Maintaining your dog’s coat isn’t only about appearance. It’s also vital to their overall health and well-being. Though many people believe that oils that help our skin are also healthy for our dogs, that is not always the case. Some popular essential oils can have adverse effects on our dog’s coat and skin. Before introducing any new oils to your dog, it’s always best to consult a veterinarian as a precaution. Here’s a list of essential oils that are safe for your pup’s coat, as well as what essential oils are toxic for dogs.
List of essential oils safe for your dog’s coat
Not only is a well-balanced diet great for keeping your dog’s coat shiny and full, but these essential oils and ingredients are also great for maintaining coat health:
Chamomile oil
Chamomile oil has been linked to supporting skin health.
Coconut Oil
Just like with humans, coconut oil for dogs is helpful in maintaining healthy and hydrated skin as well as helping with odor control.
Jojoba
Jojoba helps maintain a soft skin and coat as well as supporting moisture to avoid dry skin.
Lavender
Not only is lavender a very relaxing oil for our pups, but it can also help with soothing skin and maintaining a healthy coat.
Fish oil
Fish oil is heavy in Omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep a dog’s coat shiny and smooth. That’s why AvoDerm® Salmon Meal and Potato formula is full of Omega-3s for your dog’s coat health.
Avocado
Avocado for dogs yields many benefits. Adding avocado to your dog’s diet supports a healthy coat, adds shine, and keeps your pup’s skin moist and healthy.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has many benefits for humans and dogs alike. Aloe Vera can be used to help maintain healthy skin from things like bruises, burns, and minor irritations. However, Aloe Vera can make your pup quite sick if ingested. Make sure to cover the area you’ve applied aloe vera with a bandage or other form of cover.
Safe use of essential oils on dogs
Again, make sure to contact your vet when introducing new ingredients to your pup, to help avoid any sensitivities. It’s important to know when giving your dog any of these oils that their skin isn’t as tough as ours. That’s why it’s crucial to dilute essential oils before using them on your pup.
You can dilute any of these oils with either water or olive oil. Here’s a good rule of thumb to follow for diluting essential oils for dogs:
- For medium to large dogs: one drop of any of these oils mixed with 10 drops of water or olive oil.
- For smaller dogs: one drop of these oils with 25 drops of olive oil or water.¹
List of essential oils that are toxic for your dog
Though most of these oils are perfectly healthy for humans, they have not been approved by the FDA for topical animal use. Some had several cases of negative reactions. Be sure to avoid these oils when looking for oils to help promote your dog’s coat health:
- Tea Tree Oil
- Birch
- Bitter almond
- Garlic oil
- Clove oil
Maintaining a healthy coat isn’t as simple as keeping our skin healthy. Essential oils and other ingredients can have a range of different effects on our dogs. So be sure to check with your vet if you aren’t sure what substances are okay to give to your pup for their coat and skin.
SOURCES:
- Wolford, DaNelle. “Essential Oils for Dogs.” Weed ‘Em & Reap, 15 May 2018.
AvoDerm Natural® is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company.
