Your pets are your best friends. So taking care of them is naturally at the top of your list. Learn how to use essential oils for pets with six easy essential oil recipes for your furry friends. Learn how to use essential oils for dog fleas and itchy skin. Plus quick, simple recipes for a pet paw balm, a fur and skin conditioner, a DIY pet odor eliminator spray and an anti-anxiety essential oil diffuser blend.
My dog, Jasper, is who I like to call my “little old man.” He’s 9 1/2 years old and a complete and total flirt. He’s also incredibly stubborn. And, because he’s too cute for words, completely spoiled as well. Jasper’s also very lucky that I love him. His vet bills have already topped $1000 this year. The culprit? Allergies. Not only did switching his food to a senior (diet) dog food lead to a food allergy, he has seasonal spring and fall allergies as well. This in turn has led to itchy skin and recurring ear infections no matter what preventative measures I take.
I recommend you always consult your vet as a first step in your pet’s care – especially before introducing essential oil into their routine. Misuse of essential oils can actually make illnesses worse, or lead to new problems. So always treat your dog (or cat’s) health with due diligence, the same as you would for a human child. Luckily for me, Jasper sees the best vets our city has to offer. They’re highly knowledgeable and open to alternative treatments. They also treat my dog like the little person he is. And while I’m open to natural remedies as needed, there are always exceptions that require modern medicine to minimize suffering and speed up the healing process.
Sadly, Jasper is now on a steroid treatment for skin allergies. He doesn’t seem to mind though. There’s no more itching or scratching. Plus he gets his daily dose of Apoquel hidden inside a piece of cheese every morning. However, there were natural treatments my vet recommended for Jasper for his allergy prone skin. These include Epsom salt baths (with zero fragrances as they may be irritating) as well as wiping off his paws and face with aloe wipes after he’s been outside. Additionally, using an ear rinse with salicylic acid was recommended for his back hind legs. They had a fungal growth that has since cleared up.
If you’ve spoken to your vet about introducing essential oils into your pet’s health and wellness routine, then I have some great ideas for using essential oils for pets. Keep reading to discover six homemade essential oil recipes for your pets – including essential oils for dog fleas. Plus a super simple recipe for using essential oils for itchy skin.
The new essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth is an affordable to learn about essential oils for pets. It also makes it easy to create simple recipes to address your pets’ health concerns. The May Simple Earth recipe box for pets contains four essential oils that you can incorporate into your dog’s daily routine. These essential oils for pets are ginger, juniper berry and citronella. It also includes a peace & quiet essential oil blend that’s great for tackling your dog’s anxiety.
Essential Oils for Pets
Ginger Essential Oil
This natural essential oil for pets creates a natural warming sensation. It’s great for eliminating odors and can also ease an upset stomach or nausea. A sweet & spicy essential oil, ginger oil blends well with bergamot, cedarwood atlas, clove leaf, coriander, geranium, rosewood, orange and sandalwood essential oils.
Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Juniper berry essential oil is another pet friendly essential oil. It’s commonly used in essential oil recipes to ease muscle pain, repel insects and tackle oily or acne prone skin. Different from juniper leaf essential oil, which is not pet safe, this oil is distilled from juniper berries (my favorite as fan of gin cocktails!) and a sweet woody pine scent.
Citronella Essential Oil
One of the most commonly used essential oils, citronella oil has gained popularity for its ability to deterring biting insects like mosquitoes. Not only is it pet safe, there are so many ways to use it! Rather you’re making a blend of essential oils for dog fleas, deter mosquitoes or neutralize odors this natural essential oil has a number of everyday uses. With summer on the way, add citronella essential oil to a bowl of water with a floating candle for a pretty outdoor summertime insect repellent.
Peace & Quiet Essential Oil Blend
Made from a combination of sweet orange, frankincense, cedarwood & lime essential oils, this unique uplifting, synergy aromatherapy blend promotes calm and relaxation. (Use caution with this blend around cats. They aren’t always a fan of citrus oils.)
As with past Simply Earth recipe boxes, you’ll also find six recipe cards for using these essential oils for pets. Along with containers for mixing your recipes, this box also has a super cute dog bandana. Other ingredients you’ll need, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil & beeswax, are included in the bonus box. The bonus box also includes bottles for custom essential oil diffuser blends and rollerball bottles. (If you’re a first time Simply Earth customer, you’ll receive a free bonus box with your first essential oil recipe box along with a gift card for $40 off your next order. Simply enter coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE at checkout.)
Tips for Using Essential Oils for Pets
Before I share the collection of pet care recipes with essential oils, here are few tips for introducing your pet to essential oils for the first time.
- Allow your pet to smell the essential oil recipe you’ve chosen for pet care prior to application. Should your pet react in a negative manner, applying the oil could cause your fur baby emotional distress. Should they react negatively, don’t force your pet to follow through. I’ve found it’s easy to discover other ways to use recipes your pets may not enjoy.
- Always leave and escape for your pet when using essential oils. You don’t want your own little man to be stuck in a room with a diffuser that he (or she) really can’t stand. Animals are a lot like men in this way. Small things that make them feel uncomfortable can feel like bit things to them. (Sort of like that man flu, ahem, common cold men don’t tolerate well.)
