Pets Care

Any dog has time in its life when it doesn’t smell as fresh and clean as if it was just washed in a fresh, spring-fed lake. This is where essential oils can come to the rescue. Not only do they mask unpleasant odors but they offer some aromatherapy to the dog and household.

You can create a variety of different aromatic shampoos for your dog. All-natural aromatherapy grooming begins with the addition of essential oils to an all natural soap or shampoo base.

The following recipes all call for the essential oils to be added to 8 oz of an all natural shampoo base.

Spicy Deodorizing Shampoo

5 drops Cinnamon Leaf

5 drops Caraway

3 drops Black Pepper

3 drops Bay Lead

Woodsy Conditioning Shampoo

6 drops Atlas Cedarwood

4 drops Rosemary

2 drops Patchouli

3 drops Vetiver

Refreshing Citrus Shampoo

3 drops Sweet Orange

3 drops Lemon

3 drops Lime

3 drops Grapefruit

3 drops Mandarin

Delicate Floral Shampoo

4 drops Lavender

2 drops Ylang Ylang

4 drops Rose

6 drops Petitgrain

Fresh Herbal Shampoo

4 drops Sweet Basil

4 drops Lavender

4 drops Clary Sage

4 drops Coriander Seed

Make sure to watch the dog carefully to see how they react to the scent. If they seem uncomfortable, change the blend, or lessen the amount.

Adapted from Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to Use of Essential Oil and Hydrosols with Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell (Findhorn Press, 2004). http://www.care2.com/

The trend toward natural health consciousness in humans is gaining popularity in the animal world too. Many veterinarians are beginning to introduce natural therapies in their practice, including osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, flower essences and more recently aromatherapy. It’s just been a few years since aroma therapists and vets have begun to recognize how animals can benefit from this wonderful natural therapy.

For humans and animals alike, essential oils are powerfully antiseptic, detoxifying and revitalizing, thus increasing resistance to disease while strengthening the immune system.

Essential oils can also be used to control pet odors and to purify the air from dust, dander and allergens. For example, mix 50 drops of lemon essential oil in a 2-oz spray bottle filled with water. Shake very well several times and spray the room. You’ll notice immediately that it refreshes and cleanses the air!

But aromatherapy offers more than just fragrance. Their remarkable actions upon animals — most notably dogs, cats and horses — are immediate, profound and long-lasting, positively affecting their overall health and emotional well-being.

Today we will focus on recipes and tips for Fido. As faithful friends, dogs bring affection, pure joy and loyalty into our lives. Most breeds thrive in the outdoors, running and playing in the freedom of nature.

In fact, dogs will naturally purge their system in the wilderness, carefully choosing specific plants their systems need, such as blackberries, raw carrots, etc. Now a domestic animal, most dogs have lost this natural instinct, and are becoming less resistant to illness in general.

Dogs have a predictable set of physical ailments that may occur during their life span. Today I’ll share aromatherapy blends that will soothe and heal skin problems, remove and prevent fleas and ticks, relieve the pain of rheumatism and arthritis, revive energy and control pet odor.

Blend to Relieve Skin Problems

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with Calendula oil. Apply to afflicted area.

* 5 drops Lavender
* 6 drops Geranium

Blend to Relieve Itching

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with Calendula oil. Apply to afflicted area.

* 4 drops Lavender
* 5 drops Geranium
* 3 drops Roman Chamomile

Blend to Combat Fleas

Fleas are nuisances for man and animal alike. This sinister pest hides within your pets’ fur as well as in our carpets, parquet and window coverings.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the following ingredients into a 1-oz spray bottle:

* 7.5 ml Mint essential oil
* 22.5 ml rubbing alcohol

Fleas absolutely dislike mint! Spray the affected areas of your home.don’t forget your dog’s bed. Spray directly onto your dog, holding the bottle about 10 inches from him. Avoid spraying on the head and eyes.

Blend to Combat Ticks

Check your home and pet for ticks – look in his bed, window coverings, walls, etc. Burn the ones you find to prevent them from coming back.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill.

* 10 drops Tea Tree
* 10 drops Lavender

Apply 1 drop of Lavender and 1 drop of Tea Tree undiluted essential oils before extracting ticks from your pet. This will disinfect the inflamed area. It may sting a little bit (as alcohol would) but it works great!

