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Essential Oils and Pets
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils can beneficial for a variety of things in our pets. I regularly use them both personally and in my clinic.
Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds from plants. Essential oils work with the body to help support, repair, renew, enhance, and maintain. Each oil has different properties and can be used for different reasons. Essential oils have what we can call “homeostatic intelligence” (Stewart 2004, p379) in that they help support the normal processes of the body and help bring balance to it as well. They can affect physical and emotional healing.
QUALITY MATTERS
It is recommended to only use "therapeutic" grade essential oils.
"A therapeutic grade essential oil can be defined as one that is purposefully (and intent should not be disregarded here) distilled from plants that are either cultivated organically without pesticides or herbicides, or grown wild in a clean, non-toxic environment. It is important that the proper botanical genus, species, and cultivar are identified. They should also be extracted by steam distillation at low pressure/ low temperatures without chemical solvents, and for the proper length of time to ensure no significant loss or exclusion of lighter or heavier chemical fractions. The vessels in which the distillation is done should absolutely be made of food grade, inert materials." (Reagan, Bloomer, Thomason 2015, p392-396)
There are a few companies that use the term "therapeutic grade." I use Young Living Essential Oils for the reason that the company monitors their product from seed to seal, use sustainable farming practices, customized the distillation process for each plant, and fill their bottles with 100% essential oil. These oils can also be diffused, applied topically, and taken internally. I can not speak for the other companies. Please thoroughly research a company before using their oils.
I would not recommend using any oils found at health food stores as these have caused reactions in patients of mine- not by my use, but by their owners. Labeling laws are very lax when it comes to oils and you can put just about anything you would like on the bottle. The problem where oils cause harm is where companies adulterate the oils with other ingredients. It's not the oil that causes the reaction, but the adulterants.
I did not create this section to sell a certain brand, however, I believe it is important to let you know that there is a difference in quality among brands, this variation in quality can be the difference of supporting the body with a therapeutic oil or adversely affecting the body with a perfume grade oil.
ESSENTIAL OIL USE
Essential oils can be used regularly for many common physical and emotional ailments. For more complicated cases, it recommended to consult with a practitioner who is knowledgable with essential oils. Essential oils work with the body, rather than against it like synthetic drugs.
APPLICATIONS TO USE
There are three methods to use essential oils, through diffusion, taken internally, or applied topically.
When inhaled... molecules pass through the olfactory system into the limbic area of the brain, which deals with emotion, instinct and regulation of many of the body’s systems.
When ingested... natural acid in the body breaks down the essential oil molecules thereby releasing their compounds, and the body receives the benefits of those compounds.
When applied topically... is a little more variable, but oils penetrate directly into tiny capillaries within the skin, this allows you to target specific areas of the body, the oil is absorbed, and broken down and used by the body accordingly.
HOW TO INTRODUCE
Just like we may love one oil and dislike another, our pets are the same. However, animals tend to have a keener sense of what is right and what is wrong for them. They also have a more sensitive sense of smell than us humans, There are studies of wild animals self-helping themselves with finding various herbs within their habitat.
1- Introduce (allow them to sniff) cap on
2- If ok with step 1, introduce with cap off
3- If ok with step 2, apply.
If you dog sniffs and runs away or seems stressed by the oil, try another one. Usually there is more than one oil to use for whatever application you are seeking. If you must use the one that they aren't liking, you will need to desensitize them first. Usually you can do this by having them sniff at whichever step they are stuck at, cap on or cap off, until you don't get a negative reaction.
Some positive reactions are licking and chewing after sniffing, indifference, wagging, wanting to sniff more, attempting to lick (don't let because it will give a strong taste in their mouth and may cause them to no longer like the oil), rolling, carpet surfing.
METHODS TO APPLY
Neat... applied without dilution.
Diluted... applied with a carrier oil to dilute.
Most oils can be applied neat in dogs when used topically, with a few exceptions. With cats, it is usually better to start with some dilution as they may get overwhelmed with the smell of the oil. If they are ok with the oil diluted, you can then try neat.
