I just want to give this tip for people who are trying to help their dogs with itching.... whether it is from flea bites or allergies or fungus.... i have used this on all of my shepherds with various issues and it works every time.
My go-to for all kinds of itching is
MCT oil mixed with oregano oil (I currently use
the brand Carlyle because it's very inexpensive and actually works really well). I use about 1/4 cup MCT with 1 to 2 dropperfuls of oregano, and then taste it to make sure it's spicy but does not burn. I kind of rub and scritch this into my dog's fur in areas where they are itching, and it gives them a lot of relief. Kills fleas, fungus, pathogens and even cancer cells. Oregano is like the #1 go-to natural remedy that is recommended by many natural health practitioners, for colds and flu, because it is POWERFUL STUFF. It is not just good at killing viruses and bacteria, but it also kills fleas and fungus that can lead to itching.
And yes I looked it up before using this on my dogs, and according to what I read, it is safe for dogs. The fact that it kills cancer cells makes me actually feel kind of good when I see them licking it.
I got this information from Chat GPT (yes I know they CAN have errors but so far they've been helpful to me.... do your own research).
Chat GPT said Oregano Oil doesn't "kill" fleas in the same way chemical pesticides do, but it does admit it can interfere with their neurotransmitters, which can make it harder for fleas to function, which can sometimes lead to paralysis or death. Also, oregano oil can damage their outer waxy coating, which can lead to dehydration. I believe this can also lead to their deaths. True I don't know for sure, but SOMETHING seems to be preventing or killing those fleas, cause I went from having FOUR itchy shepherds to having four NON-itchy shepherds without fleas, and no signs of fleas in my house. GO FIGURE!
What Chat GPT said (copy and paste):
Oregano oil doesn’t “kill” fleas the way a chemical pesticide does, but it can repel or harm them because of its powerful natural compounds. Here’s what’s going on:
Why Oregano Oil Affects Fleas
Oregano oil contains carvacrol, thymol, and terpenes, which are strong antimicrobial and insect-repellent chemicals. These compounds do a few things:
✅ 1. Disrupts Flea Nervous System (Carvacrol + Thymol)
These compounds can interfere with insects’ neurotransmitters, making it harder for fleas to function and sometimes leading to paralysis or death.
✅ 2. Breaks Down Flea Exoskeleton
Fleas have a waxy outer coating that helps them retain water. Strong essential oils like oregano can dissolve or damage this coating, causing dehydration.
✅ 3. Strong Repellent Effect
Fleas absolutely hate the smell. Even at diluted strengths, fleas try to avoid surfaces treated with oregano oil.
✅ 4. Antipathogenic Properties
Oregano oil also kills bacteria and fungi, which is why it's used for natural cleaning—this doesn't kill fleas directly, but it creates an environment that’s hostile to them.
****************************
The carvacrol in Oregano Oil also kills cancer cells!
CLICK HERE to go to Google Scholar and see a whoooole lot of studies that show this.
What Chat GPT said about Safety:
is oregano oil safe for dogs
ChatGPT said:
Short answer: It can be safe for dogs — but only when properly diluted, used externally, and used very carefully.
Oregano oil is one of the strongest essential oils, so it can easily burn skin or cause toxicity if used incorrectly.
Below is the safest guidance:
✅ When Oregano Oil Is Safe for Dogs
Oregano oil is generally safe when:
1. It is heavily diluted
A typical safe dilution for dogs is:
1 drop oregano oil : 1 tablespoon (15 mL) carrier oil
(carrier oils include coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil)
This is about a 0.5–1% dilution, which is the safest range.
(Note from Laura: I do not know the exact ratio, but I used about 1/4 cup oregano to 1 to 2 dropperfuls of oregano oil). I taste it first to make sure it's spicy but doesn't burn, cause they'll lick it off! Some brands are stronger than others. The Telia Oils type is the strongest type Ive ever used. It's awesome, but a bit pricey, and can take 2 weeks to arrive from Greece, but it's worth the wait if you can afford it! I just saw it's out of stock, but it does appear to be available on ebay. It's THE STRONGEST oregano oil out there. But you don't need it to be that strong, honestly. I'm just mentioning that for any die-hards out there who want to know about it : ) I saw they DO sell the softgels on Amazon. Haven't tried it but I do trust their brand cause I've used their oregano oil for about 10 years!
2. It is used only externally
Safe uses might include:
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A dab on flea hot spots (diluted!)
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A diluted mixture on the collar for repelling insects
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A tiny amount mixed into shampoo
Never use directly on broken skin or raw irritated areas—it will sting badly.
3. It is used for short periods
Use for a few days, then stop. Long-term, daily use is not recommended.
❌ When Oregano Oil Is Not Safe for Dogs
1. Undiluted (straight) oregano oil
This can cause:
2. Given internally
DO NOT feed oregano essential oil to dogs. It can damage the liver, gut, and cause toxicity. Oregano leaf or powder is sometimes used by vets, but not the oil.
