Aromatherapy for Pets
ScentsCity
The use of aromatherapy on humans have been widely accepted throughout the world. However, the concept of animal aromatherapy is something that is relatively new. But it is slowly gaining attention from pet owners who want only the safest approach in treatment for their pets. In fact, essential oils can be used from your kittens at home to large animals such as cows and horses.
Cedarwood
Frankincense
Niaouli
Calm & Relax
The use of aromatherapy on humans have been widely accepted throughout the world. However, the concept of animal aromatherapy is something that is relatively new. But it is slowly gaining attention from pet owners who want only the safest approach in treatment for their pets. In fact, essential oils can be used from your kittens at home to large animals such as cows and horses.
Essential oils must be used as directed and not all can be used topically on pets. The two most important aspects of essential oil safety are purity and proper dilution. Not all essential oils that are safe for dogs are also safe for cats.
How is Essential Oil Beneficial for Animals?
- Essential oils contain several beneficial properties that facilitate in the healing of your pet's condition. Some of the most common properties found in aromatherapy oils are antiseptic, antibacterial, and detoxifying properties.
- On the physical aspect, these essential oil properties prove effective in curing various illnesses as it did with humans.
- From the physical, the effects of essential oils go much deeper such that you can address the emotional issues being faced by your pet animals.
How To share your favourite essential oil with yours pet?
Like all new experiences for your dog, you should go as slowly as possible when adding essential oils into the routine.
Begin by holding a bottle of pet-safe essential oils in your hand with your dog in the same room, allowing them to approach and then smell the actual bottle. Dogs are scent-driven animals, and you don't want to overwhelm them with too much too fast. When your dog is used to the idea of the oil, diffuse the oil with a water diffuser, opting for aromatherapy before you move onto any topical application. It's ideal to begin essential-oil therapy to help your dog feel good, rather than starting a routine when you are trying to resolve an issue.
For Tropical Application
To ensure your animal's safety when using essential oils, it is important to take note of proper dosage when administering them. For your own pet's safety, it is best to consult with an expert veterinarian. However, here are some general guidelines that you can follow that will determine the most appropriate dosage of essential oil to use, depending on the size of your animal:
*Small animals: For small cats and dogs, the safe dosage would be 3-5 drops of diluted essential oil. The oil's concentration could be between 80 to 90 percent.
*Large animals: For cattle and horses, the safe dosage ranges between 20 to 30 drops of essential oil, which can either be diluted or used straight from the mixture.
*Larger animals: For large dogs, the safe dosage is between 3-5 drops of essential, which can either be diluted or used straight from the mixture.
*Small animals: For small cats and dogs, the safe dosage would be 3-5 drops of diluted essential oil. The oil's concentration could be between 80 to 90 percent.
*Large animals: For cattle and horses, the safe dosage ranges between 20 to 30 drops of essential oil, which can either be diluted or used straight from the mixture.
*Larger animals: For large dogs, the safe dosage is between 3-5 drops of essential, which can either be diluted or used straight from the mixture.
Some people start with a very small amount of oil applied to the back of the dog's neck. Other methods of application include oil petting and oil spritzing, which are useful approaches once your dog is familiar with essential oils. Be sure to chat with your holistic vet about the essential oils you'd like to use on your pet to ensure you are choosing those that are safe for pets and applying them at the correct dilution. With so many oils and methods to choose from, here are 7 essential oils for dogs to get you started:
Lavender
Lavender oil is one of the most widely used aromatherapy oils in humans and the same applies with animals. Some of its most useful properties include fungicidal, germicidal, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties. Therefore, you can use it to treat parasite problems in your pets and other forms of bacterial infection.
To use lavender oil, you can use it as a topical treatment or shampoo.
Lavender oil is one of the most widely used aromatherapy oils in humans and the same applies with animals. Some of its most useful properties include fungicidal, germicidal, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties. Therefore, you can use it to treat parasite problems in your pets and other forms of bacterial infection.
To use lavender oil, you can use it as a topical treatment or shampoo.
Cedarwood oil is the active ingredient in ScentsCity's Pest Defence blended oil. In addition to repelling pests and killing them when combined with the inactive ingredients in ScentsCity cedarwood has a relaxing effect on dogs and supports healthy skin. It can be used effectively for pets in a water diffuser to calm them. If your dog acts a little sleepy when you apply Cedarwood essential oil to the skin and coat, it's a response to the aromatherapeutic quality of the cedar essential oils.
Frankincense is a less potent oil used in many aspects of pet care, from wound care to behavior improvement to antibacterial healing. It's a great all-around oil to use with your dogs. Frankincense quiets the mind and that Egyptians once used the ancient oil in mummification in order to elevate the spirit.
This is another useful oil for animals due to the presence of various essential oil properties such as antifungal, bactericidal, and expectorant properties. Hence, the use of Niaouli oil is highly recommended in curing respiratory ailments or in boosting the animal's immunity against certain diseases.
Peppermint
This is something that every pet owner must constantly have at home since peppermint oil is an efficient oil to use against common condition that pets suffer from. For your pet dogs, you can use it to provide relief against nausea or car sickness. Simply apply a few drops of the peppermint oil on the dog's sleeping area or pillows so they could slowly sniff into it during sleep. The properties from the oil will penetrate their system to combat the conditions stated above. It is also an ideal essential oil to use as natural pain reliever.
This is something that every pet owner must constantly have at home since peppermint oil is an efficient oil to use against common condition that pets suffer from. For your pet dogs, you can use it to provide relief against nausea or car sickness. Simply apply a few drops of the peppermint oil on the dog's sleeping area or pillows so they could slowly sniff into it during sleep. The properties from the oil will penetrate their system to combat the conditions stated above. It is also an ideal essential oil to use as natural pain reliever.
Calm&Relax is an essential oil blend that help hyperactive dog who benefitted from the relaxing qualities of this oil blend. It's meant to be used for fear, anxiety, behavior issues, car rides, and excitement. Like lavender oil, it can be used in any times of stress and in new environments to help build your dog's confidence. It is useful when diffused or applied to something close to your dog, like their collar, blanket, or toys.
Anxiety
Anxiety that containt Bergamot, Chamomile german blue, Rosewood, Ylang ylang, which helps with fear, behavior, and training. Try it in a diffuser, on your pup's collar or with topical application.
When using essential oils to treat your pets or animals at home, here are some safety guidelines to consider to avoid harming them and get the best results:
- If you are treating large animals for conditions such as bone injury, bacterial infection, or arthritis, you can use the same method of application and dosage as recommended for humans.
- When treating open wounds with essential oils, it is best to transfer the oil in a spray container and spray it against the area of the wound directly. Then, cover the wound with an ointment that would keep it sealed and free of other foreign substances that could increase infection.
- For younger animals, be very wary when using essential oils. Consult with a veterinarian first before proceeding to ensure that it is safe to do so.
- On the other hand, avoid using essential oils on pregnant animals since it can induce labor or lead to miscarriage.
- Be careful not to get the oils into the animal's eyes as it can lead to irritation.
- Since each animal is different, you need to approach essential oil treatment differently. After using essential oil on them, observe how they respond to the treatment before proceeding onto adding dosage or using another form of medicine since it could result to contraindication.
**Note: Essential oils must be used as directed and not all can be used topically on pets. The two most important aspects of essential oil safety are purity and proper dilution. Not all essential oils that are safe for dogs are also safe for cats. Please consult a holistic veterinarian before using any new essential oils with your pet.
