Essential oils can be a very effective way to alleviate numerous symptoms or conditions of your K9.

Some of these are to help him/her sleep, dog anxiety, and inflammation/pain management. When used safely, essential oils for dog anxiety can be a very effective way to calm a stressed dog. The calming effects come from specific chemical components in such oils, and there are studies and research to back up such effects.

 

The following list of essential oils are safe for your K9:

 

The following ARE NOT safe and should not be used if you have a furry baby:

 

Here are tips to start using essential oils with your dog.

Create situations where your dog can associate the oils with something “good.” 

For example, when diffusing the oils, play his/her favorite game or give him/her one of his favorite treats. This can reinforce your dog’s positive feelings towards these oils (oils = happy time).

Now, let’s look at how to use these oils for stressful situations.

When there is an upcoming event that you know may be stressful for your old dog (e.g. a trip to the vet or groomer), you can use essential oils that are calming such as Lavender or Chamomile 15 to 20 minutes before the event.  This can be done in various ways:

 

Ambiance Diffusion

The simplest way is to diffuse any, or a combination, of the above oils in a diffuser.

Depending on the size of the room your furry is in, add 5-6 drops of some of the above oils to the water in the diffuser. Let it run for 20 minutes or so.  You can also add a few of the essential oils to a cotton ball and place it in your car on the way to the vet.  You can also apply 1-2 drops of the chosen oil to their collar.

 

Topical Application

If you choose to apply the established safe oils on your dog, the #1 Rule you need to follow is to dilute the oils with a carrier oil (e.g., sweet almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil). NEVER put undiluted essential oils on your dog.  Essential oils are highly concentrated, a little goes a long way.

To use: put a few drops of the essential oil along with the carrier oil on your hands and rub them together to distribute the blend. Then pet your dog gently with your “well-oiled” hands, the shoulder, or area of need (for pain management.)

 

You can also put a few drops of oils on yourself so your dog can smell the oils from you. This multi-prong approach works very well in calming a stressed and anxious dog.

 

Again, NEVER apply undiluted essential oils to your dog.

Now, once you’ve made your perfect diluted blend, let it “sit” for at least 24 hours so all the oils are completely blended. (You may find the scent a little different after 24 hours.)

 

Some Examples of Calming Oil Blends

Here are some recipes for calming oil blends that you can. Remember, all dogs are individual beings. While all these essential oils are generally considered safe for dogs, YOUR dog might react differently. So, if you are using any of these oils with your dog for the first time, go slowly and observe the dog carefully.