Essential oils are known for helping people and their pets relax when situations become stressful. You may think any oil on the store shelf is safe for your dog to use, but this isn’t the case. Not every essential oil is safe for pets to use and others can be made with questionable ingredients you would prefer your pup stay away from.
Let’s take a look at a handful of the best essential oils for dogs on the market in 2023. These reviews can help you choose the one best suited for your pet and help them through the fear, anxiety, and stress our fur babies often experience.
A Quick Look at Our Winners in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Warren London Essential Oil Calming Spray for Dogs
Easy to take on the go
Does not need to be applied directly to dogs
Has no artificial ingredients or harsh chemicals
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Best Value
ThunderEssence Natural Essential Oil Calming Spray
Ready to use design
Easy to follow directions included
Features a blend of 3 essential oils
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Premium Choice
Calm Paws Serene Pet Calming Oil for Dogs
Nice smell
Easy-to-use dropper
Made from lavender and Valerian oils
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Best for Puppies
Vetnique Labs Furbliss Calming Spray with Essential Oils
Comes in a take-along spray bottle
Can be used on a pet, bedding, and collar
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Healing Solutions Lavender Essential Oil
Nice smell
Features pure lavender oil
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The 6 Best Essential Oils for Dogs
Our choice for the best overall essential oil for dogs in 2023 is Warren London’s Essential Oil Calming Spray. If your dog gets frightened from time to time, whatever the reason, this calming spray will help. This spray is made from a simple formula and includes lavender oil, sweet orange oil, vetiver oil, and clary sage oil. It is free of toxins, fillers, and artificial ingredients.
Size: 2.5 ounces
Breed Size: All breeds
Life Stage: Adult
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When your dog becomes anxious or unsettled, this calming spray can be sprayed in its vicinity. It is quick-acting and will help your dog calm down without the need to put it on your dog directly. The 2.5-ounce bottle is also designed to be carried easily and can go most places to help your pooch in the event of an emergency.
The only issue we’ve found with this essential oil calming spray is the nozzle. From time to time it may become clogged. Running it under warm water helps clear things up so your dog can feel relief again.
Pros
Has no artificial ingredients or harsh chemicals
Easy to take on the go
Does not need to be applied directly to dogs
Cons
Nozzle tends to clog
ThunderEssence Natural Essential Oil Calming Spray is our pick for the best essential oil for the money. This calming spray features a blend of essential oils used to help your dog when it is feeling anxious, frightened, or tense. Lavender oil is used to help calm and relax your pet. Chamomile is added to help relax muscles and relieve anxiety. The final oil, Egyptian Geranium is used to help your dog when they are under mental stress.
Has no artificial ingredients or harsh chemicals
Easy to take on the go
Does not need to be applied directly to dogs
- Has no artificial ingredients or harsh chemicals
- Easy to take on the go
- Does not need to be applied directly to dogs
Nozzle tends to clog
- Nozzle tends to clog
Size: 4 ounces
Breed Size: All breeds
Life Stage: Adult
This essential oil spray is diluted with purified water which makes it safe to apply to your pet immediately. Unlike our top choice, this spray is designed to be applied directly to your pet. Directions are included to ensure you are applying the product correctly to help avoid issues with irritation or other problems with your pooch.
Unfortunately, the lid of this spray comes off easily. This can be an issue when trying to apply it to a scared dog. The scent isn’t as pleasant as some of the other essential oils on our list.
Pros
Ready to use design
Easy to follow directions included
Features a blend of 3 essential oils
Cons
The lid falls off easily
The scent isn’t very pleasant
The Calm Paws Serene Pet Calming Oil comes in a 1.04-ounce bottle that features an easy-to-use dropper for application to your dog. While this small bottle may be slightly pricey, the calming effect it offers your pet when it is feeling anxious, scared, or upset is well worth it. Using lavender and Valerian oils, this calming oil provides the calming effect you want while also having a pleasant scent you and your dogs will love.
Ready to use design
Easy to follow directions included
Features a blend of 3 essential oils
- Ready to use design
- Easy to follow directions included
- Features a blend of 3 essential oils
The lid falls off easily
The scent isn’t very pleasant
- The lid falls off easily
- The scent isn’t very pleasant
Size: 1.04 ounces
Breed Size: Small, medium, and large breeds
Life Stage: Adult
The biggest issue we found with Calm Paws is the price. While most essential oils come in a small bottle, this one’s a bit pricier per ounce than the others. If price is of no issue to you, our premium choice is right up your alley. If you’re on a budget, perhaps it would be best to choose another oil from our list.
Pros
Made from lavender and Valerian oils
Easy-to-use dropper
Nice smell
Cons
Expensive
While Vetnique Labs Furbliss isn’t specifically for puppies, this blend of essential oils is ideal for calming your pet during stressful situations. You can easily apply this spray to your dog’s collar, bed, or body when they are under duress. It is even gentle enough to be used at bath time if you prefer. The plastic spray bottle is ideal for on-the-go use. Whether you and your pup are on the way to the vet or spending the evening at home, this spray bottle makes applying easy.
Made from lavender and Valerian oils
Easy-to-use dropper
Nice smell
- Made from lavender and Valerian oils
- Easy-to-use dropper
- Nice smell
Expensive
- Expensive
Size: 4 ounces
Breed Size: Small, medium, large breeds
Life Stage: Adult
You’ll notice this bottle doesn’t last long. The sprayer is convenient but you will be buying bottles more often. While the label of this spray promises there are no dangerous chemicals or artificial additives inside, it does not list the essential oils used in the formula. This can be dangerous if you aren’t aware of the skin sensitivities your dog may suffer from.
