locally through the skin is a natural and effective remedy. The following essential oils will be preferred: essential oil of gautheria, essential oil of lemon eucalyptus, Rosemary with Camphor or Scots pine. It will be necessary to ensure that the dog does not lick itself after application.