20 Essential Oils for Dogs that Relax & Calm
Here is a list of 20 essential oils for dogs that can help keep them calm, relaxed, and happier. Ive also added how to use the below oils with dogs per the Animal Desk Reference II, which was written by Dr. Melissa Shelton. I primarily diffuse oils in our home using diffusers that I purchased on Amazon (URPOWER essential oil diffuser).
Fun Fact: Dogs have 40X more scent receptors than humans do, which means they can identify smells about 100,000X better than we can. Their world revolves around scent, and because of this, aromatherapy is the best choice for dogs.
Bergamot essential oil helps balance emotions, soothes panic, frustration, and irritability. It also reduces insecurity and loneliness, which makes me think that it may help a dog with separation anxiety.
Bergamot can be used with our dogs via…
Bergamot is a photosensitizing oil, which means that when we use this on our pets, we should limit sun exposure.
Cedarwood essential oil is another one of my favorites. Aside from repelling pests, this essential oil can have relaxing effects on your dog as it alleviates stress and anxiety.
When shopping for cedarwood essential oil, youll see Atlas and Himalayan. I purchase the Atlas because the Himalayan isnt commonly recommended for use with pets.
Chamomile (Roman) essential oil is great for calmness and soothes anxieties. I love chamomile so much that I also add the herb to my dogs dinners to help them relax at the end of the day. With regard to the essential oil, I prefer to diffuse it in the house or mist a diluted strength on the dogs using a spray bottle.
There is also a Chamomile (German), which is used differently with pets.
Citronella essential oil is so nice that I purchased a plant for my flower garden too. Usually known or repelling mosquitoes, citronella also helps us relax by creating a refreshing scent in your home.
Clary Sage essential oil as loads of benefits, but, for the sake of this post, its good to know that this oil is gentle, sedating aroma promotes calming for both humans and dogs. I diffuse this oil at least once a week and no only purchase 30 ml bottles because I love it so much.
Frankincense Boswellia Carterii essential oil (must be this version) promotes a calmer mentality and alleviates feelings of depression. Frankincense also amplifies other essential oils when used together as a blend.
There are several versions of Frankincense, the Boswellia Carterii is the version recommended for use with pets.
Geranium Bourbon essential oil is one of my favorites and it works well with balancing moods (PMS / Menopause anyone?), releasing nervous tension, and minimizing feelings of both fear and insecurity.
There are several versions of Geranium essential oil, the Bourbon is the version recommended for use with pets.
Lavender essential oil reduces stress, fear, shock, and agitation.
While I will diffuse lavender (or a lavender blend) in the room with my dogs, I wont use lavender essential oil on my dogs (with one exception) any longer because Ive learned that lavender is one of the most synthetically created oils on the market. So, unless its pure lavender, I wont use it on my dogs. I havent experienced a negative side effect with myself or my dogs when diffusing lavender.
The one exception is when buying products from Kin+Kind and 4-Legger. I trust these brands immensely.
Mandarin essential oil has a sweet scent is very relaxing, relieving your dog of panic, fear, and stress that can cause them to feel anxious. Diffusing mandarin essential oil creates an uplifting and soothing environment in the home and I often reach for it when my dogs are restless and when Im having trouble sleeping.
Sweet Marjoram essential oil is used to relax and ground your dog. It can soothe excess sexual energy, supports grief, and remediates digestive cramps.
Sweet Marjoram can be used with our dogs via…
Melissa essential oil is another expensive one and I only purchase it when my favorite provider is having a sale. It has a lot of amazing health benefits while also relieving depression, grief, and anxiety.
Myrrh essential oil has a warm, comforting earthy aroma and can help with pain (see your veterinarian) and promote a more relaxed mindset overall. I diffuse myrrh in our home to create a warm and calming environment.
Orange, Sweet essential oil is big in our home and it turns out that this is a popular essential oil. Its popularity is due to its calming fragrance, perfect for uplifting and diminishing anxious behavior within your dog. I diffuse this essential oil regularly, I use it when I make cleaning products, adding it to water when moping and dusting, and I use it as a fabric freshener (misting it on the furniture, dog beds, and bedding).
Orange, sweet is a photosensitizing oil, so if you do mist it on your furniture, know that any furniture regularly exposed to the sun may experience a color change.
Patchouli essential oil isnt just for hippies. This oil promotes calmness and Ive read that less is more and I believe it. Adding a couple of drops to a diffuser is all I need. Im still learning about this oil and limit my use to diffusing only.
Rose (or Rose Otto) essential oil is used to calm, stabilize, and reduce nervousness, fear, panic, and anger. Known for being a luxurious scent, rose is terrific at promoting relaxation and is evident in stabilizing the central nervous system. Rose is also one of the most expensive essential oils on the market. When shopping for rose essential oil, its imperative to choose the steam distillation oil, not a cheaper option.
As I said, Rose is expensive so its not an oil that I would use daily with our dogs. Instead, I would use it with our senior dogs when theyre having a tough day, or Id make a spray with it and wear it myself, around my dogs. That way, well all benefit.
