We all know the amazing benefits of lavender for humans – it is naturally calming, helps you sleep, has skin healing properties and keeps unwelcome insects at bay. Plus of course it smells wonderful! But what about our pets? Does the purple stuff work its magic on them too? Read on to find out!
Dogs
Let’s start with our waggy-tailed faithful friends, the dogs. Whether it’s an itty-bitty chihuahua or an enormous St Bernard, the good news is that dogs benefit from lavender in a similar way to humans.
- Anxiety and Stress Relief: best-documented is lavender’s ability to soothe anxiety and nervousness in our canine pals. Studies show that exposure to lavender aromatherapy or diluted lavender products can reduce the signs of stress in dogs, even cutting down excessive barking, pacing, or agitation (and let’s face it, anything that can help a dog feel better during a thunderstorm, fireworks, car rides, or a visit to the vet has got to be a good thing)
- Sleep Aid: Lavender’s calming scent can promote relaxation and help improve sleep in anxious or restless dogs. Products like sprays applied to bedding or limited-time diffusion can create a more restful environment.
- Skin Soothing and Minor Ailments: Lavender possesses natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. When properly diluted, it may help soothe itchy skin, minor wounds, hot spots, or insect bites. Some shampoos and sprays use lavender for these secondary benefits.
- Insect Repellent: The scent of lavender can deter pests like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, so certain natural repellents for dogs include lavender as an ingredient. Lavender makes it less likely for these pests to latch onto your dog’s fur or skin, and lavender oil may even prevent tick eggs from hatching.
Safe ways to use lavender with your dog
Make sure you always use lavender in its diluted form, either in a carrier oil or in a specially formulated product. You should avoid using undiluted lavender essential oil on your dog as it can be toxic.
The safest forms are well-diluted sprays, shampoos, and bedding mists formulated for dogs, or aromatherapy with just a few drops diffused in a large, ventilated space. It’s safest to use only products specifically formulated for dogs, following all instructions. DIY applications need correct dilution and safety measures.
Just like some humans, some dogs can also have allergies to lavender, Symptoms could include itching, sneezing, redness, or coughing. Discontinue use if any negative reactions occur.
If you are at all concerned, particularly if your dog has any pre-existing health conditions, is on medication, or is unusually sensitive, talk to your vet before adding new products to their environment.
Cats
Cats are more sensitive to lavender than dogs, and so they don’t always mix well with lavender. Having said that, your cat is likely to be fine with any lavender plant in your garden, unless they have a sensitivity to it, so you don’t need to start digging up your flower borders. In fact you’ll often see cats among the lavender flowers (hunting butterflies!) with absolutely no ill effects.
But cats can be sensitive to lavender in its more concentrated form – in other words lavender essential oil – so it is best kept to a minimum inside your home.
This is because our feline friends are much more sensitive to lavender’s ingredients (which include linalool and linalyl acetate), and ingestion can be toxic. If your cat is sensitive, symptoms to watch out for include drooling, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, so it’s best to take a cautious approach.
If you use a lavender product for cats, make sure it’s formulated as cat-safe.
Small mammals – Guinea Pigs, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, mice and rats
Again, though it’s safe in your garden as pets are unlikely to ingest it, you should be cautious introducing lavender products or using it in diffusers around smaller pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, ferrets and rats.
Their small bodies and delicate digestive and metabolic systems mean they could react poorly, and there hasn’t been enough research on lavender’s safety for use with small pets.
So it’s not advisable to add the plant material to bedding, and use it cautiously or not at all near their cages and habitats. Avoid the direct use of any lavender products on your pet that haven’t been marked as safe for your pet, and if you use a lavender product on yourself always wash your hands thoroughly before you handle your pet (but that’s good practice anyway!)
Other pets – Birds, reptiles, fish, insects
As above, the lavender plants in your garden are unlikely to come into contact with pets that are usually kept indoors or in controlled environments such as tanks. But you should obviously take care not to expose pets to higher concentrations of lavender in their cages or habitats.
Essential oils are not generally recommended for our feathered friends as they can be sensitive to airborne chemicals, as they have quite delicate respiratory systems. Avoid using essential oil diffusers around pet birds.
Studies on the effects of lavender on snakes and lizards are hard to find, but generally lavender isn’t considered toxic to reptiles. Again, it’s a good idea to be cautious, and avoid direct exposure to lavender essential oil for your pet.
Aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs and newts, are susceptible to many plant extracts, so it’s best to keep lavender away from aquarium environments, too.
For insects and arachnids the advice is that lavender is unlikely to be toxic, but lavender scents may deter spiders and insects from certain areas without causing toxicity, and some insect owners have been known to use lavender as a way to deter them from parts of their habitats. But some jumping spiders are even said to be curious about lavender in their tanks! But as others may prefer to avoid it, it’s probably best to keep it away from pets that could become stressed by having it in their environments.
The take-aways – what pet owners need to know about lavender
Here are the things to bear in mind when using lavender around your pets
- Lavender products can be beneficial to some animals, and in particular for dogs
- But you should avoid essential oils around all pets unless advised by a vet. Undiluted oils are especially risky.
- Plants in gardens or windowsills are generally considered safe, but should still be kept out of reach of curious pets, and not ingested in large quantities.
- Birds, cats, and small mammals should not be exposed to high concentrations of lavender in their environment.
- Fish and reptiles should not be exposed to lavender essential oils or products.
- If you use lavender products then you should wash your hands before handling your pet.
- Use only pet-specific lavender formulations (shampoos, sprays) and read ingredient lists carefully.
- Always consult a vet before introducing any scented products or new plants to your pet’s environment.
To sum up, lavender can be a fantastic natural remedy for stress and anxiety, but what’s soothing for humans could potentially pose a risk for pets, especially in its undiluted form. When in doubt, especially for less common pets, take the cautious approach. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been exposed to lavender and shows symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or unusual behaviour, consult your vet.