Diluting does not change the effectiveness of the oil, it simply changes the rate at which is is absorbed and used by the body, which may slow any changes you are awaiting to occur.
Hot oils, such as oregano or thyme, should be diluted topically and never taken neat or within water (doesn't mix) internally.
If diffusing, always allow you pet an "out" to another room with fresh air, if they are sensitive to the aroma. This also will give you good feedback that you put too many drops in the diffuser or are diffusing for too long, if they are exiting.
HOW MUCH TO USE
“A single drop of essential oil contains 40 quintillion molecules. … You have 100 trillion cells in your body. Hence, one drop of oil is enough to cover every cell in your body with 400,000 molecules.” -David Stewart
A drop or two goes a long way, especially in our pets. When in doubt, less is more, and you can increase if needed. If you are unsure, ask someone knowledgable that you trust or check a desk reference. If you ever accidentally apply too much (I tend to find when people apply oils with a roller ball to their pets, they sometimes over-apply as they can't see the oil on their pet's fur), dilute with a carrier oil, not water. Water will simply disperse the high amount of oil. Remember, water and oil do not mix.
With applying topically and diffusing, you can always dilute after-the-fact if you do too much. However, with internal applications, once the oil is ingested, you can not further dilute. Please use common sense. Start with less.
CATS
Cats lack efficient systems of eliminating the compounds from oils. Remember that less is more with them. Be sure that they can roam to areas of fresh air and that oils haven't built up in their areas. If unsure, dilute. 1-2 drops, whether diluted or neat is usually sufficient in topical applications. Oils can be applied in a very non-invasive manner by applying the oil to your hand, and then petting your cat. You can apply it wet, partially dry, or completely dry if you think your cat may be sensitive. It's also recommended to allow at least a day in between oil applications to allow their body to process and eliminat the oil.
Rabbits and rodents (not carnivores, but included anyway) can follow similarly to cats. With small rodents, one drop or neat applications are usually too much, so use diluted or through the petting method with the oil partially or completely dry. I applied oils to my mouse daily when she had a cold. Most mice don't make it after acquiring a cold, but after a few days, she was no longer sniffling and back to herself.
BIRDS (not carnivores, but included anyway)
The best methods to use with birds are through diffusion and through a spray misted onto them. Topical applications may stress the bird and cause issues with their feathers. However, I have used diffusion, misting, and topical methods with my African grey parrot (not all at once). Again, less is more. My parrot also loves to play with empty bottles. I have also used oils topically on a couple ducks. One duck was hit by a car in front of my clinic. I cleaned his wound, but it continued to bleed. I applied a couple drops of lavender to the wound and it stopped very quickly. (Of course, we never want to give wildlife an aroma as they will either be found by their predators easily or they will easily alert their prey that they are nearby, but this duck was going to spend several weeks at the wildlife center getting his broken wing treated.)
SPECIAL NOTES
Always have a carrier oil on hand, in case you need to dilute. Never apply oils to the eye (there are some cupping applications with the oil on your hand cupped over the eye), never apply neat to the ear or drop oil into the ear. If your dog is seizure prone be sure the oils you are applying will not trigger a seizure. If oils contain furanoids, these can cause sensitivity or irritation in the sun. If you are having your pet soak in a bath with oils, always use some carrier oil in the water as well, or a squirt of their shampoo. Heating oils destroys their therapeutic properties.
APPLICATIONS
Here are some common applications I have used in my own pets or with my patients. Note that multiple oils listed show options, rather than meaning to use all at once:
Calming - peace and calming, T-away, peace and calming II, lavender (I tend to find P&C works best in dogs, lavender best in cats)
Wound healing - lavender, sandalwood
Calming hot spots - lavender, helichrysum
Pest repellent - purification, citronella
Tight or spasming muscles, strain, sprain - lavender, peppermint, deep relief
Anti-inflammatory - copaiba
Upset stomach, digestive issues - digize, peppermint
Car sickness - peppermint, ginger
Cancer support - frankincense
Respiratory support - R.C., ravensara, lavender, cypress, eucalyptus
Depression - peace and calming, joy
Mental Trauma - trauma life
Confidence, dizzyness, vestibular issues - valor, valor II
With oils used to affect an animal emotionally, for example to calm the animal, my favorite place to apply are the tips of the ears. This allows the oil to be absorbed, but also to keep the aroma from the oil near the snout.
