Essential Oils and Pets
Are you an essential oil user?
Did you know there's some essential oils that aren't safe to use with your pets? Check out this article my friend Alicia wrote, about two to safely use Essential Oils with your pets!
As a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA essential oils, I get lots of questions about using essential oils around pets. One of the most asked questions I get is, “Is it safe to use essential oils around pets?” And the answer is, “Yes!” If you search online, you will probably end up with numerous articles debating this answer. However, much of what is found isn’t based on reliable research. One of the guidebooks I recommend the most for information on this topic is called Spoil Your Pet. The authors, Mia Frezzo, DVM, and Jan Jeremias, MSc., are veterinarians who use essential oil in their practices and recommend usage to their pet owners.
Just as we use essential oils to help our bodies, pets can also benefit from using them. I am not a veterinarian or doctor, however, I have studied essential oils for over 5 years now and have come to learn the differences in quality and sourcing play a huge role in the effectiveness of an essential oil and whether that oil is safe to use for both humans and pets.
Here are some tips to using essential oils safely on and around your pet:
Use a high-quality essential oil. If you use a low grade, you and your pet will most likely have an adverse reaction.
When using oils on your pets, only 1-2 drops are needed. I tend to think of pets like small children and will dilute the essential oil as such. Dilution is when you pair an essential oil with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and extra virgin olive oil. This slows down the rate of absorption and the rate of flash off. This helps the body receive the oil at a slower rate, lessening the risk of a skin reaction. You will always want to increase dilution for young or small pets and gradually decrease it for larger pets. dōTERRA recommends a 1 drop of essential oil to 10 drops of carrier oil or more.
There are certain oils to avoid with pets: Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Wintergreen, and Cassia. There are alternative essential oils that have similar properties to these. If you are looking to address a certain issue, you can definitely substitute another essential oil.
Introduce your pet to the essential oil slowly and watch their reactions.
When diffusing, make sure that your pets have a way out of the room. For example, instead of closing your bedroom door at night while you’re diffusing for sleep, keep it open so your pet can leave the room if they are not liking the smell. Also, only diffuse a few drops as their noses are very sensitive to smells. It can be overwhelming to them if you are diffusing many drops of essential oil.
A couple years ago, dōTERRA put together a panel of veterinarians to discuss essential oil usage for pets, here is a link to watch the full 35 minute video. And here is a link to a blog post dōTERRA did on using oils with pets. Please consult your veterinarian or search here for a holistic veterinarian if you have concerns or more questions regarding using essential oils on pets.
If you are wanting to learn more about using dōTERRA essential oils for your pet and your family, please contact me and I will be glad to help you!
(These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.)
