Have you noticed that everywhere you look, people are talking about essential oils? What used to be considered just a fringe treatment or a pleasant way to wade into aromatherapy has become part of the American mainstream. The same essential oil trend has extended to the world of pet products, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier.
When it comes to Lavender Essential Oil for dogs and cats, this powerful plant oil delivers a natural solution for many pet health concerns as an alternative to using otherwise harmful synthetic products or medications with adverse reactions or side effects for our pets.
What is Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender essential oil is a highly concentrated extract, derived from lavender plants. Lavender has been used for its properties as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antitumoral, and a sedative.
Lavender oil is commonly used in fragrances, aromatherapy, and skincare formulas. The Egyptians and Romans used lavender for bathing, relaxing, cooking, and as a scent in ancient times. People have recently begun to utilize it for a broader range of reasons, including relaxation and calming anxiety. Its tranquil and relaxing fragrance provides a calm environment ideal for sleep, and when taken internally, it can help to relieve tension.
It’s been studied extensively in animals and it is safe to use on all species. Lavender essential oil can be applied topically, given internally, or diffused.
Is Lavender Oil Safe for Dogs?
When it comes to our dogs, there is a lot of debate and disinformation online regarding the risks of essential oils. While certain essential oils are potentially hazardous to small animals, the vast majority of reports of a dog’s adverse reaction are due to synthetic or adulterated oils.
Unfortunately, many products being marketed to consumers as lavender essential oil are, in truth, not actual lavender at all. This popular scent is one of the most adulterated and synthetically altered essential oils on the market.
Some sly manufacturers even incorporate the word pure or organic into the actual product name in the hopes that consumers will believe that these are actual claims as to the product’s purity. Because the industry is currently unregulated, this is a purchase where it really pays off to do your research and make an educated choice.
Use only therapeutic or medical grade essential oils if you’re looking for lavender essential oil for dogs. This suggests that you should avoid buying oils from Amazon, your local supermarket, or any other business that doesn’t offer test results. For essential oils, a respectable provider will have a certificate of analysis, particularly a GCMS test.
Most essential oils are safe for dogs, including Lavender essential oil for dogs, as long as you’re using only therapeutic or medical grade essential oils with a GCMS test, are properly diluting the oil, and are following the recommended therapeutic applications.
With those precautions in place, dogs can safely inhale and ingest lavender, however, you should make sure to start them on low doses to gauge their reaction. Remember that any time you start your pet on a new health regimen, you should monitor them closely for changes and contact your veterinarian if you notice adverse reactions.
