Will Lavender Calm My Dog? Vet-Reviewed Risks & FAQ

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Defining Lavender The Use of Lavender The Canine Front Potential Toxicity of Lavender

Unwanted behavior isn’t unusual in dogs. Some research suggests anxiety-related issues may even have a genetic component. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes anxiety in dogs as presenting in several forms, such as separation-related distress, generalized anxiety, and noise aversion, each requiring different levels of management and treatment. Sensitivity to noise is one of the more frequently reported concerns, particularly with triggers like fireworks or thunderstorms.

Many people look toward natural solutions for their problems. Pet humanization has brought many products to the companion animal landscape. It’s not surprising that pet owners would seek these treatments for behavioral issues like anxiety. If you’re wondering if lavender will calm your dog, the answer is uncertain. The problem rests with its potential toxicity and how it’s used.

Defining Lavender

The genus to which lavender belongs contains dozens of varieties, most of which are Old World species, particularly in the Mediterranean region. It’s a common ingredient in foods and spices, such as the herbes de Provence. The FDA classifies lavender as “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS. However, that designation applies to food additives for humans.

You’ll find lavender sold as dried flowers for its pleasant scent, in spices, and as an essential oil. The latter is a highly concentrated and potent form. People may add it to a carrier oil for a skin treatment. Some may add it to the bath for a relaxing soak after a hard day’s work.

The Use of Lavender

The history of lavender use goes back to the ancient Egyptians for incense and perfumes. Its fragrance is pleasing to many people, so it’s easy to understand its popularity. Folklore uses for depression, insomnia, and fatigue have existed for centuries. It remains a common ingredient in many personal care products. Research has confirmed some uses, including potential mild anxiolytic (calming) effects in humans, with limited and inconsistent evidence, and some evidence suggesting antimicrobial or wound-healing properties under specific conditions.

The critical caveat with this information is that this evidence involves human use of lavender. Dogs only share 84% of our DNA. And, as they say, the devil is in the details, or at least the 16% difference. Remember that people can eat many things that canines can’t, such as chocolate, grapes, and onions. Therefore, we can’t conclude it’s safe for our pets just because we can use it.

The Canine Front

The typical uses for lavender are air freshener, aromatherapy, and wound treatment. This plant has a relatively strong scent for members of the Lamiaceae or mint family. Dogs have a keen sense of smell. Our concern involves how your pup might perceive this olfactory punch. Diffusers can release concentrated particles into the air, which may irritate a dog’s respiratory tract or lead to secondary ingestion through grooming. It may indeed have a mild calming effect in some dogs, but responses are variable and not well established in veterinary literature, plus there are risks.

Potential Toxicity of Lavender

A review of the scientific literature shows many studies and reviews citing a need for additional research when it comes to dogs. Toxicology data are well-documented for humans, rodents, and rabbits. However, the ingredients in lavender reveal a few red flags. Lavender exposure in dogs can occur through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion, and each route carries different levels of risk. One of the most worrying is a chemical called linalool, a component that can be irritating or toxic at sufficient exposure levels. It’s for this reason that the ASPCA considers lavender toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset, including signs such as decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting in dogs and cats. The more an animal eats, the greater the health risks. These findings are especially unsettling, given the use of essential oils in so-called natural or minimum-risk flea and tick preventives. The evidence tells a different story about the safety of pets.

As any dog owner knows, if you put something on your pup’s paws, it’s going to lick it off after you apply it. Ingestion is likely in many cases, especially with products applied to accessible areas like the paws or coat. That makes proper use of any topical product imperative for your pet’s safety. Therefore, we strongly urge you to discuss the use of anything containing essential oils with your veterinarian before using it on your pup. That includes lavender in any form.

It’s also worth noting that science doesn’t support using all alternative therapies, even for people. Remember that something you can buy over the counter is not subject to premarket approval for safety and efficacy in the same way as prescription medications. The same caution applies to pets. You’ll probably find it’s better to deal with the cause of behavioral issues than to merely treat the signs. Evidence-based approaches such as behavior modification, environmental management, and veterinarian-guided therapies are more reliable options for managing anxiety.

If your dog shows persistent anxiety, destructive behavior, excessive vocalization, or changes in appetite or sleep, a veterinary evaluation is recommended.

Closing Thoughts

We all want the best for our pets. Sadly, it’s a common misconception that something safe for you to use means it’s also safe for your animal companions. As you’ve seen, that isn’t always the case. While using lavender as aromatherapy may have mild calming effects in some dogs, the evidence is limited, and responses are variable, so it cannot be broadly recommended. Instead, check with your vet to prevent potential adverse effects.

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