The Best Essential Oils for Dogs

Essential Oils for Dogs

It was important for me to bring my dogs along with me on my wellness journey. I am a fur mamma, Kasey and Harper are our beloved fur babies. They mean so much to us, and they are very much a reason why we are doing the Young Living lifestyle and using natural products in our home.

Once I bought the Premium Starter Kit, I started becoming more aware of the harmful chemicals hiding in our personal care and household products, when realizing the chronic implications from bio-accumulation, I instantly knew our old products needed to go and change needed to happen. I could not just simply continue to use harmful products in our home after being fully aware of the ingredients within them.

Not only was my old lifestyle extremely toxic for my husband and myself, but for our puppies too. I remember the moments I realized, I thought about my puppies and how they live in our home. Let me help you think about it for a moment too. Whatever we use in our home, our animals or even children are also exposed to as well. My puppies are all over the floor, they are constantly licking themselves and everything else for that matter. Anything and everything that I used to clean the floors, carpets, crates, water bowls, or even spray in the rooms were also being absorbed into our skin and our pups skin or being eaten by the constant paw licking, anyone else have a Golden Retriever.  From thinking about their exposure and knowing the truth, we started making small changes for the best, for all of us! The last thing I would want to do is put them below the wellness line based on what I choose to bring into my home. The Young Living lifestyle and the community that I am a part of, has made me realize that I am the gatekeeper of our home. No one else is going to look after my own families health, but me. So, in June of 2016, we started to take control of our health and wellness and never looked back. I began educating myself through research and reading, learning how I could make my home a clean home for everyone. A few books that I highly recommend are The Essential Oil Truth Second Edition: the Facts Without the Hype​ and  Vitality: The Young Living Lifestyle, both by Jen O'Sullivan.

I started my wellness journey with the Premium Starter Kit, so the first thing I did was learn how to use essential oils safely with my pets by using the Essential Oil Desk Reference For Animals. It’s very important to know how to start implementing Young Living Essential Oils into a home with animals.

Since the Premium Starter Kit is the best and most common way people get started with Young Living, I am going to share just a few ways I use my Premium Starter Kit essential oils in my home and with my dogs. There are so many other products that are perfect for a home with kids or animals, such as all the Thieves Cleaning Products and the Animal Scents Products, but for now let’s talk about Premium Starter Kit.

Remember, these are just a few ways that I feel comfortable using Young Living Essential Oils with my large dogs, after learning, and implementing essential oils properly in home. Please read and become educated on all of the special and unique considerations for using essential oils with animals. The best place to do that is by reading the Essential Oil Desk Reference For Animals and having a educational community behind you, which you receive when getting started with me. After learning about essential oils, dogs, the Seed to Seal Promise, and have been to the Young Living farms in Mona Utah, I only trust and use Young Living Essential Oils especially with my dogs.

Here is a list of the Premium Starter Kit Essential Oils and how we use them in our home.

Stress Away- I say Stress Away is an essential oil that everyone could use, including puppies to support everyday emotions. It’s a unique blend of Copaiba, Lime, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Ocotea, Lavender, and Coconut Oil. The blend smells extremely good, sort of like vacation in a bottle. It was actually one of the last essential oils that I ended up opening from my Premium Starter Kit, but soon became my favorite oil. Stress Away promotes relaxation, confidence, and helps relieve any nervous tension from everyday things. We really enjoy diffusing Stress Away or wearing it topically to support a calming environment for everyone in our home, especially when we experience new or difficult situations. When we were looking to adopt our second dog, I used Stress Away with Kasey to help the process because I knew adding a new family member of any kind can be an adjustment. Because of my love for Stress Away, I typically wear it as a perfume, so I knew it was a familiar aroma for Kasey the day that we went to meet Harper.  Also, since Harper was rescued, I didn’t know what she had experienced early in her life, We knew the poor thing had been traveling several days, been separated from her family, malnourished, and probably had been in tough conditions for a her first few weeks of life. I thought she would be a little scared and frightened from the adversity. Since Kasey was so familiar with using oils, I applied Stress Away on her for the day and I had some on my diffuser jewelry to help welcome the new addition our family.

Thieves- Thieves is our wellness keeper, it’s a combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary blended by Young Living. Its properties have inspired a whole line of Thieves Household Products that we use in our home to clean with so that we can remove harmful chemicals while supporting our body at the same time. We use Thieves Essential Oil and the products to help our entire family stay above the wellness line. We diffuse Thieves A LOT to reap the aromatic benefits and I always add a few drops of Thieves, Lemon, and Purification to our DIY Carpet Powder made with Baking Soda. I love sprinkling the infused baking soda on the carpets everytime I vacuum because the rich, spicy, aroma is a wonderful fall blend that helps keep our house smelling fresh and purifies. Lastly, Thieves is great for outdoorsy dogs, at times I may add to Bug Off Spray or apply topically.

