See Modern Essentials: Essential Oils for Animal Care

The information on this page is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be used to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injury. Seek professional medical attention if your animal appears to have any disease, illness, or injury.

How Much Oil to Use and Dilution Recommendations

One to two drops of essential oil are all that is necessary for animals, as animals respond much more quickly to essential oils than do humans. Vegetable oil or fractionated coconut oil can be added to extend essential oils over larger areas and to heavily dilute the essential oil for use on smaller animals, especially cats. For more information on dilution, see Modern Essentials.

List of Conditions and Oils Often Used

(The following information has been compiled from the book Modern Essentials, Sixth Edition, pp. 199-200.)

Bleeding: Helichrysum, geranium.

Bones (Pain): Wintergreen, Soothing Blend, lemongrass.

Calming: Calming Blend, lavender, Invigorating Blend. Dilute well for cats.

Cancer (Skin): Sandalwood, frankincense.

Cats: According to Valerie Worwood, you can treat a cat like you would a child. Dilute oils heavily with carrier oil. Avoid melaleuca (also known as tea tree), as it has been known to cause death in cats.

Colds and Coughs: Eucalyptus, melaleuca (not for cats). Apply on fur or stomach.

Cows: For scours, use 5 drops Digestive Blend on stomach. Dilute with fractionated coconut oil to cover a larger area. Repeat 2 hours later.

Dogs:

Anxiety/Nervousness: Calming Blend, lavender, Grounding Blend. Rub 1–2 drops between hands, and apply to muzzle, between toes, on tops of feet for the dog to smell when nose is down, and on edge of ears.

Arthritis: Frankincense or a blend of rosemary, lavender, and ginger diluted with massage oil. Apply to affected joints.

Bone Injury:  Wintergreen applied on injury.

Dermatitis: Melaleuca. Note: Some adverse effects have been reported with the use of larger amounts of melaleuca oil on some species of dogs. Contact a veterinarian before using melaleuca on a dog. For smaller dogs, use only a small amount of oil, heavily diluted.

Heart Problems: Peppermint on paws. (An antiviral blend such as a Protective Blend applied on the back with a warm compress also helps.)

Sleep: Lavender (on paws), Calming Blend (on stomach).

Stroke: Frankincense (on brain stem/back of neck), Grounding Blend (on each paw).

Ticks and Bug Bites: Cleansing Blend. Drop directly on tick, or dilute and apply to wound.

Travel Sickness: Peppermint. Dilute with massage oil, and rub on stomach. Also helps calm stomachaches.

Earache: Blend 1 drop melaleuca (tea tree), 1 drop lavender, and 1 drop Roman chamomile diluted in carrier oil. Apply 1–2 drops to inside and outside of ear. (Do not use this blend on cats.)

Ear Infections: Cleansing Blend. Dip cotton swab in oil, and apply to inside and front of ear.

Fleas: Lemongrass, eucalyptus. Add 1–2 drops of oil to shampoo.

Horses:

Anxiety/Nervousness: Calming Blend. Rub 1–2 drops between hands, and apply to nose, knees, tongue, and front of chest.

Hoof Rot: Blend together 1 drop of each: Roman chamomile, thyme, and melissa diluted in carrier oil. Apply on location.

Infection: Protective Blend.

Leg Fractures: Ginger and carrier oil. Wrap the leg with a hot compress. Massage leg after fracture is healed with a blend of rosemary and thyme diluted with carrier oil. This may strengthen the ligaments and prevent calcification.

Muscle Tissue/Ligaments: Apply equal parts lemongrass and lavender on location; wrap to help regenerate torn muscle tissue.

Wounds: Helichrysum.

Parasites: Lavender, Digestive Blend, cedarwood. Rub on paws to release parasites.

For more information on this topic, please click here.

Source: Modern Essentials, Sixth Edition, pp. 199-200, “Animals.”

The information above is an abridgment from theModern Essentials “Personal Usage Guide” section by AromaTools®. This information has been designed to help educate the reader in regard to the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the publisher, the authors, and AromaTools® are not liable for the misconception or misuse of the information provided. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The authors, publisher, and AromaTools® shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional.