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Essential Oils for Dogs?
Aromatherapy is a relatively new holistic modality that uses certain scents like medicines to affect the body on a biochemical level. They are made from highly concentrated plant substances that are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that come from the seeds, bark, stems, flowers and roots of plants. The fragrant scents used in aromatherapy are absorbed by the mucus membranes in the nose and go directly to the brain to cause the therapeutic effect. In recent years, essential oils have become more and more popular.
Natural, however doesnāt always mean safe. There are serious risks associated with using essential oils to treat dogs, but also ways to use them safely. It is important to remember that the essential oil blends and aromatherapy that human beings can handle and enjoy, might not produce the same reaction in our pets. In fact, some oils can be quite dangerous.
Many pet owners today are turning to essential oils for a variety of health concerns in their pets, including flea and tick prevention, skin issues, and behavior problems like anxiety. Itās important to know which oils are safe to use, how to use them, and to remember that, like people, each animal is different and may react uniquely to a specific essential oil.
Best Oils for Dogs:
Lavender
1. Helps with pet odor
2. May help allergies, burns, ulcers, and insomnia
3. Car ride anxiety and car sickness
Peppermint Oil
1. Helps get rid of fleas
2. Cools sore muscles
3. Soothes upset stomach
Chamomile Oil
1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Helps with skin irritations, burns, wounds, and ulcers
3. Can calm stress
Frankincense Oil
1. A potential cancer fighter
2. Combats germs and boosts immunity
Cedar wood Oil
1. Pest repellent
2. Aids lungs and circulation
3. Supports hair health
Cardamom Oil
1. Digestive aid
2. Helps ease heartburn
3. Stimulates appetite
Fennel Oil
1. Assists the adrenal cortex and helps break up toxins and fluid in tissue and thyroid and pineal glands
Itās important that you choose 100 percent pure, therapeutic-grade and certified USDA organic essential oils free of adulterants and additives for use with your pets. Dogs have very sensitive senses of smell so essential oils should always be used in extremely small amounts and diluted with a carrier oil. Itās also important to remember what oils you can and cannot use in an oil diffuser around your pet. When using aroma tools like a diffuser, make sure to provide an escape route so your dog or cat doesnāt feel trapped. Itās also not recommended to force the use of any oils on pets when they clearly do not like them.