Pros
Comes in a take-along spray bottle
Can be used on a pet, bedding, and collar
Cons
The essential oils used are not listed
The bottle doesn’t contain much product
- Healing Solutions Lavender Essential Oil
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Size: 0.33 ounces
Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Life Stage: Adult
The Healing Solutions Lavender Essential Oils is a single ingredient product. You’ll feel safe knowing only pure lavender oil is being used to calm your pup from fear of loud noises, separation anxiety, and other unsettling situations they may experience. This is also one of the better-smelling essential oils on our list. Both you and your pet will enjoy the fragrance while reaping the rewards.
Comes in a take-along spray bottle
Can be used on a pet, bedding, and collar
- Comes in a take-along spray bottle
- Can be used on a pet, bedding, and collar
The essential oils used are not listed
The bottle doesn’t contain much product
- The essential oils used are not listed
- The bottle doesn’t contain much product
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Size: 0.33 ounces
Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Life Stage: Adult
Unfortunately, this essential oil does have a few downsides. The first is the fact it isn’t ready to use. Instead, it must be diluted first. Coconut oil is great to use for this. When using the oil, you’ll also notice it pours out quickly. If you aren’t being extremely careful you could waste the oil when trying to use it. The bottle is also glass, which makes taking it on the go with you more difficult. Keep all this in mind before you purchase.
Pros
Features pure lavender oil
Nice smell
Cons
Must be diluted before use
Liquid pours quickly and can be wasteful
The glass bottle is dangerous for on the go use
- Handcraft Lavender Essential Oils
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Size: 4 ounces
Breed Size: Small, medium, and large breeds
Life Stage: Adult
Handcraft Lavender Essential Oils is the type of oil you want to use when your pooch is having issues with itchy skin or stressful situations. This pure essential oil comes in an airtight container to keep it fresh for a long time. With it being pure oil, however, it should be diluted before being applied to your pet. You can also use this oil in a diffuser to help calm your pet and leave the home smelling pleasant.
Features pure lavender oil
Nice smell
- Features pure lavender oil
- Nice smell
Must be diluted before use
Liquid pours quickly and can be wasteful
The glass bottle is dangerous for on the go use
- Must be diluted before use
- Liquid pours quickly and can be wasteful
- The glass bottle is dangerous for on the go use
Size: 4 ounces
Breed Size: Small, medium, and large breeds
Life Stage: Adult
This essential oil does not come with a list of directions for use. If you plan on using it for your pet’s anxiety or nervousness, it may be best to reach out to your veterinarian to ask their opinion on the best way to use it.
Pros
Made from pure lavender essential oil
The container keeps the oil fresher longer
Can also be used in a diffuser
Cons
No directions included
Made from pure lavender essential oil
The container keeps the oil fresher longer
Can also be used in a diffuser
- Made from pure lavender essential oil
- The container keeps the oil fresher longer
- Can also be used in a diffuser
No directions included
- No directions included
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Essential Oil for Dogs
Purchasing essential oils to help calm your pet takes time and research. While some oils are perfectly safe for use on a dog, others can be dangerous for them to use or be in contact with. Let’s take a look at a few of the conditions we kept in mind when choosing the essential oils on our list to help you choose the best one for your anxious pet.
Speak to Your Vet First
You may not call your vet each time you buy something for your dog, but when it comes to essential oils, you should. Essential oils can make certain conditions your dog may suffer from worse. Considering your vet knows your dog’s health, speaking with them before starting treatment for anxiety and stress is best for your pet.
Know Your Oils
Not all essential oils are safe for your dog. While certain ones like lavender, chamomile, and lemon are safe for use on dogs, others can be considered toxic. Here’s a look at some of the safe essential oils for your dog and a list of those you should avoid.
Safe for Use:
Lavender
Lemon
Chamomile
Fennel
Frankincense
Cedarwood
Spearmint
Cardamom
Essential Oils to Avoid:
Cinnamon
Clove
Peppermint
Pine
Ylang-Ylang
Pennyroyal
Ingredients and Directions
When choosing an essential oil for your dog, you must read both the ingredients list and the directions for use. This will help you learn whether the oil is safe for your dog and how you should properly use it. Pure essential oils require being diluted. This helps avoid issues with the oil harming your dog’s skin. It is also best for your pooch to avoid essential oils with artificial ingredients and fillers.
Lavender
Lemon
Chamomile
Fennel
Frankincense
Cedarwood
Spearmint
Cardamom
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Chamomile
- Fennel
- Frankincense
- Cedarwood
- Spearmint
- Cardamom
Cinnamon
Clove
Peppermint
Pine
Ylang-Ylang
Pennyroyal
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Ylang-Ylang
- Pennyroyal
Conclusion
The essential oils on this list can help your dog when they are suffering from attacks of anxiety, fear, or unease. Our best overall choice, Warren London’s Essential Oil Calming Spray is free of unwanted additives and is easy to use. Our best value and second choice, ThunderEssence Natural Essential Oil Calming Spray is a great option for those who want to calm their pet while adhering to their budget. Keep in mind, when it comes to essential oils, always ask your veterinarian before you start using them on your fur baby.
Featured Image Credit: Chewy