- Introduce your pets to essential oils slowly and in small quantities over time. By taking the time to put your pets needs first, your pets will have the best experience at having essential oils introduced into their pet care routine.
Essential Oil Recipes for Pets
Ready to start using essential oils with your pets? Following are the six simple essential oil recipes for pet care included in the May Simply Earth essential oil recipe box.
DIY Tick & Mosquito Collar
Ingredients:
20 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 drops citronella essential oil
2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
1 Cup distilled water
Instructions:
This simple essential oil recipe for repelling ticks and mosquitoes is applied directly to your dog’s collar or a bandana (such as the one included in May’s Simply Earth essential oil recipe box for pets.)
Simply mix the ingredients together in a medium glass bowl for 30 seconds. Then soak the collar in the mixture. (Take care to keep any plastic or metal parts out of the mixture.)
Remove the collar or bandana from the mixture. Then allow to dry completely prior to use.
Store the remaining portion of the recipe in a sealable container for future use.
Anti-Anxiety Essential Oil Diffuser Blend for Pets
Ingredients:
2 drops peace & quiet Essential oil blend
1 drop juniper berry essential oil
Instructions:
Add the essential oils to a diffuser. Then diffuse in an open room. Leave the door open when in use in case your dog is sensitive to the essential oils.
Should you pet react positively to this essential oil blend, you can make a master essential oil blend for your pet’s anxiety. Simply fill a 5 mL bottle (from the Simply Earth bonus box) with 60 drops of the peace & quiet essential oil blend and 30 drops of the juniper berry essential oil. To use, simply add 1-3 drops to your diffuser as needed.
Fur & Skin Conditioner Recipe
Ingredients:
4 Tbsp sweet almond oil
10 drops juniper berry essential oil
6 drops ginger essential oil
6 drops citronella essential oil
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a 1 oz. container. Then shake to combine.
To use, simply massage a small amount onto your pet’s coat to help balance and lock in your pet’s natural oils. This recipe also works on dry patches of skin.
Pet Odor Eliminator Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
10 drops ginger essential oil
20 drops peace & quiet essential oil blend
2 oz. distilled water
Instructions:
Add the essential oils to a 2 oz. spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with distilled water. Then shake the bottle to incorporate the essential oils for pets throughout the water.
Shake the bottle before each use, then spray as desired into the air or onto surfaces. This recipe helps eliminate odors in the air, on pet beds and other stinky surfaces.
As cats may not like the peace & quiet essential oil blend (due to the citrus oils) be cautious when using this product around them. If desire, you may substitute the peace & quiet essential oil blend with juniper berry or citronella essential oils.
Itchy Skin Essential Oil Roll On Recipe
Ingredients:
2 drops ginger essential oil
2 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 mL sweet almond oil
Instructions:
Add the essential oils to a 10 mL rollerball bottle. Swirl to mix. Then fill the bottle the remainder of the way with sweet almond oil. Replace the roller top and shake well to combine.
To use, simply apply this essential oil recipe for your pet’s itchy skin directly to the affected area.
Essential Oil Pet Paw Balm Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 Tbsp beeswax
2 Tsp refined coconut oil
1/2 Tsp sweet almond oil
2 drops ginger essential oil
3 drops juniper berry essential oil
Instructions:
You can make this essential oil pet paw balm in either a double boiler or the microwave.
Combine the coconut oil, sweet almond oil and beeswax in either a double boiler or a small glass Pyrex measuring cup.
Gently heat in the double boiler until melted (or in the microwave at the lowest setting in 30 second increments) until melted.
Remove from heat, then add the essential oils. Stir to combine.
Then immediately pour the pet paw balm into two lip balm tubes. (Alternately you may also use an aluminium salve tin or lip balm pot.)
To use, simply apply the pet paw balm to your pet’s paws to promote healing for cracked or painful paws. This homemade essential oil balm recipe may also be used to help sore muscles recover.
You can also find an alternate version of my own DIY pet paw balm here. While my recipe does not contain essential oils, feel free to add the above essential oil blend for pets to my recipe.
Start Your Essential Oil Journey!
Ready to get started on your journey with these essential oils for pets? You can purchase the Simply Earth Pet Care Essential Oil Recipe Box here while supplies last. (These boxes always sell out before the month is up so don’t miss out!) Be sure to use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to receive your free bonus box plus a $40 discount on your next order. Get yours now!
More Essential Oil Recipes for Dogs
If you’re interested in making more essential oil pet care recipes for your dog, then be sure to check out my own dog care recipes from Soap Deli News. It includes my own dry shampoo recipe with essential oils for dog fleas.
- Flea Repelling Dry Dog Shampoo Recipe
- Natural Fresh Breath Gel for Dogs
- Homemade Dog Shampoo Recipe for Itchy Skin
- DIY Dog Paw Balm Recipe with Lanolin
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Discover more uses and benefits of essential oils along with homemade soap, bath and beauty recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest. Or check me out on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. You can also sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new bath and beauty recipes.
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