Blend to Ease Rheumatism

Like humans, many dogs suffer from rheumatism as they age. Your veterinarian may treat him with specific medications or natural therapies. But locally, you can apply and massage the following blend in the morning and night to alleviate pain.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill.

* 8 drops Birch
* 8 drops Juniper
* 7 drops Rosemary

Blend to Ease Arthritis

As recommended by some veterinarians, soften your dog’s bed to make it very cozy and warm. If your dog is an “outside” pet, allow him to sleep inside. A little moist heat, applied directly over painful joints, can be a great comfort to arthritic pets.

Get him a warm sweater, or apply a moist heating pad. And massage the area twice a day with the following blend to soothe the pain away.

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill.

* 12 drops Birch
* 8 drops Juniper
* 7 drops Rosemary

Blend to Boost His Energy

Prepare the following blend by pouring the essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and adding organic vegetable oil to fill. Massage the spine gently. Use in the mornings only.

* 5 drops Rosemary
* 6 drops Lavender
* 2 drops Peppermint

Blend to Control Pet Odor

Try this natural and aromatic spray. Pour the essential oils into a 1-oz spray bottle filled with water. Shake very vigorously several times before each use. Spray directly onto your dog, holding the bottle about 10 inches from him. Avoid spraying on the head and eyes.

* 10 drops Lavender
* 10 drops Geranium
* 6 drops Lemon

About the author:

Francoise Rapp, 2002. Internationally renowned aromatherapist and alchemist, Francoise Rapp, shares her expertise in using essential oils to heal and revitalize body and mind at http://www.aromalchemy.com. Highlights include aromatherapy classes, pure & organic essential oils, recipes and aromatic treatments for health and wellness, and a free weekly newsletter. Discover the power of aromatherapy today at http://www.aromalchemy.com!

Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, love — emotions play a pivotal role in our lives. But are these types of feelings an integral part of an animal’s world as well?

In the past, scientists questioned whether emotions affected the lives of animals. These days, however, emotional and spiritual health-consciousnes s has moved from being exclusively for humans and has advanced into the animal world.

Now more than ever, veterinarians realize that aromatherapy offers more than just fragrance and provides immediate, profound and long-lasting results that may positively affect an animal’s overall health and emotional well-being. Today, veterinarians are turning to osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, flower essences and most recently aromatherapy, as holistic solutions to common ailments in animals.

Stress is one of the most common causes of physical illness in animals. While animals are sensitive to their physical and emotional environment, their reactions manifest in ways that must be interpreted correctly by humans in order to be properly diagnosed.

For instance, leaving an animal alone for a long period of time, lack of sufficient affection, unhealthy food, an insufficient amount of exercise, the stress of owners, and abandonment are the most common causes of stress in animals and may lead to particular health problems such as fatigue, excessive itching or shedding, panting and even aggression.

Dogs specifically are a bit more emotionally dependent on their owners and require more attention than do cats or other animals. They are in tune with our moods, and seem to show more difficulty in coping with emotional stress and loneliness. Hyperactivity, fatigue and other physical ailments can be interpreted as stress-related symptoms in dogs.

The following recipes are easy stress-reducing aromalchemy blends for dogs. As faithful friends, dogs bring affection, pure joy and loyalty into our lives. Most breeds thrive in the outdoors, running and playing in the freedom of nature.

Historically, dogs have been able naturally purge their system of illness in the wilderness, by carefully choosing specific plants their systems need, such as blackberries, raw carrots, etc. Now a domestic animal, most dogs have lost this natural instinct, and are becoming less resistant to illness, yet still face the daily causes of stress.

**We do hope that these recipes help alleviate some of the common stress-related symptoms your loving pet may be experiencing. Beyond these aromatherapy blends, flower essences have been found to be helpful holistic remedies for animals as well. Be sure to consult your veterinarian if stress-related symptoms persist in your pet.

Blend to Relieve Emotional Stress

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with vegetable oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, etc.). Pour a small amount of the blend into your hand. Anoint the spine and head lightly. Repeat as necessary.

* 6 drops of Lavender
* 1 drop of Neroli 4 drops of Marjoram

Blend to Relieve Anxiety & Loneliness

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with vegetable oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, etc.). Pour a small amount of the blend into your hand. Anoint the spine and head lightly. Repeat as necessary.

