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Aromatherapy For Flea Control
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Aromatherapy is the use of therapeutic
essential oils. It is part of a larger field called Phytotherapy (plant therapy).
Essential oils are the volatile essences of steam distilled from medicinal
plants. They are extremely concentrated and depending on the plant, it may
take one ton or more of plant matter to yield just 32 ounces of essential
oil! This explains the cost of making products using these wonderful oils.
Dogs have a much stronger
sense of smell than humans. Therefore when using essential oils only a small
amount is necessary. Animals have an innate ability to self-medicate,
if left to their own devices they pick and choose the herbs they need to maintain
health. I have watched dogs go through my collection of 60 essential oils,
sniffing the closed bottles, and choose exactly the oil it needs from among
them so acute is this ability. Essential Oil Therapy makes use
of this instinct and allows the animal to guide us in their healing.
It is commonly thought that dogs have about 200 million olfactory scent receptors in their nasal folds, we have 50 million.
Never offer undiluted oils to dogs! Do not offer more than three oils
at any one time to a dog.
Many Essential Oils are dangerous to cats. Cats are highly sensitive
to essential oils as their liver has a very limited ability to metabolize
them. It is always better to have professional guidance when using essential
oils with cats.
NEVER APPLY
ESSENTIALOILS WITHOUT CLEAR PERMISSION FROM THE ANIMAL!
Allow them to
smell EACH oil before EACH application. To apply oils without
offering them first is at best annoying (imagine being smothered in a perfume
you hated with no way to wash it off) and at worst dangerous as it is much
more likely to provoke an adverse reaction. If you allow your animal
to guide you in the application the likelihood of having an adverse reaction
is extremely low but in the unlikely event of your animal showing a reaction
such as skin rashes, hives, or shortness of breath discontinue use immediately
and contact a professional therapist for advice. Never use essential oils on puppies less
than 10 weeks old. A puppy's skin is too sensitive and their systems too
immature to handle essential oils, no matter how well diluted.
Know about the oil you are offering
as some oils have side-effects (such as bergamot which is photo-toxic and
can burn skin badly if exposed to sunlight within twelve hours of application).
Apply several drops of essential
oil to a bandana handkerchief and tie it around your dogs neck, or purchase
a nebulizing diffuser, which releases essential oils into the air.
Dogs should be treated with a
dose similar to that which you would use on a child. This is approximately
2-3 percent. You can achieve this percentage dilution in two ways. If you
are making an essential oil blend, add 15 drops of your essential oil to
a 1/2 ounce of base oil- a fatty oil such as sesame sweet almond, or jojoba.
3 drops to 5 mls is the highest recommended dilution. If you are making a spritz spray, add
30 drops to 8 ounces of water or other liquid- hydrosols, aloe vera or cider
vinegar. A dog that is exposed to a higher dose of EOs than necessary may
pace, whine, roll, drool or become frenetic. Lethargy, lack of coordination
and shock are also symptoms.
Aromatherapy is a complementary natural health remedy and should never be
used as a replacement for regular veterinary care. Essential oils are
potent chemicals albeit natural and should be treated with respect. Always
check with your vet and a qualified Essential Oil for Animals Therapist before
applying. Remember, 'Natural' doesn't mean non-toxic and safe use requires
knowledge. If your dog is
ill, please consult your vet.
Make sure the animal is drinking pure water. Chlorinated water will
suppress thyroid and immune function in animals even quicker than in humans,
and when that happens, you will suppress the healing process of that animal
whether it is a dog, a horse or a cat.
DO NOT USE
THE OILS FOR MORE THAN 2 WEEKS WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
even if your animal still shows interest.
How to use essential oils with
your dog:
• Massage-
Add one drop of essential oil to to 1/2 tsp. carrier oil, such as jojoba
oil, sweet almond oil or olive oil. Massage into hairless or least hairy area
of the skin, such as the armpit, groin or inner thigh. Massage gently for
3 - 4 mins. Do not apply undiluted essential oil directly to your pet's skin.
Prolonged contact of undiluted oils can easily burn an animals skin
since the dosage of these oils is significantly higher than that used for
healing purposes.
Tipping is the most effective
form of applying essential oils to your pet. It has been found that
if you do the ears, it is a much quicker response. Here is why: paws
of an animal were made to keep things out, everything from sticks to harmful
chemicals. This also includes essential oils. The oils will get
absorbed via the paws, but not as well as through the ears. People
who are still saying “the paws” are people who are comparing animals to humans,
and we absorb stuff through our feet. This just isn’t true for animals
because their pads are so tough and “impenetrable” to most everything.
