Hey, it’s Ronai—your resident oil-obsessed, chicken-lovin’ coach!

If you’ve followed my adventures with Maisy and Bandit (my slobbery sidekicks) or my

riot of tiny dinosaurs (yes, the chickens), you already know I reach for doTERRA’s

Certified Pure Tested Grade® oils for everything. But what about the other pets that

steal our hearts—and our couch space? Today we’re laying down a quick, simple, field

guide to using essential oils safely with dogs, cats, horses, small animal “pocket

pets,” and birds—plus fresh recipes straight from Dr. Janet Roark (aka the Essential

Oil Vet) and doTERRA’s pet pros. Let’s sniff out the facts!

Maisie and Bandit

1. Universal Safety in 60 Seconds

• Quality or nothing - Cheap oils sneak in solvents that can torch skin and lungs. Stick to

  doTERRA’s purity-tested line. doTERRA

• Dilute like a boss - Think “one drop EO to 510 drops carrier” for dogs; double that for cats

  and pocket pets. Bigger animals (horses) need less dilution per pound. doTERRA

• Ventilation is vital - Always leave a door open when diffusing so pets can exit stage left if

  it’s too strong. Essential Oil Vet Instagram

• Know the NO list - Tea Tree, Wintergreen, Pennyroyal, and most phenolheavy oils are

  off limits for cats and birds. doTERRA and https://essentialoilvet.com/essential-oils-and-safety-for-pets

• Watch their body talk - Drooling, squinting, hiding, or fluffed feathers = “Turn it down, human!”

2. Species Snapshots

• Dogs—Maisy & Bandit Approved

   Top picks: Lavender (calm), Frankincense (skin), Copaiba (joints).

   Application: Along the spine or ear flaps—always diluted.

   Skip: Birch, Wintergreen, fullstrength Tea Tree.

• Cats—The Divas

   Top picks (welldiluted): Copaiba, Frankincense, Cedarwood.

   Diffuser trick: Threetofour total drops max, door open. Essential Oil Vet Instagram

   Skip: Citrus blitzes, Tea Tree, clove. Their livers can’t process the heavy stuff.

  SELF

• Chickens—My Tiny Dinosaurs

   Top picks: AirX™ for fresh coop air, Cedarwood for mites.

   Method: Diffuse near airflow or mist diluted blends on roosts—never fog a

  sealed coop. https://essentialoilvet.com/essential-oils-and-safety-for-pets

• Horses—BarnSize Benefits

   Top picks: Peppermint (muscle relief), Lavender (trailering stress), Helichrysum

  (skin).

   Application: 4–6 drops neat down the spine of a 1,000lb horse, then brush in. https://essentialoilvet.com/essential-oils-and-safety-for-pets

  

  Chickens

3. DIY Recipes You’ll Actually Use

• Dogs - “Shoo Bug ”Flea & Tick Mist

• 4oz spray: 10 drops Cedarwood, 8 Lavender, 6 Geranium, 2 Lemongrass; fill

  with ½ aloe juice, ½ FCO. Mist coat before hikes.

• Cats - CatCalm Diffuser

• In a 150 mL diffuser: 1 drop Frankincense, 1 drop

  Copaiba, 1 drop Cedarwood. Run 20 min as kitty settles.

• Chickens - Coop Freshener Spray

• 8 oz warm water + 2 Tbsp On Guard® Cleaner + 10 drops AirX™. Mist roosts after weekly clean.

• Horses - Peppermint Post Ride Liniment

• In palm: 4 drops Peppermint + dime size FCO. Massage large muscle groups after work.

• Rabbits/Guinea Pigs - Pocket Pet Peace

• Place one drop Lavender on a cotton ball outside cage bars for 15 min, 2–3× weekly. Remove if they move away.

4. Quick Safe/NotSafe Reference

5. Parting Sniffs & Squawks

Using essential oils with pets isn’t rocket science—it’s respect plus common sense.

Start small, watch your critters’ cues, and keep that diffuser door cracked. Whether

you’re soothing Maisy’s itchy paws, giving Bandit a bedtime belly rub, freshening the

coop for my feathery velociraptors, or pampering a pony after a ride, you’re partnering

with nature’s toolbox the safe way.

Now go mix, mist, and marvel. Your pack, pride, flock, herd, and hutch will thank

you—with wags, purrs, soft clucks, and maybe a neigh of approval.

Disclaimer: I’m a holistic health coach, not your veterinarian. Consult a vet experienced

in aromatherapy—like Dr. Janet Roark—before tackling serious pet health issues.