Diffuser Blend: Fear-Less Fourth Blend for Fido
BBQs, family picnics, games of catch or Frisbee or croquet, s’mores around a fire pit, and… Fireworks! What’s not to love about the 4th of July?!
Well, if you’re a dog or cat, the loud snaps, crackles, and pops of firecrackers and the percussive booms of fireworks can be terrifying. This is where the Fear-Less Fourth essential oils come in!
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In this Post:
Pet Safety Tips for 4th of July Celebrations
Years ago I worked as a licensed veterinary nurse. Emergency visits and phone calls were very common on the 4th of July. We saw many dogs who’d panicked in the fireworks noise and escaped their fenced yards only to be hit by drivers who’d been celebrating a bit too much. We fielded calls from stressed out clients who didn’t know how to calm their fear-filled dogs and cats. And in the days afterward, we had people checking in to see if their lost pet had been brought to the clinic.
We all love our 4-legged family members, so as you prepare to be bombarded by fireworks booms and bangs, here are a few things you can do to keep your pet safe and calm this 4th of July.
- Diffuse a calming blend of essential oils, like the Fear-Less Fourth blend below. Diffuse intermittently, starting at the first pop!
- Give your pet some extra treats in the form of herbal calming chews. We use Zesty Paws Calming Bites for dogs.
- Put a collar with a tag displaying your pet’s name and your phone number on your dog/cat, even if they are indoor only.
- Ensure your pet is microchipped and the contact information is current.
- Give them a good bit of exercise and extra playtime in the days leading up to the holiday.
- Make sure they have someplace “safe” to go to—a cozy blanket in a kennel, a box, or under a low table.
- Keep dogs leashed when taking them out to “do their business.”
- Put on some music or the TV to help drown out the outdoor celebratory fireworks.
- Give them lots of love and plenty of calming talks.
About the Fear-Less Fourth Blend
Fear-Less Fourth is an aromatherapy blend I created after working with my dog, Kiko, to find the aromas that provided the most calming influence for her.
I use Caroline Ingraham’s method of Animal Aromatherapy detailed in the book The Aromatic Dog by Nayana Morag (read Mom’s Review).
One of Kiko’s favorite aromatics is Frankincense (essential oil, hydrosol, and resin), so it’s the star of this blend. I start diffusing this blend intermittently as soon as I start to hear fireworks, which, in my neck of the woods, is generally a couple of days before the 4th of July!
⭐️Fear-Less Fourth Recipe
- 3 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)
- 2 drops Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
- 2 drops Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana)
- 1 drop Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum album/S. spicatum)
- 1 drop Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
💚Bonus: I find it relaxes me, too! This may be a blend you want to keep around for general calming…and I don’t mean for your dog!
Get Stock Bottle Drop Counts
Here are the drop counts for a 5ml essential oil bottle. This will hold about 100 drops of essential oil (depending on the viscosity of the oil and the size of the reducer orifice).
Add your drops directly to the essential oil bottle. Then insert the reducer and cap tightly. Finally roll the bottle between the palms of your hands for at least 30 seconds. This allows the oils to fully blend with each other and it imparts a bit of your energy to the blend.
And remember: Affix a label right away!
Fear-Less Fourth Stock Bottle
- 33 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)
- 22 drops Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
- 22 drops Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana)
- 11 drop Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum album or S. spicatum)
- 11 drop Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
🔶️Essential Oil Safety and Pets
In general, it’s safe to use essential oils around your pets (we’re talking dogs and cats here). When using essential oils, whether in a diffuser, linen spray, air spray, or cleaner, always ensure your pet has the ability to leave the room when they want.
Please do not use essential oils directly on your pets without first seeking the advice of a Certified Aromatherapist who specializes in Animal Aromatherapy.
If you have pets and use essential oils in your home, get to know the basics for using essential oils safely in Aromahead’s Aromatherapy Around Animals mini-course.
Mom’s 4th of July Doggie Shopping List
All of the essential oils used to create Fear-Less Fourth can be found on Mom’s Favorites for Sleep and Stress on Amazon (featuring Plant Therapy and Edens Garden essential oils) or from one of my favorite suppliers below.
- Frankincense Carteri essential oil (Boswellia carteri):
- This is a precious species, threatened by over-harvesting, choose your supplier wisely
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct or Amazon).
- Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica):
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana):
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum spp.):
- This is a precious oil, choose a supplier carefully
- Aromatics International, S. album, organic
- Plant Therapy, S. spicatum, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, S. album, conventional (Direct and Amazon).
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (grown and distilled in Montana)
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- TIP: Plant Therapy’s Lavender Hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy.
- Favorite Doggie Treats from Zesty Paws (on Amazon)
- Calming Bites – Blend of calming herbs including Ashwaganda, Chamomile, and Valerian
- Probiotic Bites – Blend of 6 probiotics to support gut health
- Dental Bones – Kiko’s favorite “after dinner mint”
- More in the Zesty Paws storefront.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
