There is such a huge variety of essential oils for dogs but it’s hard to know exactly which ones are safe for your dog. Here are a few must-haves:
- Bergamot has anti-fungal purposes and is very soothing. It’s great for ear infections caused by yeast or bacterial overgrowth.
- Carrot seed has anti-inflammatory, tonic and moderate antibacterial effects. It’s good for dry, flaky sensitive skin that is prone to infection. It can also rejuvenate and stimulate tissue regeneration, and is thus effective for scar healing.
- Chamomile is antispasmodic, analgesic and nerve-calming. It’s great for soothing the central nervous system and provides effective relief of muscle pains, cramps, and teething pain.
- Lavender is very safe and gentle and has antibacterial, anti-itch and nerve-calming properties. It can be used for many common animal ailments such as skin irritation or first aid.
- Peppermint is antispasmodic, stimulates circulation and also repels insects. It’s great for arthritis, dysplasia, sprains and strains. It also works well with ginger to treat motion sickness and upset tummies.
What to look out for when buying essential oils:
- Look for oils that are bottled in amber, cobalt or violet glass bottles.
Image credit: www.sks-bottle.com - Look for important information of the oils that should be printed on the label or otherwise found on the store’s website or brochure.
- Scientific name of the oil. Eg: Lavandula angustifolia
- Common name of the oil. Eg: Lavender
- How the oil was extracted
- Country of origin
- Method of cultivation. Eg: organic, cultivated, wild harvested, etc.
- The words “100% pure essential oil”
- Essential oils are generally expensive, so don’t opt for unreasonably cheap ones as they are likely to be watered down or tampered with.