Lemon- We use lemon everyday in our house, it’s another fantastic oil for cleansing and wellness properties. Lemon is a gentle cleanser that eliminates odors from any dogs around the house. I usually add Lemon to the diffuser with Thieves because together they support our immune systems and  keep the house fresh. Lemon is also great in the diffuser when house needs a good vacuum but there is “no time” or when we had the puppies out swimming all day and the wet doggy came home with us. Lastly, Lemon is great for outdoorsy dogs too, so since Lemon is an essential oil that I carry with me often, at times I may use if we do not have out Bug Off Spray with us, by simply applying it topically to our dogs.

Peppermint- Peppermint is such a versatile essential oil. We tend to use it in several different ways with our dogs, in the form of sprays. Peppermint is an essential oil used to enjoy being outside in peace of outdoor annoyances, so we add a few drops to our Bug Off Spray.  I also have a several 2 oz spray bottles with few drops of Peppermint, dash of witch hazel or coconut oil, and water around our house. We use our Peppermint Spray on the dogs for a cooling sensation if we are spending long days on the lake or if they get all worked up from everyday stressors. When Kasey, our six year old, plays a little extra hard with our puppy, Harper, we use the Peppermint Spray to support her muscles and ligaments when overused. On occasion we put one drop of Peppermint Vitality in an extra water dish to support healthy digestion and fresh breath. When we have Peppermint Vitality water down for them, we also put an extra fresh water bowl down too which gives them them a choice. 

Copaiba- Kasey and I use Copaiba almost everyday because it supports overall health and wellness. Copaiba supports the bodies natural response and healing process, healthy kidney function, digestion, can soothe occasional discomfort, and what I love the most about Copaiba is that it magnifies the properties of other essential oils. So we apply this essential oil topically, add to the diffuser or roller recipes, and we also ingest Copaiba Vitality. Every morning, I put one drop of Copaiba Vitality right into Kasey’s food with about an ounce of Ningxia Red, our antioxidant supplement. Copaiba supports her six year old body that pushes to play with her little sister. Plus, we just want to support our dogs health any way we can so that they can live a long, full life. I was so amazed when I started doing research about Copaiba, I found that Young Living Copaiba Essential Oil contains the highest amounts of beta caryophyllene (55%) of any known essential oil. I have read that Beta caryophyllene has been extensively studied for its ability to modulate the body’s response to irritation.   

Frankincense- It has been known to be sought after since ancient times and I often hear Frankincense referenced in the Bible. I feel it is one of Young Living’s top essential oils and it is truly amazing that it is part of the Premium Starter Kit. In our house, we typically use Frankincense Vitality. I often add a few drops to my Ningxia Red that I drink every morning and into Kasey’s food with Copaiba Vitality and Ningxia Red. We both ingest Frankincense Vitality for its strong ability to help support our immune systems.  We also use Frankincense topically because of its properties to support healthy skin. I even enjoy using Frankincense on my skin, but for the dogs we tend to create a coconut balm or simply mix a few drops of Frankincense with coconut oil to put on location needing support. We often combine Frankincense and Lavender for all things skin, paws, and ears. Frankincense also creates a calming and soothing environment, so when in need, I place a few drops of Frank with a few drops of Orange in our Desert Mist Diffuser or our Lantern Diffuser, and oh my it smells like heaven.   

Lavender - Our treasured Lavender Essential Oil is certainly a staple in our home, so much that I just wrote a whole blog on the magic my family has with Lavender Essential Oil. Why do we use Lavender so much? It supports all the things, such as healthy skin, hair, helps promote relaxation, sleep, and supports overall wellness. So, how do we use Lavender with our puppies? Well, first off, we diffuse Lavender Essential Oil every single night in our bedroom, which is were our puppies sleep too. Adding Lavender to our diffuser blends is a nice way to create a calm environment in our home, which is what you need with two dogs. We also have a bunch of Lavender Fields Sprays around our house that can be used for all the things too.  I typically reach for my Lavender Fields Spray when we need to freshen their coat up after a swim or I am going for a quick walk and don’t have time for their fooling around. It’s actually really great to spray on their coat before a walk in the park because Lavender is also known to help keep those outdoor annoyances away too. I like to vary my Bug Off Sprays by changing the combination of essential oils used on every refill, although typically I put Lavender in the recipes because of all the wonderful properties for skin, hair, and wellness. If you have a Golden Retriever, you know that they are known for their skin issues so we tend to spray Kasey’s paws and ears with the Lavender Fields quite often, the more Lavender she can get the better.  Here is our recipe for “Lavender Fields Spray":
-In a 2 oz spray bottle, I add about 10- 15 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
-Then I add a dash of Thayers Witch Hazel
-Lastly, I fill the rest with water.
Lavender Fields can be used on their paws, around their collar before our walks, or on their fur to help keep them smelling fresh.