* 1 drop of Rose otto
* 5 drops of Cypress
* 5 drops of Marjoram

Blend to Reduce Nervousness & Hyperactivity

Pour the following essential oils into a 10-ml bottle and fill with vegetable oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, etc.). Pour a small amount of the blend into your hand. Anoint the spine and head lightly. Repeat as necessary.

* 6 drops of Lavender
* 2 drops of Roman Chamomile
* 4 drops of Petitgrain

About the author

Francoise Rapp (c) Francoise Rapp, 2002. Internationally renowned aromatherapist and alchemist, Francoise Rapp, shares her expertise in using essential oils to heal and revitalize body and mind at http://www.aromalchemy.com.

Highlights include aromatherapy classes, pure & organic essential oils, recipes and aromatic treatments for health and wellness, and a free weekly newsletter. Discover the power of aromatherapy today at http://www.aromalchemy.com!

Adapted from Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell (Findhorn, 2002). http://www.care2.com/

½ oz. base oil (for example, sweet almond or hazelnut)

3 drops Valerian essential oil

2 drops Vetiver essential oil

4 drops Petigrain essential oil

3 drops Sweet Marjoram essential oil

2 drops Sweet Orange essential oil

Store in a dark glass bottle. The calming effect of this blend will range from ‘taking the edge off’ to soothing a dog to the point where it gets very mellow and takes a nap. You can adjust the number of drops used to get the desired effect, anywhere from 1-6 drops depending on the size of the dog.

If the cause of bad breath is gingivitis:

* Clove 1 drop
* Lavender 1 drop
* Myrrh 1 drop

Diluted in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.

If the cause is from a stomach problem:

Rub a drop of neat Peppermint in a line from beneath the ears and into the shoulders.

These recipes are from “The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Araomatherapy. ” By Valerie Ann Worwood

from Cats & Kittens Magazine

Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Geranium, Lemon verbena, rosemary, neroli and witch hazel are among the more common hydrosols, making them easier for cat owners to find and purchase for therapeutic use.

Chamomile (Roman) Anthemis nobilis: Suggested used: ear cleaning, skin irritations, calming

Geranium/Rose Geranium, Pelargonium x asperum: Suggested uses: tick repelling, deodorizing/perfuming, skin irritations, calming

Go to http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Essential-Oils to learn how to make hydrosols.

Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia: Suggested Uses: flea and tick repellent, deodorizing/perfuming, skin irritations, ear cleaning, calming

Lemon Verbena, Lippia citriadora: Suggested Uses: flea repellent, ear cleaning, skin irritations

Orange Blossom/Orange Flower/Neroli, Citrus aurantium: Suggested uses: calming, deodorizing/perfuming, skin irritaions

Rose, Rosa damascena: Suggested uses: calming, deodorizing/perfuming, skin irritations

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officianalis: Suggested uses: flea repelling, deodorizing, stimulating, revitalizing

Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana: suggested Uses: skin irritations, ear cleaning

Cold water followed by Lavender oil, as soon as possible.

From “The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy” by Valerie Ann Worwood

Put 1 drop of Tea Tree on the abscess. Then when the pus is discharged, put on 1 drop of Lavender. Clean with sat water.

From “The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy” by Valerie Ann Worwood

For Anxiety and/or Nervousness try Lavender. Rub 1-2 drops between hands and apply to muzzle, between toes, on top of feet to smell when nose is down, and on edge of ears.

One to two drops of essential oil is all that is necessary on animals as they respond much more quickly to the essential oils than do humans. Vegetable oil can be added to extend essential oils over larger areas and to heavily dilute the essential oil for use on smaller animals.

This Daily Aromatherapy Tip is brought to you by http://AromaThyme.com

Adapted from Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell (Findhorn, 2002). Article courtesy of http://www.care2.com/

Here is an ideal blend of essential oils to calm dogs in stressful situations: dogs with separation anxiety; training or show nerves; hyperactivity; fear of people, places, or things. Just hold this blend to their noses.

Calm Canine Essential Oil Blend

* ½ oz. base oil (for example, sweet almond or hazelnut)
* 3 drops Valerian essential oil
* 2 drops Vetiver essential oil
* 4 drops Petigrain essential oil
* 3 drops Sweet Marjoram essential oil
* 2 drops Sweet Orange essential oil

Store in a dark glass bottle. The calming effect of this blend will range from “taking the edge off” to soothing a dog to the point where it gets very mellow and takes a nap. You can adjust the number of drops used to get the desired effect, anywhere from 1-6 drops depending on the size of the dog.