Pet owners know that pets are as important to them as their young ones. They treat their pets as one of their family members and thus make all the possible efforts for their well-being and safety. Pet owners make all the efforts to make sure that they get proper sleep and good quality food to make sure that their pets stay healthy and fit.

Though it has been seen that sometimes accidentally, you tend to do some stuff that might irritate your dog or by which you put your pet in a dangerous position. For example, using essential oils around your pet can irritate your pet dogs or might have some dangerous adverse impacts. So, it is important to know which essential oil is safe for your dogs. Essential oils are very commonly used these days, like eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, etc.

In this blog post, is eucalyptus essential oil safe for dogs? It is discussed to know whether eucalyptus oil can be used for your dogs or not. Continue to read to learn more about this topic. But before moving ahead, let's find out what eucalyptus essential oil is.

What is Eucalyptus Essential Oil?

Eucalyptus essential oil is extracted from the eucalyptus tree native to Australia (1). Eucalyptus oil is extracted through a distillation process or through cold pressing technique from the eucalyptus leaves (2). Eucalyptus oil is famous for its fresh minty, and cool scent. It has a very pleasant scent that can help in releasing congestion from the nose to the lungs (3).

Eucalyptus oil is used in aromatherapy to treat breathing problems (4). The smell of eucalyptus can be very overwhelming for dogs in both positive and negative ways.

But all these benefits are for humans. What about when it comes to pet dogs?

Is it safe to use essential oils for dogs?

What is the usage of essential oils, the effects of eucalyptus oil on dogs, etc., are some of the questions that are answered below.

Is Eucalyptus Safe For Dogs?

Whether eucalyptus oil is safe for dogs or not highly depends on the way you use it. The answer to this question is both yes and no. The scent of eucalyptus is pleasant to humans, but it can be very strong, irritating, and overwhelming for dogs. Dogs have a strong sense of smell as compared to us humans, and thus the scent, which seems to be pretty decent to us, might not be tolerant to our pet dogs.

Though, this does not mean that eucalyptus oil does nothing good to your pet dogs. Eucalyptus is one of the best natural insect repellents that can be used to get rid of insects that buzz your pet dogs. Using essential oils helps protect your dogs from mosquitoes as well (5).

Another major benefit of using eucalyptus oil for dogs is that it helps decongest a stuffy nose and offers relief from colds.

You need to make sure that you use diluted essential oils for your pets as undiluted essential oils are high in concentration and can cause irritation to your pets or can also result in adverse impacts. 1% dilution is usually suggested as safe to use for pet dogs. This means that 1 drop of eucalyptus essential oil should be diluted with 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. Carrier oil includes coconut oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, etc.

Must Read: Using Peppermint Essential Oil for Dog?

Can Eucalyptus Oil Help In Decongesting The Stuffy Nose In Dogs?

Yes, eucalyptus oil is one of the best essential oils that help in dealing with the respiratory issues of your dogs. You can combine eucalyptus oil with catnip and apply and rub it on the soles of your dog's feet daily until they get relief from congestion.

Diffusing essential oil along with other carrier oils or essential oils can also help in the decongesting stuffy nose in your dogs when they are suffering from cold. Always ensure that you do not use undiluted essential oils around your pet dogs as it can prove to be very toxic for them.

Can Eucalyptus Oil Be Used To Treat Fleas In Dogs?

Yes, essential oils can help get rid of fleas on dogs. This is one of the safe alternatives to chemicals that can be used on dogs to treat fleas. You can add eucalyptus oil to shampoo and use it on dogs to free them from fleas and ticks.

Linalool is an important compound present in essential oils that helps kill fleas rapidly. Lavender oil has a high content of linalool, so it is suggested to use eucalyptus oil with lavender oil and blended with a carrier oil and then use it on dogs to get rid of fleas.

Must Read: Lemongrass Essential Oil for Dogs

Can I Diffuse Eucalyptus Essential Oils Around Dogs?

Yes, you can diffuse eucalyptus oil around your dogs with proper care and precautions. A common way of using essential oils includes diffusing or burning them around pets. Diffusing is usually considered safe for the pet. Diffusers help spread tiny droplets of essential oils around your surroundings, and you can enjoy the benefits of this oil.

Though, you need to be quite vigilant about how your pet dogs react to eucalyptus oil diffusion. If you see any weird symptoms in your pet, this means that the diffuser is not good for them. If they do not reflect any symptoms, this means that the eucalyptus oil diffuser is safe to be used around your dogs.

Usually, the essential oil is safe to diffuse and safe for dogs to smell, though there are some precautions that should be taken care of while diffusing eucalyptus oil. Like:

• Do not try to overuse the eucalyptus oil. This might irritate your dog, and it can also affect your dog.
• Always leave the door open of the room in which you are diffusing the eucalyptus oil so that it does not become suffocating for your dog. Or if they do not like the smell, then they can leave the room. This will help keep them safe and healthy.
• Always take breaks and then continue diffusing oil. This is a safe practice for both humans and pets.
• Always make sure that your dog is comfortable around the essential oil, whether you are using any essential oil.
• Always watch for signs when essential oils are used around dogs. Dogs may reflect eucalyptus oil poisoning symptoms.
• You can also experiment with different essential oils to identify the oils that are safe to use around pets.

DIY Eucalyptus Oil Recipe For Dogs

# Massaging Oil Recipe For Releasing Joint Pain

Ingredients

• 3 drops of roman chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 drop of juniper berry oil
• 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil (Carrier oil)

# DIY Eucalyptus Oil Flea Repellent

Ingredients

• 2 drops of eucalyptus oil
• 1 drop of lavender oil
• 1 tablespoon of grapeseed carrier oil

*Note: Avoid using the above recipes if your dogs are pregnant.

Safety Concerns

To safely use eucalyptus oil for dogs, take care of the following points:

• Avoid applying essential oil directly to your dog's skin.
• Essential oils can be toxic to dogs, or they can be bad for dogs, so always look for symptoms of eucalyptus poisoning like vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dilated eyes, etc.
• Avoid ingesting eucalyptus oil. Ingesting eucalyptus oil may not be safe for use.
• Always remember that dogs have a strong sense of smell as compared to humans, so always use less essential oil, including eucalyptus oil, around dogs to avoid irritating them.

Conclusion

The use of essential oils in pet care is gaining relevance these days. There are plenty of pet products containing essential oils that are safe for your pet. Eucalyptus oil is toxic for cats. It is considered that it creates less problems in dogs. However, it is advised to look for signs of illness when using eucalyptus oil around dogs.