Did you ever have a long and tough day, and you couldn’t wait to come home to prepare yourself one cup of chamomile tea just to relax?
Chamomile tea and chamomile essential oils are becoming part of our everyday use. But what about our dogs? Can our furry friends use chamomile essential oil? Is it safe for them?
We have compiled detailed research about chamomile essential oils and dogs for you!
Let’s take a look!
Can You Use Chamomile Essential Oil on Dogs?
Chamomile has an intoxicating scent and additionally contains calming and sedating properties. Most dogs don’t have any problems when they are around chamomile smell. It can also help with mild anxiety disorders.
Many shelters use lavender and chamomile essential oils for dogs’ relaxation. This helps them enhance visitors’ perceptions.
One study researched the behavior of 55 shelter dogs and the influence of essential oils on olfactory stimulation.
The conclusions were pretty obvious and had similar outcomes of chamomile oil’s influence on humans. Dogs were resting and were less active due to chamomile and lavender oil.
The best thing about this study is that it also revealed amazing benefits to the visitors. The visitors were more calm and relaxed. This can be an indirect positive impact on them and the dogs. Being more relaxed during adoption hours could increase the chances of a dog’s adoption and can potentially improve their welfare.
Is Chamomile Safe to Diffuse Around Dogs?
In general, all chamomile products are safe for dogs. Holistic vets usually recommend diffusing chamomile around dogs. But we will suggest you some important precautionary measures.
- Our first tip is to dilute the essential oil before diffusing. Also, take advice from your vet when it comes to diluted concentrations.
- Our second tip is to be aware of the chamomile quality. After you make the dultion, make sure you observe your dog carefully. If your dog shows some unusual signs, make sure to contact your vet immediately. Also, it is a great idea to open the windows and doors to “let out” the smell away.
How to Choose Chamomile?
There are two main types of Chamomile. Roman chamomile is a milder choice for dogs, while German chamomile has a stronger scent.
Therefore, whenever you choose chamomile for your dog, we advise Roman chamomile as a safer alternative.
What Are the Benefits of Chamomile Essential Oil for Dogs?
Scientists focus more and more on the benefits of herbal treatment in both humans and dogs. Chamomile has many benefits, and some of them include the following:
Main Benefits of Chamomile for dogs:
- Relieving digestive upset
- Wound healing
- Anxiety treatment
- Skin irritation
Relieving Digestive Upset
One study performed on rats showed amazing benefits to the gastrointestinal system.
During the study, castor oil was used as an induced diarrhea method. For treating diarrhea, chamomile oil has been proven as an effective antioxidant and anti-diarrhea remedy.
Also, in humans, topically applied chamomile leads to better appetite recovery after cesarean section in women.
Experimental studies on animals also show muscle-relaxing properties during conditions like cramping and indigestion.
Wound Healing
Roman chamomile has been proven effective in wound healing in rats. It proved that it has higher wound healing and antibacterial activity than antibiotic ointment.
Anxiety Treatment
Chamomile essential oils can significantly improve the dog’s mood and behavior. It will help them relieve stress and will keep them less active. However, always consult with your vet before applying.
Skin Irritation
Aroma Oil Complex (AOC) contains lavender, chamomile, and tea tree oil. During 8 days applying, AOC showed amazing results in dogs regarding skin hydration, skin thickness, and erythema. Therefore, AOC has amazing alleviating effects on allergic dermatitis.
Also, German chamomile oil helps in relieving atopic dermatitis in mice.
Chamomile Oil Usage for Ear Infections in Dogs
Chamomile Essential oil can relieve the symptoms and treat otitis externa and other bacterial ear infections. However, chamomile should always be combined with other conventional drugs. Chamomile by itself won’t do some magic. Therefore, always respect the prescribed vet therapy and apply alternative drugs only when advised by the vet.
You will see the desired results only if chamomile is combined with other antimicrobial drugs.
How Much Chamomile Essential Oil Is Safe for Dogs?
Usually, the vet will determine the safe dose of chamomile. The determination is based on the dog’s:
Factors that influences chamomile dosage for dogs:
- Size
- Weight
- Age
- Current health condition
There are many foods and supplements on the market that contain chamomile. Usually, these products are properly formulated and have almost no side effects. Therefore, this is probably the safest alternative.
However, if you decide to use chamomile essential oil for your dog, tell your vet. They will decide on the proper dosage and might give you some extra tips for safer usage.
Are There Any Side Effects of Chamomile Essential Oil in Dogs?
Yes, there are some potential side effects of using chamomile essential oils in dogs. However, most side effects occur due to improper dosing. Its severity also depends on the ingested, inhaled, or contact dose. Therefore, the side effects will also depend on the exposed way.
Although this herb is considered safe for dogs, let’s take a look at the potential side effects.
Most Common Side Effects
Some of the most common side effects of chamomile essential oil in dogs include:
Potential side effects of Chamomile Essential Oil
- Skin irritation
- Mouth irritation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Weakness
If skin irritation occurs, you will probably notice red and itchy skin. Usually, this happens if chamomile is applied topically.
Difficulty breathing occurs if the dog is allergic to it. It can also lead to coughing, sneezing, and other allergic reactions. Usually, this happens if the dog inhales chamomile oil.
Ingesting too much chamomile oil can lead to some gastrointestinal issues. This includes vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and lethargy.
Tips to Minimize Side Effects
Always and always contact your vet before adding something new to your dog. The vet will determine its individual needs and will advise you about the dose.
When diluting, always use carrier oil, for example, coconut oil.
Another old-school advice is to perform a patch test. You can do this for different essential oils or topical ointments. Apply chamomile oil to a patch and test it on small skin areas to check for side effects.
If you notice anything unusual in your dog, immediately take it to the closest vet office.
Are There Any Other Safe Essential Oils for Dogs?
Yes, there are a few safe essential oils for dogs. This includes Lavender, Ginger, Frankincense, and Cardamom.
Lavender can reduce travel-induced stress in dogs, while Ginger is very effective in Dirofillaria treatment.
On the other side, Frankincense is a potential anticancer treatment alternative, while Cardamom is a famous gastroprotective natural remedy.
To Sum Up
Chamomile oil, in general is very safe and most dogs don’t have problems when using it. However, proper dosing and moderation is the key. So, besides the many benefits, your dog might have some side effects after using it. Therefore, we advise you to do your research and contact your vet before applying it.