DiGize-  It is an essential oil that helped me realize the power of Young Living Essential Oils. One of my personal go-to essential oil that I always carry in my purse for those times in need. But to be honest, I haven't found many moments where it has been needed for Kasey or Harper, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be used with dogs. I find that my dogs travel really well in cars, typically are not eating lots of grass or other things that may cause them to have upset stomachs, and it seems that they have a pretty healthy digestive system. Digize is a blend of essential oils that contains Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, Lemongrass, Anise and Patchouli, and was formulated to support proper digestion. Although it’s not a daily routine for our dogs, this is our ‘tummy tamer” and do always have it on me. So traveling in the car with two dogs doesn't go how we planned or if “things” are moving quickly or not at all, we apply topically on the stomach or spine.  

PanAway- Panaway is a powerful essential oil, I always make sure to heavily dilute the blend because of the Wintergreen, Clove, and Peppermint. Be sure to read Desk Reference Guide  For Animals before starting to introduce essential oils to your home with animals. If there was one way that we use Panaway with our dogs, it would have to be in the Ache No More Essential Oil Roller, which is composed of Panaway, Peppermint, and Copaiba. I always  customize the roller blend with proper dilution for our size dogs.

R.C. and Raven - If you got started before this year, you may have RC from your Premium Starter Kit, but if you recently got the Desert Mist Premium Starter Kit, you may now have Raven Essential Oil.  Both are invigorating essential oils to support healthy respiratory systems. R.C is a stimulating blend of Cypress, Black Spruce, and three types of Eucalyptus (E. globulus, E. radiata, and E. citriodora) oils, Myrtle, Marjoram, Pine, Lavender and Peppermint. Wow, that is some lineup, it's amazing for all the fall and winter months! And I can now say the same about Raven, we love how Raven has the Eucalyptus and Wintergreen properties combined. In terms of our puppies, the most common way that we use R.C or Raven is in our diffuser, not only are we making the place smell amazing but we are also supporting everything the Fall and Winter months can bring around too. I always say, we use R.C. or Raven because breathing is fun! When they are in the diffuser or applied topically, it helps open respiratory channels. I always use caution and proper dilution for both of these oils, even more so Raven because of the Wintergreen. Please read theEssential Oils Animal Desk Reference to learn how you can use all essential oils safely in your home, especially essential oils that include Wintergreen Essential Oil. Raven is powerful, and if you choose to apply to dogs it must be properly and highly diluted for safely. I, personally use these topically on my self or love sticking these in the diffuser with other wellness oils such as Lemon and Thieves. 

Citrus Fresh -If you recently got started with the Premium Starter Kit with the Desert Mist Diffuser, then Citrus Fresh is part of your collection of oils. Over the last year, this essential oil has really grown on me. Since it was added to the Premium Starter Kit, I use it almost everyday. I find it to be a magical blend that creates a relaxing and happy aroma when put in the diffuser or worn topically. The wonderful blend of citrus oils, includes Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Lemon, and Mandarin oils with a hint of Spearmint. Citrus Fresh is uplifting, refreshing, and revitalizing, it goes well with Thieve to keep the yuck away or with Stress Away creating the vacation-vibe right in our home. Lastly, Citrus Fresh is even a great addition to my DIY Carpet Powder that I described with my Thieves information to keep things, well, fresh!

Purification - When I got my Premium Starter Kit, Purification was included in the kit so I decided to share about it even though its not currently in the Premium Starter anymore. It is however still one of my favorite essential oils and can be used for so many things relating to dogs. Purification is a blend made up of Citronella, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Tea Tree, Lavandin, and Myrtle-- these essential oils are known for having very powerful cleansing, purifying, and deodorizing properties. First off, Purification, the name says it all. It's a wonderful essential oil for keeping the dog smell away when used in various way and because of its properties we like to diffuse it with other immune boosting essential oils such as Lemon, Thieves, and Raven. I also like making a purifying room spray, it's perfect for rooms that the dogs are all over or even in our bathrooms. We combine Purification, Thieves, and Lemon and we call it the “No Stink Spray”. It becomes a convenient mixture to use on bedding, couches, and even the dogs to get rid of any odors. It’s a chemical-free way to clean and purify! It’s really simply to make sprays with any of the essential oils, I recommend grabbing a few of the DIY recipe books from the supply page.

Purification is another essential oil that I add to my DIY carpet powder, I use baking soda and add a few drops of Purification, Lemon, and Thieves. Once I infuse the baking soda, I let it sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes before sprinkling it onto my carpets, that way all the powder will be infused with the oils. When we first got Harper, we would put a little extra Carpet Powder down on any of her accident spots. Lastly, Purification is a really great essential oil to add to our “Bug Off Spray” to help taking the dogs outdoors free of annoyances.

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Everything you need to know about using essential oils with animals located conveniently in one spot. This is one of our favorites!

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I hope you enjoy hearing a few ways we use essential oils in our home. Please remember to research and learn proper safety before using essential oils with your animals, the best book to use for this information comes from Essential Oils Animal Desk Reference. All containers and supplies that I use for my DIY recipes mentioned here are outlined on our supply page. ​