This post may contain affiliate links. It doesn't cost you anything extra and it keeps our lights on, our families fed, and our dogs spoiled.
For all the juicy fine print, see our affiliate disclosure
No matter how old your dog is, you want the best for them.
It’s why my dog Maggie gets the best food, the best vet care, and the best toys I can get her.
When Maggie gets uncomfortable, I can’t sit still until the problem has been fixed. In the past, that’s meant changing up her diet or rearranging her daily routine, but in the future it may mean pain management.
If your dog struggles with daily pain, you know the heartache that I’m talking about on a much greater level.
The good news is that going to the vet for heavier dosages of pain medication isn’t your dog’s only option.
Read on to learn about the best essential oils for canine pain relief.
You may find a few that make your dog’s life easier, so you can both get back to enjoying your days together.
Dogs can suffer from emotional pain, too. Click here to learn about essential oils to help with that, too!
Essential Oils for Canine Pain Relief
Many people have become familiar with essential oils because of a recent aroma therapy fad.
Essential oils can be used in your home to help your health while making your place smell better, but they can help dogs too.
Check out these essential oils to see how they could help make your dog’s pain management easier.
Older dogs over the age of seven often struggle with aching joints and stiff muscles[1].
It’s an issue that they share with humans, and like humans, they can use essential oils to make getting around easier.
Ginger Oil
Although you may have only seen ginger as a spice or a tea, ginger oil is also an essential oil that’s great for relieving joint pain in dogs.
How It Relieves Pain
A recent 2018 study found that when ginger oil was given to rats, it prevented inflammation by leveling kidney function molecules or markers[2].
How to Use This Oil
You can get an essential oil diffuser and have it emit eight drops of ginger oil mist around where your dog relaxes.
If they breathe it in for at least 10-15 minutes at a time, it will help keep joint pain at bay.
Possible Side Effects
Ginger has been known to thin the blood in dogs, so if your dog is pregnant or has blood sugar or blood pressure issues, talk with their vet to decide if ginger essential oil is right for them.
Lavender oil may already be in your house if you like essential oils, since it’s such a popular scent.
If used correctly, it can also reduce your dog’s joint pain.
How It Relieves Pain
Lavender is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it works quickly to relieve any flare ups your dog may be experiencing.
A 2015 study showed that topical application of lavender oil brought pain relief comparable to Tramadol, which is a prescription painkiller[5].
How to Use This Oil
Because dogs have extra sensitive noses, it’s best to give your dog an oral dose of lavender oil for pain relief.
Otherwise, the oil may overpower their senses and cause discomfort.
Give your dog two to three drops by mouth, and if you want to rub it into their skin, dilute three to five drops to reduce the odor for them.
Possible Side Effects
If your dog is accidentally given an overdose of lavender oil, either by receiving too many drops orally or by standing next to a diffuser, they may have symptoms such as:
Vomiting
Swollen abdomen
Constipation
Respiratory problems
Using a little bit of lavender oil at a time will help your dog benefit from it while adjusting to the dose.
As dogs age, they may also experience gastrointestinal upsets and issues that are caused by inflammation.
Vets may prescribe medication, but you can also try out these all-natural essential oils for pain relief.
Chamomile Oil
You may have relied on chamomile tea in the past to calm you down after a long day, but chamomile oil can do the same thing for your dog’s digestive tract.
How It Relieves Pain
Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory herb, so it’s commonly used to help dogs recover after allergic reactions.
If it’s ingested, chamomile will relax your dog’s stomach muscles and relieve GI pain.
How to Use This Oil
Put two to three drops of this oil into the back of your dog’s throat for proper digestion.
They should feel relief almost immediately, although vets discourage long-term internal use of this oil.
Plan to only use it occasionally, and talk with your dog’s vet if your dog’s stomach is continuously upset when the oil isn’t used.
Possible Side Effects
Some dogs have a natural allergy to chamomile, so watch for any allergic reactions.
Itching, rashes, and hives are all signs that your dog’s system doesn’t tolerate chamomile and should stop taking it immediately.
Arnica oil is another essential oil you can use to help your dog feel less pain.
You may have to search for it in specialty stores or online, but it will be worth it.
How It Relieves Pain
Arnica is a naturally occurring herb that acts quickly to open up capillaries and even drain lymph nodes.
Swollen capillaries are one common reason why dogs experience muscle and joint pain, so arnica oil gets right to the source of the problem.
How to Use This Oil
You can rub this essential oil into your dog’s skin where they need the most relief.
It may be smart to make your dog wear a cone for the first half hour after application, since this oil has a strong scent and may encourage them to lick it all off.
Possible Side Effects
Because arnica oil opens the capillaries, it should not be used by dogs who take blood thinning medication or who have open wounds.
Once you’ve found the right essential oil or two for your dog, you should know what to avoid doing so your dog isn’t accidentally hurt.
Essential oils can overwhelm sensitive dog noses, so never trap your pup near a diffuser!
Diffusing Undiluted Oils
Dogs have extremely sensitive noses, so if you put undiluted oils in a diffuser, they could become quickly overwhelmed.
It’s best to dilute your chosen essential oil with water, so your dog can get more exposure time and stay comfortable.
Also, always set up the diffuser so your dog can leave the area if they need to.
Eating Essential Oils
You may think that putting a drop or two of essential oil on your dog’s food will help them digest it, but that’s not true.
Mixing oils with food gives the oil less time to be absorbed into your dog’s system, which can shock their body into painful side effects.
Certain essential oils are also best absorbed through the skin, so they’re not meant to be digested.
It’s safer to keep essential oils away from where your dog will eat them.
Drinking Essential Oils
Keep oil out of your dog’s water dish
Another issue comes up when owners put essential oil into their dog’s water bowl.
It’s all too easy to put too much oil in the water because it looks like it’ll be diluted.
Remember, oil and water don’t mix!
Your dog may also not get enough of the oil as they need if they only stop by their water bowl for a few sips.
Giving Essential Oils to Puppies
Essential oils are all-natural, but that doesn’t mean puppies can digest them.
A normal dose of essential oil for a dog will be much larger than what a puppy would need, so it’s best not to give puppies any essential oils until they’re over ten weeks old.
Conclusion
You don’t need to pay for expensive prescription medication if your dog deals with daily pain.
While you should always listen to what your vet recommends, you can also give your dog essential oils to manage their pain.
Read about which essential oils could be right for the kind of pain your dog experiences and make sure you learn the correct way to use it. If you do, pain relief will be just around the corner for your dog.