Sandalwood (Australian) essential oil offers grounding, stress relief, and calming. Sandalwood curbs aggressive, irritable moods while improving sleep habits.
This is another expensive oil and due to the over-harvesting, its important to be careful about your sourcing because some areas of the world have listed sandalwood as protected to prevent extinction. According to Dr. Sheltons book, a company in Western Australia is cultivating and harvesting Santalum sandalwood.
Spikenard essential oil is another grounding and calming essential oil for dogs. It can guide emotional healing, making it ideal for people and dogs with PTSD. Also known as Jesus oil, I read that this is the oil that was used to anoint the feet of Jesus before the Last Supper.
Take care when it comes to sourcing on this one; this oil is derived from a protected plant so you want to make sure your source is reputable.
Tangerine essential oil is one of my favorites. It smells so good and puts a smile on my face whenever I add it to the diffusers around the house. I always thought citrus scents would energize everyone, but this one just makes us happy, which makes sense because Tangerine essential oil is great for depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
Valerian essential oil is ideal for skittish dogs who suffer from separation, noise, or new environment anxiety. It relaxes, reduces fear, and manages anxiety levels.
Ylang Ylang Complete essential oil works to reduce nervousness and insecurity, calm anxiety, alleviate depression, and acts similar to a sedative.
When shopping for Ylang Ylang oil to use with dogs, look for the “Complete” version. If its not clear which one this is, ask your supplier.
One of my favorite oils to use for promoting calm and relaxation is lavender. Pairing it with cedarwood kicks up the calming effects even more. Frankincense is another of my go-tos. Chamomile, orange, lemon, sandalwood, rose, and bergamot are also great choices. Young Living’s Valor, Valor II, Joy, Clarity, and Jasmine can be very uplifting while simultaneously easing stress. Oils such as Young Living’s Valerian, Vetiver, Peace & Calming, Ylang Ylang, and Acceptance are grounding and calming at the same time.
So there you have it: a safe, effective, easy way to ease your dog’s stress. You can use the oils as often as you want, and as an added bonus, they’ll help ease your stress too!
To use the oils, you can diffuse them in a room (add a few drops of your chosen oil(s), along with distilled water, to your diffuser, and let it run for a few hours). You can also rub a few drops of oils on your hands and gently massage your dog: the scent of the oil, coupled with a short, calm, focused bonding session with your dog, will relax and calm both of you. Some people also like to dab a few drops of their chosen oil(s) on the back of their dog’s collar, or lightly mist their dog’s bedding with the oils. If you decide to go that route, it’s easy to make a spray (which you can also lightly spritz on your dog—taking care to avoid their eyes, nose, and ears, of course).
To make a spray, I often put 2 or 3 ounces of distilled water or organic witch hazel (available on Amazon) in a dark blue or amber glass bottle. Then, I add a few drops of my chosen oil or oils (such as lavender and cedarwood, or frankincense) to the water or witch hazel. I shake the bottle to blend it, and voilà: a homemade essential oil blend you can easily use as needed.
When it comes to using essential oils to help reduce your dog’s stress/anxiety, you have a bunch of different options. Feel free to use any of the oils I mention below (or experiment with other oils). They can be used alone or paired up with other oils—it’s fun to try different combos to see which works best for your pet. Remember, though, some oils can be harmful to cats, so if you have feline friends, do your research before using essential oils around them.
BENEFITS & USES OF LAVENDER OIL FOR DOGS
When used safely and correctly, lavender essential oil has a number of health-giving benefits as a natural sedative, itch-soother and antibacterial that will make both you and your dog’s life easier…
Essential Oils For Anxious Dogs | Dog Training Nation
For thousands of years, we’ve used essential oils to ward off illnesses, repel insects and calm anxious minds. Now, calming essential oils are becoming popular within the dog world as pet owners seek out ways to help their anxious dogs. Learn which essential oils calm dogs plus how and when to use them.
Two decades ago, I attended a dog training conference where I sat in on a two-hour seminar discussing alternative therapies on a whim. While I was skeptical entering the packed conference room, my attitude quickly changed when I watched these modalities work their wonders.
I specifically remember the speaker, a noted integrative veterinarian, spraying lavender oil into the air to calm 250 attendees. It seemed a bit hipster at the moment, but the lavender silenced hundreds of dog trainers within seconds (seriously, that’s a miracle!). Hmm, I thought maybe essential oils did work!
Fast-forward two decades, and essential oils for dogs are still extremely popular today. I recently attended a two-day essential oil seminar with veterinary professionals, and it’s nice to see science catching up and showing promising results within humans and dogs alike.
As for the effectiveness of essential oils for calming animals, lavender is showing great results. In a study on Effect(s) of Lavender Aromatherapy on Acute-Stressed Horses, they found that lavender aromatherapy can significantly decrease heart rate after an acute stress response. Additionally, it can signal a shift from the sympathetic nervous control from the parasympathetic system. If lavender calms horses, then it can surely calm acute or chronically stressed dogs too!