You have probably heard all about the benefits of using essential oils in your home by now. There are so many benefits for a healthy body, mind, and home. You may not have realized though that some of our four legged friends may also benefit from essential oils. Dogs and horses can both benefit from essential oils. Cats are usually considered to be more sensitive and their liver’s do not break down substances in the same way so there is the potential for toxicity. Greater care needs to be taken with kitties. In general though most birds, fish, reptiles, rodents, or small mammals like hamsters.
Other animals that may benefit include farm animals. In fact study was just done on using essential oils for raising poultry. The study, published in October 2014 shows that chickens who consumed feed with added oregano oil had a 59% lower mortality rate due to ascites, a common infection in poultry, than untreated chickens. This bodes well for poultry farmers and for those of of us who don’t want antibiotics in our meat. I am pleased that the scientific community is seeing essential oils as so beneficial and worthy of study.
So now that we know which animals may benefit how do administer the oils?
Inhalation
Diffusion
Topical (spot application, massage therapy, bathing)
What to use them for…
bug bites
injury
skin irritation
trauma
anxiety
bed freshener –
shampoo
disinfectant
cracked paw pads
Lavender is a great all around oil for animals. You can make a lavender compress, a lavender ointment, and put lavender on a cotton ball next to their crate or bed.
For further reading I recommend Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to the Use of Essential Oils & Hydrosols with Animals.
For the oils I recommend Young Living Animal Scents line. They have oil blends, shampoo, and ointment.
PuriClean™: Add 1–2 drops to the affected area to support proper cleansing. Put 8–10 drops in a 1-oz. spray bottle with distilled water for a quick skin-cleansing spritz.
Mendwell™: Massage 1–2 drops on the affected area.
ParaGize™: Add 2–4 drops to water.
Infect Away™: Add 1–2 drops to the affected area to support proper healing. Put 8–10 drops in a 1-oz. spray bottle with distilled water to support wound-healing properties..
RepelAroma™: Apply 2–4 drops to your hands and pet onto your animal’s coat. Add to a spray bottle and spritz generously on your animal’s coat or skin. Diffuse in the home or small areas outdoors.
T-Away™: Add 1 drop behind each ear to calm during times of grief or agitation.* Diffuse for 30 minutes 3 times daily to support positive emotional perseverance. *Carefully apply according to the size and species of animal. General rule: Dilute more for smaller species.