When targeting a sore muscle, I will apply a drop or two directly to the sore area. Fur enhances absorption, so it need not be spread before applying oil. However, sometimes I will spread the fur, simply to not get an oil streak on the dog or if it is a breed with an especially thick coat.
If you are unsure what oil to use or how to use it, consult with someone knowledgable in using essential oils. I also recommend keeping a desk reference on hand. My favorite desk reference for animals is the Animal Desk Reference by Dr. Melissa Shelton. It comes in Kindle format, so you can have it "with you" wherever you go.
For more detailed information all about oils in pets, you can read Essential Oils In Animal Care, A Naturopathic Approach by Dr. Sarah Reagan, Dr. Kim Bloomer, and Dr. Jeannie Thomason.
EXAMPLE OF HEALING BENEFITS
This is a human example, on my own hand, however, I'd like to share it to show how much essential oils can help the healing process,
This is a human example, on my own hand, however, I'd like to share it to show how much essential oils can help the healing process,
I was in a car accident in 2015. A driver from oncoming traffic was not paying attention and turned left only a few feet in front of me while I was traveling through a green ligh at 45mph. My air bags deployed and gave me severe burns on my hand. My hand healed in HALF the time it usually takes for second degree burns, and I used my hand almost nonstop during that time to see patients, with it wrapped up, of course!
Here is what I did to assist my body in the healing process: slathered on fractionated coconut oil with 6-8 drops of lavender along with a few drops of Hawaiian sandalwood and copaiba young living essential oils. I also did 10-15min MgSO4 epsom salt soaks each night before bed then reapplied the above oils. These pictures show a 17 day span. Top lt is Apr 4 (3 days post accident), top rt Apr 9, bottom lt Apr 15, bottom rt Apr 18.
We weren't sure if any skin grafting would be needed, we thought scarring for sure. It still would burn through the phases in these pictures but in the beginning I could feel the burning through my bones... basically opposite of the saying "chilled to the bone."
A nurse that is in my agility class checked out my hand and said if I came to the hospital, they would certainly administer antibiotics in case of infection and look into skin grafting. Working in antibiotic research, I never think it is a good idea to administer antibiotics "in case" of something. I monitored very closely for any signs of infection and it stayed clean the entire time.
Today looking at this hand, you would never know this happened. There are some subtle things you can see, if you look very close, such as the skin in this area does not change as quickly as the rest of my skin with temperature changes and there are a couple slightly lighter pigments in the area, but I have to hold my hand about 5 inches from my face to see that.
This is only one of the reasons why I LOVE therapeutic grade essential oils.
Here is what I did to assist my body in the healing process: slathered on fractionated coconut oil with 6-8 drops of lavender along with a few drops of Hawaiian sandalwood and copaiba young living essential oils. I also did 10-15min MgSO4 epsom salt soaks each night before bed then reapplied the above oils. These pictures show a 17 day span. Top lt is Apr 4 (3 days post accident), top rt Apr 9, bottom lt Apr 15, bottom rt Apr 18.
We weren't sure if any skin grafting would be needed, we thought scarring for sure. It still would burn through the phases in these pictures but in the beginning I could feel the burning through my bones... basically opposite of the saying "chilled to the bone."
A nurse that is in my agility class checked out my hand and said if I came to the hospital, they would certainly administer antibiotics in case of infection and look into skin grafting. Working in antibiotic research, I never think it is a good idea to administer antibiotics "in case" of something. I monitored very closely for any signs of infection and it stayed clean the entire time.
Today looking at this hand, you would never know this happened. There are some subtle things you can see, if you look very close, such as the skin in this area does not change as quickly as the rest of my skin with temperature changes and there are a couple slightly lighter pigments in the area, but I have to hold my hand about 5 inches from my face to see that.
This is only one of the reasons why I LOVE therapeutic grade essential oils.
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