Do Aromatherapy for Dogs

Dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil or olive oil. Using undiluted essential oils around dogs can cause irritation or other issues. You should also be careful about using essential oils if you also own cats as some can be toxic to felines.

Add a few drops of an essential oil to the water in a diffuser in your dog's room or an area where he is frequently. Some people recommend letting your dog sniff diluted essential oils first to find out which ones are tolerated best. Try eucalyptus for respiratory issues or lavender for a calming effect.

Massage diluted essential oils onto the dogs skin to help sooth irritation and other issues. Put the oil on less hairy areas of your dog, avoiding the genitals. Armpits and the inner thigh are often good spots although you'll want to test the diluted oil on your dog before using much of it to make sure that it's well tolerated.

Spray diluted essential oils on your dog's bedding or in other areas of your home. Lavender oil can be a great soothing scent to help your dog settle down and fall to sleep on his bed.

Use diluted essential oils to keep parasites and bugs away from your dog. Many people are turning to natural aromatherapy sprays to keep fleas, ticks and other insects away. Peppermint, citronella, neem, eucalyptus and lemon have all been used for this purpose.

Watch your dog for signs of irritation or issues with the essential oil. It's always best to start with small amounts of the diluted oil to make sure that your dog can tolerate the essential oil. Some dogs may be allergic to certain oils.