Exploring the world of essential oils can be a transformative experience not only for us but also for our beloved pets. Understanding how essential oils work with pets is crucial for a multitude of reasons, ensuring their safety, health, and wellbeing.
1. Safety First: Not all essential oils are created equally, nor are they all safe for use around pets. Their smaller bodies and heightened senses make them more susceptible to substances that humans can handle with ease. By understanding which essential oils are pet-friendly, you can avoid unintentionally causing harm to your furry friends.
That said, there is one essential oil that is detrimental for cats and dogs that should not be used around them or diffused in small spaces without giving the animal a way out of that room: Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). While Tea Tree oil is a powerhouse oil that helps with acne and cleaning among other things, it is detrimental to dogs and cats in large portions. This is precisely why, when I clean my bathroom, that I close the door, turn on the exhaust fan, add 4 capfulls of Thieves Household Cleaner and 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil to my toilet. I swish it around with some Baking Soda, and let it sit while I clean everything else with Thieves Household Cleaner.
Thieves Household Cleaner contains 5 essential oils that comprise the Thieves Essential Oil blend: Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary.
Click on the picture to view the entire Thieves line!
A good way to introduce your cat or dog to oils is to open the bottle and set the bottle about a foot away from them. If they leave the area, you can safely assume that that particular oil is one they do not like. However, if they stay and don't bat an eye at the fact there is an open bottle close to them, then you can safely assume that you can diffuse that oil in a room. I would start with diffusing in a large room, like your living room and diffusing 2 drops and see how they respond. If they leave the room in 15 minutes, then stop diffusing. Open the windows to air out the room, discard the oil water from the diffuser down the sink and wipe the diffuser down with alcohol. Try again with this same method the next day, but with a different oil. Make note of which oils cause them to leave the room and ones that don't.
How do you know if they absolutely LOVE an oil? Well, my friend Kim Y. bought her Premium Starter Kit and simply started diffusing Peace and Calming. Her 2 cats who were mortal enemies and fought like "cats and dogs" drew nearer to the diffuser and laid down within a foot of eachother. This was unheard of according to Kim! I'd say that's a good indication!
Here is the picture Kim sent me within minutes of her turning her diffuser on!
2. Tailored Benefits: Just as essential oils can address specific needs and concerns in humans, they can also offer targeted support for pets. From promoting calmness and relaxation to supporting healthy skin and coat, the right essential oils can enhance your pet's quality of life significantly. However, the key is knowing which oils are suitable and how to use them effectively. The Animal Scents line from Young Living is a good place to start with your pet's needs. I use the Animal Scents Shampoo on all of our animals, as well as the Animal Scents Ointment, InfectAway Essential Oil Blend, and Paragize Essential Oil Blend. There are other essential oil blends in the Animal Scents line, but I personally purchase items on an "as needed" basis. Since I've actually used the above products in the Animal Scents line, I can speak to their effectiveness. So if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
3. Proper Usage and Dilution: The application methods and dilution rates for pets differ vastly from those for humans. Due to their sensitive nature, essential oils must be diluted appropriately before use on or around pets. Understanding these nuances ensures that the oils provide their intended benefits without causing irritation or discomfort. The Animals and Essential Oils Desk Reference is an invaluable tool to help with animals of many species. You can see the link below.
4. Strengthening Bonds: Integrating essential oils into your pet care routine can also serve as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Whether it's through gentle massage or diffusing a calming blend in their environment, these shared moments foster a sense of trust and security.
5. Whole-Home Harmony: Pets are integral members of the family and their wellbeing contributes to the overall harmony of the home. Employing essential oils safely can support not only their health but also create a more peaceful, balanced living environment for everyone.
In essence, understanding how essential oils work with pets is fundamental to utilizing these powerful tools responsibly and effectively. It allows pet owners to harness the benefits of essential oils, creating a nurturing and supportive atmosphere for their four-legged family members. If you have any questions or concerns about using essential oils with your pets, contact a wholistic veterinarian knowledgeable in the proper use of essential oils. Traditional veterinarians are not taught about wholistic practices in veterinarian school. Much like medical doctors, veterinarians are trained in medications and how to administer those, but are taught all essential oils are dangerous to animals, which simply isn't true. (Think "BIG Pharma")
For further study, The Essential Oils Animal Desk Reference is invaluable and filled with information in proper dilution ratios for each domestic animal. I realize it is very high priced, but if you would like information directly from this book on a specific species, let me know and I'll send you pictures from my book.
Another great book is Essential Oils: The Young Living Book/Guide for Beginners for Pets by Lela Gibson.
This blog post represents only a small fraction of the information available on the topic of Pets and Essential Oils. If you would like a full class about this or any other topic, let me know! I have a FREE group on Facebook with many videos of these classes that I've done in the past. Let me know you're interested, send me a Facebook friend request, and I'll get you into the group. If you'd like an in person class, I'd be happy to do that too. I have the option of a Zoom class for those who are further away as well.
We're only limited by our imagination!
Have a Wonderful Day!
Love & God Bless,
Craig & Regina Graham
~in the silly picture below~
I am not a doctor. I cannot diagnose, prescribe, or treat anyone
for any disease or sickness.
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