(Note from Laura: years ago I saw a different source that did say that it was safe to give oregano oil to dogs. So, I have given oregano oil to my dogs (about 5 drops in a capsule), on occasion, with no noticeable side effects. I would not doubt that if you gave them too much.It could cause liver damage and it definitely can lower iron temporarily, but doing it for a day or two did not seem to have any negative side effects at all. Every dog may be different. I can't say what would happen with your dog, just telling you the story about mine).
3. Used on puppies, elderly dogs, or dogs with health issues
Because they are more sensitive.
🐾 Cat warning
Never use oregano oil on or around cats. It's toxic to them.
I just made a batch for my aunt's dog who was itching a lot and it really helped him. After I would apply it, he would get really energized and kind of roll around on the floor like, maybe he wasn't crazy about smelling like a pizza, and was trying to get a little bit of it off, but he was actually wagging his tail the whole time and would bounce around like he was happy. The main thing is my aunt told me that he stopped scratching all night.
Please note that the brand of MCT oil I showed in the picture with the oregano oil, is something I got at walmart, under $15. But when I looked for that brand on amazon, it cost a lot more. So the link I put is for
this brand instead, which is a lot more affordable. You can also probably find it at your local whole foods or health food store.
I've been using this recipe for years, with no side effects (unless you rub this in your eyes... then it might sting a little, so just don't do that). I am not worried about my pets accidentally getting some in their eyes because I would much rather them have a little stinging in their eyes, than know they could be getting a harmful pesticide / neurotixin like Advantage in their eyes (and whole bloodstream).
And I try to regularly give them probiotics, because it is so helpful for digestion in dogs and cats. I did
a post about it here, and if you scroll down the page, you will see how you can make your own probiotics and save money. And if you scroll really far down the page, you can see lots of different varieties of probiotics, highlighted in light blue. I pasted this information to show you that different probiotics can help with different things. It's really interesting and good for every pet owner to know. The rhamnossus GG variety, for instance, is great for quickly reducing populations of e coli, which can make a urinary tract infection much worse.
All three are super helpful for keeping my dog's allergies in check, and the oregano oil really does help kill and deter fleas. Had to share. I have been using this on my shepherds with great success for years.
It is such a relief for me to have something that works just as well as advantage ( honestly I think it works even better), but it doesn't have the toxic side effects. More and more dogs are dying early, because toxic flea medications are known to cause cancer. I will never forget the day I put Frontline on my cat Setzer, and he had a horrible reaction, it made him hyperventilate and he was in distress. Advantage did not give him the same reaction, but he died of lymphoma, so I really have to wonder. I gave all my cats advantage, and they all died before their time. I will never use that stuff again, especially because it is toxic for humans as well. Once you put it on your dog, it can get all over your entire house. But the oregano oil / MCT oil works so well.I honestly do not understand why anybody ever bothers to use Advantage or Frontline anymore.
One of my best friends ( a big time dog lover) also taught me that
Lavender Oil works really well too deter fleas. I have used it and by golly, she's right. It works great, and it smells great too! I still can't get over the fact that something that smells so good and is so inexpensive and nontoxic could actually work just as well on fleas as advantage... but it really does!!!
I also did this post about what other people recommend for dogs that are itching. Honestly I have not found anything that works better than what I just listed above, but if you want to see that other page, I made, just
click here.
And lastly, here's a reminder of some of the toxic side effects of topical flea medications, for dogs AND humans (
from Chat GPT): (and by the way I absolutely believe there could be way more side effects than this, this is just what they gave me in a quick search, not a deep dive):
👨👩👧 Potential Side Effects in Humans
People usually react because they:
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Touch the application site before it's dry
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Hug or sleep near the pet too soon
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Get the product on their skin accidentally
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Get residue on bedding or furniture
Here’s what can happen:
1. Skin Irritation
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Burning
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Redness
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Itchy rash
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Tingling or numbness
Usually mild and resolves with washing.
2. Eye Irritation
If product gets in eyes:
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Burning
-
Tearing
-
Blurred vision
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Conjunctivitis
Flush with water for 15 minutes.
3. Respiratory Symptoms
Some people are sensitive to the solvents or insecticides:
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Coughing
-
Throat irritation
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Wheezing
-
Headache from fumes
4. Neurological Symptoms (Rare)
Usually from heavy exposure or improper handling:
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Dizziness
-
Nausea
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Tremors (very rare)
-
Numbness around fingers
5. Systemic Reactions (Very Rare)
For individuals with chemical sensitivities:
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Hives
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Swelling
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Anxiety / agitation
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Chest tightness
Seek medical care if symptoms are severe.
🛡️ How to Reduce Side Effects for Pets & People
For Pets
-
Choose the correct weight range product
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Apply only to skin, not fur
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Prevent licking or grooming for a few hours
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Separate pets until the medication is completely dry
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Avoid using dog-only formulas on cats (critical!)
For Humans
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Wear gloves when applying
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Wash hands afterward
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Keep the pet away from kids until dry
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Don’t sleep with the animal the same night it’s applied
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Avoid touching the application site for 24 hours
Had to share!
