Diluting Essential Oils For Dogs
When we begin using essential oils with our pets (or children, and even adults who are sensitive and perhaps unfamiliar). we want to begin using the with a carrier.
Many people call this a dilution. But I want to clarify and differentiate two important interpretations of dilution.
Carrier Oil Dilution
Applying Essential Oil With a Carrier Oil:
When you put a drop of eo in your palm and mix with any amount of carrier and then begin to apply the essential oil to your dog (or baby, or self), you are still applying a full drop of essential oil. In my mind that is not a dilution. While there may be some variance in absorption based on the carrier, condition of the skin, area to which it’s applied it’s not a way to measure partial drops.
In this format, the carrier is helping you distribute the essential oil over a larger area vs just applying a drop in a single spot.
Carriers used this way also slow down the absorption. It keeps the essential oil on the skin longer and because the molecule size of the EO is smaller than the molecule size of the carrier, it will slow down absorption & also help prevent the oils from "flashing" off the body into the atmosphere
How To Dilute Essential Oils For Dogs
You will often see topical recommendations for dilution drops of oil to carrier oil ratios listed as
Puppies & Small Dogs — 1 drop of oil to 3 drops carrier
10-25 pounds — 1 drop of oil to 2 drops of carrier
25-50 pounds — 1 drop to 1 drop
50+ pound adult dogs — Neat
Aging Seniors or Unwell — 1 drop to 1 drop
You may also see something similar for babies & elders.
True Dilution however is important for many.... especially if we are looking at smaller animals (think cats, puppies, birds, very small dogs, etc)
A true dilution is a calculation or ratio of the # of drops of oil relative to the # of drops of carrier.
Example:
1 Drop of Oil to 10 Drops of Carrier -- is a 90% dilution
2 Drops of Oil to 8 Drops of Carrier is an 80% dilution
1 Drop of Oil to 3 Drops of Carrier is a 75% Dilution
1 Drop of Oil to 1 Drop of Carrier is a 50% Dilution
3 Drops Oil to 1 Drop of Carrier is a 25% Dilution
When you start putting a few drops into a 2oz or 4oz spray bottle as we do with critter control in the summer, you can see that dilutions become really significant. The same is going to be true when we are making spritzes for red hot itchy skin or helping tissue heal after surgery, etc.
Sometimes -- you'll even see it suggested to dip a toothpick in an oil, and then use the toothpick to stir into a carrier -- getting far less than 1 drop
In short -- you are making a new mixture and then taking a drop of the new mixture. So you are getting less than 1 drop for the application.
There will be many times we suggest you use it neat, and certainly as you get more experience and your pet is more "oily" you'll have a better awareness of tolerance for neat or whether dilution is appropriate in certain situations.
Understand the difference in a true dilution to get a % of oil vs just using a carrier to distribute, hold on the skin, or help with a "hot" oil.
I know many of you are wanting to know exactly how much, frequency and more specific protocols. That cannot be given to you in this format as there are just too many variables -- "it depends". This is where I like to teach and use muscle testing to get input directly from the dog.
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Curious if you can diffuse essential oils in your home with cats — yes you can!