6 Natural Recipes to Support Your Dog's Health
June 11, 2014
Since I've started using essential oils I've been researching ways to use them for my dog, Hercules. We've made DIY dog shampoo, flea collars, deodorizers, aging support, itchy spots relief and more.
Today I wanted to share with you some of our recipes that have helped Hercules and his doggie friends, Roma and Rudy. I recommend this brand of essential oilbecause it is recommended by holistic veterinarians!
When using essential oils, the amount used should be based upon the dog's weight. All of these recipes are for dogs who weight 60+ pounds. If you have a smaller dog, please use a larger dilution ratio by doubling the amount of carrier oils or water in the recipes. These recipes are not intended for other pets, including cats. Some of these oils can cause liver toxicity in our feline friends if applied directly to their bodies-- so dogs only please! Never use tea tree on a cat-- very small amounts can be fatal.
I recommend ONLY this brand of essential oil!
DIY Dog Shampoo
This shampoo can be helpful to support the skin and coat.
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoons of castile soap
- ¼ tsp vitamin E
- 3 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 drops of Roman chamomile
- 2 drops of Purification
- 1 drops of cedar wood
- optional: 2 drops of citronella
Mix all of this together in a glass jar (an oil dispenser works fabulously). It is watery, but use it like you would normal doggie shampoo. It doesn't suds very much, but it's gentle and very effective. A big bonus is that your dog will smell absolutely amazing for days!
Deodorizing Collar for Dogs
- ⅓ cup of purified water
- 2 drops of citronella
- 2 drops lavender
- 2 drops purification
- 2 drops peppermint
Mix together the recipe in a small bowl and soak your dog's collar in the liquid. Be careful not to submerge any plastic pieces (essential oils can degrade plastic). Cotton or natural fiber collars are best for this recipe.
Let the collar dry and then put it on your pooch! Instant awesomeness collar! Yay! And he will also smell wonderful!! I usually save my liquid by putting it into a mason jar and using it to soak his collar about every two weeks. No need to waste, right!?
Doggie Skin Support
As doggies age, their skin needs some support! My Granny uses this on her aging dog to keep her skin healthy.
- 5 oz of carrier oil such as jojoba or olive oil
- 3 drops of vitamin E
- 5 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of Roman Chamomile
- 2-3 drops of Frankincense or Tea Tree/Melrose (optional)
Mix this together in the glass dropper bottle and apply 2-4 drops to the skin. You can also use this for any patches of skin which happen to be dry and need extra moisture. Annnnnnd…. you can also use this on your dry skin! It's kind of fabulous.
Calming Mist Spray:
- 10 oz water
- 5-10 drops Lavender
- 5-10 drops Roman Chamomile
- Glass spray bottle
Mix this in the glass spray bottle and be sure to shake before each application.
Hercules is a lab mix with TONS of energy! I like to use this when I know guests are coming over to keep him calm. It's also great just to freshen up his coat and to remove odors after he's been playing outside.
Doggie Aging Care
All dogs get older and need extra support. This recipe has been helpful for my parent's dog, Rudy, as he begins to slow down and so that he can keep doing more of what he loves for longer!
- 3 Tbsp coconut oil or other carrier oil
- 3 drops of lavender
- 3 drops of peppermint
- 2 drops of copaiba
- 2 drops of balsam fir
This can be made into an ointment to rub directly on the area of concern or applied to the pad of the foot for faster absorption into the blood stream.
Other supplements to help support the skeletal system in a dog are BLM, Sulfurzyme, Omega Blue, NingXia Red, Palo Santo, and Frankincense.
Deodorizing Spray
This is a must have for when my dog has gone outside for too long and STINKS! I spray this on him before he comes in and within seconds he smells wonderful!
- 5 oz of Water
- 15 drops of Purification Essential Oil
- 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
- Pinch of Salt
Add the essential oils to the salt first and give it a gentle stir, then add the water. This helps the essential oils distribute into the water when you add it so it doesn't all float back to the top.
Lightly spray your dog with this mixture for odor relief!
Essential Oils and Pet Safety
Please remember that it is very important to use high grade essential oils when treating dogs. There are many brands which label their bottles as "pure", but really use synthetic ingredients which may harm your pup.
These recipes are not meant for pregnant or lactating dogs or on puppies younger than 8 weeks. Some essential oils may be harmful to developing pups. These recipes are intended for dogs. Do NOT use them on other pets including CATS!
You can read more about essential oils and which brand I recommend on myAbout Essential Oils Page.
Want more recipes?! How about DIY Grain Free Bad Breath Busting Biscuits for your dog? or watch this bonus video on how to make a DIY doggie treat!
You can check out this book about how to use essential oils for Dogs, Cats and Horses: Essential Oils for Natural Pet Care: A Veterinarian's Desk Reference for the Top Health Concerns of Cats, Dogs & Horses
I hope you find a recipe which can be useful to your canine friend. Do you have a favorite DIY for your dog?
Theserecipes are intended for dogs. Please do not use these recipes on other pets including CATS! Note on Cats: They do not process essential oils in the same ways as dogs or humans do. I do not recommend applying essential oils directly to felines without the supervision of a veterinarian to monitor liver function.
