Aromatherapy Skin Relief For Dogs

Essential oil blends used in dog shampoo can help relieve skin conditions, as well as help protect against fleas and ticks. The following recipes all call for the essential oils to be added to eight ounces of an all-natural shampoo base.

Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs with Itchy Skin and Allergies
2 drops Geranium
6 drops Rosewood
6 drops Lavender
1 drop Roman Chamomile
2 drops Carrot Seed
1 tablespoon of finely ground oatmeal can be blended in to provide further relief.

Healing Shampoo: For Dogs with Skin Infections and Small Wounds
(such as minor scrapes, nicks, and insect bites)
4 drops Ravensare
2 drops Labdanum
1 drop Helichrysum
3 drops Lavender

Flea and Insect Repellent Shampoo
4 drops Clary Sage
2 drops Citronella
8 drops Peppermint
4 drops Lemon

Tick Repelling Shampoo
2 drops Geranium
2 drops Rosewood
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Myrhh
2 drops Opoponax
1 drop Bay Leaf

Read more: Pets, Remedies & Treatments

Adapted from Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to Use of Essential Oil and Hydrosols with Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell (Findhorn Press, 2004).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Robert O.

2:35PM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

Thanks.

send a green star

KS G.

4:46AM PST on Jan 27, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Ellinor S.

2:39PM PDT on Apr 26, 2010

Thank you

Nancy L.

10:25AM PDT on May 23, 2008

I am concerned about the suggestion that a photo of a cat-being-bathed be used with the above article. Essential oils are highly toxic to cats. Cats should never be bathed with EOs. Likewise, EOs should not be applied to a cat's collar or bandanna.

Jenny W.

3:38PM PDT on May 7, 2008

Rebecca H, those products can always be found in a natural food store, such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe's...Also, I found an incredible herbal cleanse with pro-biotics and all kinds of good stuff for my dogs. You see I have a corgi-chihua mix who had terrible skin allergies. The 3 vets couldn't help. It turned into a smelly, black fungus and his fur began to fall out. He suffered and smelled awful so I looked online and found a company called GreatLife4Pets.com. A Master Herbalist, Elliott Harvey developed these products and they are incredible. My dog is healthy and happy and doesn't look like he's 9 1/2 yrs old! The product is called pro-Enzymes PLUS and is a powder. I saw the chihuahuas and thought of my "boy", Scully. So many dogs are even put to sleep because their guardians can't afford allergy pills that don't work and visits to the vet. Scully has a bad case of Candida...I researched that on the web and spoke at length with Elliott Harvey. Thanks for listening. I hope this helps other animals and guardians! :)

3:27PM PDT on May 7, 2008

Thank you so much for those "recipes."

Rebecca H.

3:24PM PDT on May 7, 2008

Where does one go to find these products?
Thank You

Ange C.

12:25PM PDT on May 7, 2008

any comments about neem oil?

Howard B.

7:58AM PDT on May 3, 2008

Great photo! Next time, how about an orange cat in a washtub?

Aloha -- HB

Cami W.