Essential Oils for Natural Pet Care

Did you know that essential oils are not only powerful tools for our own personal health, but also can help your pets as well?  It is only in recent years that essential oil therapy for pets has gained substantial acceptance, this is partly due to European veterinarians who have begun using essential oils in their practices.

Pets are extremely sensitive to smell.  Along with a sensitive sniffer, also comes a physical sensitivity to artificial chemicals. If you have ever gotten a headache from someone’s obnoxious perfume, magnify that by 1000 times and you will experience what a pet experiences.  Just as there no place in anyone’s home for artificial fragrances for our health, the same is true for our pets.  Did you know that scented kitty litter can contribute to a variety of ailments in cats?

Essential oils are natures powerful elixir derived from plants and flowers.  Essential oils are not fragrances!  Below are a few ways you can treat your pet with the same essential oils you use for yourself.

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Stress and Anxiety: Essential oils can quickly calm an anxious dog. By taking a drop of two of an organic calming essential oils and rubbing your hands together and then gently gliding over your pet's coat, you can calm and lessen your pet's anxiety. Whether your dog suffers from separation anxiety, hyperactivity, fear of people, place or things, or fear of loud noises; essential oil blends can provide relief in any of these stressful situations.

Canine Calming Blend:

• 3 drops Lavender
• 3 drops Sweet Marjoram
• 3 drops Roman Chamomile
• 3 drops Neroli
• Mix in ½ ounce of base oil

Store in dark glass bottle in cool place and use when needed.

Hot Spots:  Has your pet ever had a red, raw spot that they lick incessantly?   A hot spot is a localized area of acute inflammation that is traumatized by licking, scratching or rubbing.  Bacterial overgrowth occurs on the skin and often results in a hairless area that is moist, red and quite painful. Essential oils combat harmful bacteria and help to quickly heal hot spots.

Hot Spot Skin Spray:

• 7 drops of Lavender
• 5 drops of Tea Tree
• Mix in a spray bottle with 2 ounces of water.
• Shake well and apply as needed.
• (A drop of Lavender and Tea Tree placed directly on the area has also shown to quickly heal the area. )

Fleas:  To combat fleas, you can apply 2 – 4 drops of this essential oil blend topically to the neck, chest, legs and tail base of your dog.  You can also add the drops of essential oil to a bandanna or cotton collar.  You can also put in a spritz bottle with water (instead of the oil) and shake and spritz, being careful not to get near the pet’s eyes.

Flea-Free Spritz Spray:

• 4 drops Clary Sage
• 7 drops Peppermint
• 3 drops Lemon
• Mix in a spray bottle with 2 ounces of water.
• Shake well and apply as needed.

Other essential oils that combat fleas naturally are lemongrass, geranium, rosemary and bergamot.  You can make your own custom blend depending on what oils you have on hand.

Always remember to use organic or wild crafted essential oils.  Since essential oils are highly concentrated, several times more powerful than the plants they are derived from, it is important that your pets are not getting  high concentrations of pesticides.  Also, many essential oils on the market today have been adulterated, diluted, reconstituted and more.  By altering what nature does best, you are losing the therapeutic value of the essential oils. Make sure you are using essential oils from a reliable source.

At Hippocrates Wellness we have our own line of essential oils, call Oasis Therapy Center to learn more and purchase yours today! 561-.471.5867