Using Essential Oils on Your Pets

Essential oils have a long list of benefits for adults and even kids, but don’t forget you 
can also use them on your pets. You just need to use the right oils and be extra careful 
with your dogs and cats to ensure you are practicing safety.

Safe Oils for Your Pets

There are some essential oils known to be safe for most animals, including cats and 
dogs. You should always test a small area of your dog’s fur with a diluted oil before 
using it on them or with their bed and other toy furnishings. However, the following oils 
tend to be good for most cats and dogs:

Lavender – This is an amazing oil for relaxing your pets, reducing anxiety in the car, and 
helping with health issues like allergies and insomnia.
 
Frankincense - Frankincense is often used with dogs who have early signs of cancer, 
tumors, or stomach ulcers.
 
Cardamom – A holistic vet might recommend using cardamom if your pet is having 
trouble eating, has nausea or heartburn, or is dealing with a bad cough.
 
Spearmint – Spearmint is great for helping your dog or cat to lose weight, but can also 
be used for nausea and diarrhea.

No Citrus for Cats

There are some specific oils that breeds don’t like or might make them ill. For cats, this 
includes any of the citrus oils. Avoid using citrus like grapefruit, lemon, or orange with 
your cat, as it could affect their liver and how it detoxes of toxins. Some others that don’t 
particularly like are oregano, tea tree, birch, cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, and thyme.

Oils to Avoid for Dogs

Dogs also have some specific oils that are good or bad for them. The previous list of 
acceptable oils should all be fine for your dog, unless they have an allergy to these 
scents or plants. However, there are some known to be toxic or unhealthy for dogs in 
general, especially for dogs with sensitive skin or allergies. These include:

Clove 
Wintergreen 
Juniper 
Thyme 
Anise 

As with humans, you want to dilute essential oils properly for pets and test a small area 
of their skin before using them. Ask your vet if you have any questions or concerns 
about using essential oils on your pets. Only a very small amount should be needed, so 
don’t add a large amount of drops to their shampoo or rub it on their skin, as it is likely 
not necessary and might be harmful.

