If you have a dog at home then it stands to reason that you want to give them the best quality of life that you possibly can. For most people, this includes going down the route of using various oils and treatments on their skin and their fun. Whether it is to help the irritation or to soothe a sore spot, various essential oils are used on dogs all the time via topical application. One of the most commonly suggested oils for this would be argan oil. Yet is this a good idea? Can you use argan oil on your dog?
Argan oil is an impressive product, capable of helping to moisturize the skin and get rid of a lot of the potential for damage. Argan oil is regularly used in many health products today and is typically found in Morocco. It can help to rejuvenate the skin and make us look healthier and feel refreshed. Is this the case for dogs, though?
If your dog has dry skin then we typically assume that we can just use the same treatments on dogs as we would on humans. However, that might not always be the best idea.
Can you use argan oil on your dog?
Argan oil is one that comes from the nut found within the argan fruit. This is then turned into an oil-based product, and the oil is used in everything from cooking to skincare. When rubbed into the hair and skin, it can be great for treating wounds, cleansing and moisturizing, and removing irritation. It is also useful for those with acne as argan oil is rich in fatty acids, meaning that it will not clog up your skin pores.
Luckily, your dog CAN benefit from the use of argan oil as well. It can be rubbed into their skin and their coat to help deal with damaged and irritated areas. It can make their coat look shinier and smoother, and it can even help to reduce worries with bald spots and the like.
If your dog has rough and damaged paw pads, too, applying some argan oil there can help to reduce discomfort. In terms of usage, only use small amounts and leave any argan oil applications for around a once-per-week application. This should be more than enough to give your dog the benefits that they need.
Always make sure you buy 100% argan oil, though. Sure, you can save a bit of money by buying a non-100% brand, but it will not be anything like as effective. It could also have something in there that your dog could react to negatively.
As ever, be sure to get your dog checked out by a veterinarian before you use any argan oil. Bring the product you intend to use – your veterinarian could help you to apply a small amount to see the reaction. Most dogs have nothing to worry about with regards to argan oil, but every dog is different so it pays to take your time and look closely
While you can use argan oil in some cooking, do not let your dog ingest the stuff. Only apply argan oil topically, or you could run into some problems down the line with regards to the health of your dog.