If you love pets, especially if you are a dog person, then this episode is for you! Here, we talk about canine aromatherapy and the benefits it can give your dogs if done right.

Meet the expert

Our guest for this week is Lisa Reece, Certified Animal Aromatherapist and founder of Canine Aromatherapy! She’s been all about dogs for 20 years, doing everything from raising them to training them. Lisa’s expertise doesn’t stop at training; she’s also well-versed in dog massage and the use of essential oils to keep our canine companions in top shape.

Are essential oils safe for dogs?

YES! You can definitely use essential oils around dogs, but it’s also crucial that they are of pure quality like doTERRA oils. Just make sure the area is well-ventilated, and the animal has the option to move away from the diffuser if they dislike the scent. Remember, the dosage matters! Smaller dogs require less, while bigger breeds might need a bit more. It is also beneficial for cats, birds, rabbits, and any other pets that you might have in your home.

Lisa has created a FREE Dilution Safety Chart for animals which you can download from HERE.

Debunking myths

There is a lot of misinformation (especially online) regarding the use of essential oils with your pets, and that they will harm your dog. But the reality is most people who have a bad experience with using essential oils on or around their pets, have used synthetic or adulterated oils. If you’re using 100% pure-quality and third-party tested essential oils, you are more likely to help your dog rather than harm them, even if they have underlying health issues.

This is why we only ever use doTERRA essential oils around our pets because they are 100% pure and with every batch, vigorously third-party tested to ensure purity.

Oils to watch out for

Some essential oils need caution when used around dogs, such as:

  • Wintergreen
  • Birch
  • Tea Tree aka Melaleuca

While you can diffuse these 100% pure oils in small quantities, avoid applying them topically to prevent animals from licking them. You can apply them on yourself, but ensure your pets don’t lick the area. Avoiding these oils on small animals like dogs and cats is best. However, larger animals such as horses or livestock can handle these oils without issues.

A trick that Tracey likes to use with her dogs, she has Lucy who is a 15-year old small breed dog, and her daughter’s German Shepherd, Bodhi whom Tracey dog sits 5 days a week, is to grab an oil bottle, take the lid off and allow the dog to smell the oil first.  If they have a negative reaction to the scent, ie. they turn away or sneeze, then she won’t use that oil around her dogs.  Just like us humans who like and dislike the scent of certain oils, our canine friends are the same.

Benefits of essential oils for dogs

Essential oils can benefit dogs in various ways, not just for creating a safe ambiance at home. You can dilute lavender or frankincense for skin issues and apply them to soothe rashes. For muscle aches, a massage with some diluted aroma touch can help, or you can add frankincense, copaiba, or turmeric to their wet food.

If adding oils to your dog’s food, it can be a really great idea to create a master blend and then just use a drop of that mixed into their wet food.  Do not add oils to dry food/kibble or their water as it is not mixed in and diluted enough.

Just remember to adjust the amount added based on the dog’s size. The larger dogs will require more oils, while smaller dogs need a more diluted mix.  For smaller dogs, all you would need is to insert a toothpick into your essential oil bottle and then mix that toothpick around in their wet food to disperse it.

Natural remedies for ticks and fleas

Lisa highly recommends avoiding chemical flea and tick treatments as she already lost a dog from using them. After further research, natural alternatives like essential oils are better.

  • Ticks: Turmeric prevents ticks from attaching to the skin, in fact, there are studies showing the success Turmeric has in preventing ticks from attaching to the skin.  While peppermint and geranium also repel them.
  • Fleas: Lavender and cedarwood are effective repellents, with the potential of killing flea eggs.

Lisa has kindly shared her tried and tested recipes with us for:

  • Flea and tick repellant spray
  • Natural dog shampoo

Download those recipes HERE.

You can use the spray twice weekly during warmer months and reduce frequency in colder periods.

If your dogs don’t like spray? No problem. Just spray it on your hands, and rub it all over them. The most important place is the legs and belly area, as these are areas that come in contact with the grass.

Additionally, feeding dogs a small amount of fresh, crushed garlic (1/2 a teaspoon) can repel fleas and ticks from the inside. Diatomaceous Earth is also effective for killing fleas and ticks, as it dehydrates and kills them. It can be applied to pets but should be kept away from their eyes and nose as you don’t want them inhaling it.

Dog shampoos

Store-bought dog shampoos can be filled with lots of nasty chemicals and preservatives that aren’t doing your dog any favours and are really harsh on their skin and coat.  It can often lead to dandruff too because the thick store-bought shampoos can be hard to fully wash off their skin and coat.

You don’t need to buy those, as you can make your own dog shampoo really easily and with only a few ingredients.

A really simple dog shampoo is liquid castile soap which is naturally derived and gentle on skin.  As we stated above, add some lavender and cedarwood to it and your dog will not only smell great afterward but will also have flea protection too!  It is also thinner in viscosity, making it much easier to fully wash off their skin and coat.

Download Lisa’s natural dog shampoo recipe HERE.

Where can you learn more from Lisa?

As you will have heard, Lisa is a wealth of knowledge in the Canine Aromatherapy space.  She has been incredibly helpful to both Jo and Tracey regarding health issues they have had with their own dogs.  Lisa offers one-on-one consultations (amongst other services) for those needing some extra help with their dogs.  She also offers a free 15-minute consultation so that she can have a chat with you to make sure that she can actually help with your dog’s issue(s).  You can find out all about that via her website, as well as learn much more on her social channels:

📲 Website
📲 Facebook
📲 Instagram
📲 LinkedIn

If you found this episode enlightening, don’t keep it to yourself! Share it with fellow dog lovers and help spread the word about the wonders of canine aromatherapy. And remember, always prioritize your pet’s well-being.

Much love,
Jo & Tracey