Oil your fingers and thumb and
start at the base of the ear and slide your fingers to the tip of the ear.
You can also massage the ears (animals LOVE it).
• Diffuser-
Add a few drops of essential oil to the water in a diffuser. Leave your
dog in the room with the diffuser for about 30 mins, twice daily, while the
oil is evaporated into the air your dog will breath it in.
• Mister-
Use to spray dog's bed or area.
Choose a quiet time when you and
your dog can concentrate on the oils (not before being fed or directly after
feeding) Take each bottle one at a time and hold the open oil bottle firmly
in your hand leaving only the top exposed so the animal cannot take it from
your hand. Hold the bottle about 3 feet away from your dog's nostrils, moving
it slowly towards him until you can see his nose twitching or some other sign
that they are in a comfortable range to smell the oils. Some animals will
want to come towards the bottle, possibly even lick it, others will want
to stay at a safe distance and simply smell it. The oil in the bottle is
evaporating as it is open so the animal is actually absorbing the affects
even if it is a little distance from the bottle. If you move the bottle backwards
and forwards you will notice if the animal is following the smell or not.
When the animal has had enough of the oil it will move away from you or display
in its own unique way that it has had enough!
If the dog rolls over rub a tiny
amount of the oil on its tummy avoiding genital areas. If the dog tries to
eat the bottle then put your open hand firmly on the bottle top, tip the bottle
up so a little oil is on the palm of your hand and allow the animal to lick
it off your hand. You can repeat this procedure up to three times in a session.
It is important to assess the
response to each oil before applying them, never apply them if the animal
shows no interest! When an animal wants a topical application they
will offer themselves to you: pushing their bodies into your hands; shifting
around so you are rubbing just the right spot; pointing their heads at the
place that needs attention.
Signs of a keen interest: smelling intently for a long time, licking
the lips or trying to lick the bottle, follows you around with the aroma,
rolls on its back. (offer twice a day)
Signs of a moderate interest: A few sniffs then looks away, a small
sniff but returns to the bottle, tongue licks quickly, easily distracted from
the aromas, (offer once a day)
No interest: turns away from the aroma, one sniff and no further
interest, tries to leave the room. ( Do not apply)
If the animal shows no interest in the oil offer the oils again the next
day, if there is still no interest skip a day, if there is still no interest
leave it for three days and then try again. If at this stage there is still
no interest the animal no longer needs that oil.
Usually an animal will want to use the oils for between 3 - 10 days however
sometimes one application will be enough or occasionally an animal will want
them for longer, by the time an animal refuses the oils you will see a noticeable
improvement in its condition.
The success of this method relies
on allowing the animal to guide its own healing it will indicate to you how
often and in which way it would like the oils to be used.
Citronella
massage & diffuser & spritzer
Citronella oil is a renowned
plant-based insect repellent, and has been registered for this use for many
years. The oil of citronella is a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode
of action. Research also shows that citronella oil has strong antifungal
properties, and is effective in calming barking dogs.
Tea Tree
massage or mister
Tea Tree Oil is a broad-based spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral
agent. It has soothing proprieties that are useful for insect bites and
itching eczemas. Always use in a diluted form.
Peppermint
massage, diffuser
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
As most peppermint are industrial-grade, a high quality source is imperative!
Properties: analgesic, anti-bacterial, insect repelling Use for: Massaging
sore joints, freshening breath, relieving motion sickness (with Ginger), repelling
fleas, flies and mosquitoes
Eucalyptus
massage
Organic Eucalyptus Essential
Oil is bacterial, antifungal, and extremely useful inhalant for respiratory
complaints. Used in a diffuser, it inhibits the spread of contagious disease.
Eucalyptus Oil helps relieve sore muscles, lessens pain, and brings soothing
relief to arthritic and rheumatic dogs. Due to its germicidal value, Eucalyptus
Oil is a powerful disinfectant for burns, cuts, abrasions, and parasitic skin
affections. It can also be used as a natural insect repellent.
Grapefruit
massage
Grapefruit has many uses. It Calms, Deodorizes,and Repels insects
especially fleas. It also provides a Clarifying and tonic effect on
the skin and tissues and is believed to stimulate Hair growth. Useful
in small amounts for dogs that have an imbalanced sebum production resulting
in skin problems.
