Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much as humans can. Aside from possibly eliminating bad odors and giving your pet a pleasant perfume, essential oils also serve many practical functions such as boosting your pet's immune system, fighting off bacteria and viruses, preventing the growth of yeasts and molds and repelling insects.
Aromatherapy is used by enthusiasts, groomers and pet salons to trea mild ailments such as skin inflammations, itchy skin ear infections, rashes, bad breath, flatulence and motions sickness. Psychologically, certain oils also have a calming or relaxing effect on animals. For example lavender oil not only helps kitties repel insects but it also makes them feel sleepy or content. Roman chamomile can be used to treat an ear infection as well as soothe the nerves of a dog in pain.
Essential oils are also frequently used as home remedies. However before you attempt to use aromatherapy on your own pets, keep in mind that essential oils are always diluted before they are applied to a pet's skin or sprayed on their coat. Almond oil, olive oil and jojoba oil are common base oils to which a few drops of the essential oil is added. Usually all that is needed is about one ounce of the base oil combined with two to three drops of the essential oil.
Essential oils can also be diluted in a spray bottle and misted onto the pet or the pet's bedding. You can simply dilute a few drops in distilled water or you can use water and a mixture of aloe, witch hazel or cider vinegar. The traditional recommendation is to use 20 to 30 drops of oil per eight ounces of liquid. Any less might not be effective and any more might be toxic to the pet.
Oils can also be diluted in vodka or brandy and dabbed on the bottom of the pet's paws or on an acupressure point such as the tips of the ears. This is the technique to use if you are dealing with a panicky pet. Never feed your pet alcohol or essential oil directly.
Essential oils are also effective flea and tick repellents and are nearly as effective as sprays and powders that contain a lot of toxic chemicals. Oils such as peppermint, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, geranium, bay and myrrh have been components of herbal flea sprays and flea collars for many years. You can easily make your own flea and tick spray by combining about 25 drops of any of these oils into eight ounces of water. Shake the mixture well and spray it on your pet, being careful to shield its eyes from mist. This mixture can also be sprayed anywhere that you suspect there may be a breeding bug infestation.
When using essential oils it is also essential for you to remember that a dog or cat's sense of smell is much more acute than our own. Signs that an aromatherapy treatment is too overwhelming for your pet are tearing eyes, sneezing, pacing or whining. Cats may lick themselves excessively and dogs may rub their head on the ground in order to escape the smell. Many pets also have allergies to essential oils. For instance, chamomile is related to the ragweed plant, which is a common allergen for both pets and humans. This is why it is so important to use a mild solution at first and use your powers of observation the first few times you use an essential oil mixture on a pet.
******* (c) 2005 Liz Santher - All Rights Reserved
Liz Santher is a aromatherapy enthusiast and freelance author.
http://www.aromatherapysecret.com *******
maid service near Mundelein ..A New Understanding of AllergiesAllergies of all kinds seem to... Read More
Have a dog lover on your gift list? Want to... Read More
How can my child benefit from having a pet?1.Social skills... Read More
Of all the parasites a dog can catch, worms take... Read More
Ever since the beginning of time there has always been... Read More
Wolves are magnificent and majestic creatures that have shared this... Read More
For heat dissipation and body cooling, a horse trotting at... Read More
Pets are people, too. At least, that's the way they... Read More
Still remember that very moment when you first laid your... Read More
Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy... Read More
Advice!!!-Pet products that are useful, fun and enjoyable will make... Read More
Pet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense -- after... Read More
Boy or Girl?How can you tell whether your Goldfish is... Read More
The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping... Read More
Dog flea control and management requires an integrated approach. For... Read More
Making our lives better includes protecting our families, and also... Read More
Making sure that accidents don't happen in the first place... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More
As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More
One of the biggest question asked of the discus breeder... Read More
I get a lot of horse training questions about stopping... Read More
The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More
Occasionally watching Animal Planet does have its advantage. You can... Read More
If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More
high-end home cleaning Bannockburn ..So you're thinking about trying cichlids. A good choice. In... Read More
Having a pet is an experiance that I think everyone... Read More
Do you have at least one framed photo of your... Read More
Whether you're a new dog owner or have had dogs... Read More
If the "tweet, tweet" of little beaks is in your... Read More
By Jeffrey Rolocopyright 2004 AlphaHorseIn the dating world many men... Read More
Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the... Read More
If you've ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh... Read More
In a recent discussion about pet safety, the services provided... Read More
A dog that is feeling pain can often be highly... Read More
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More
Boxer Dogs Information - What Are Boxer Dogs? Boxer dogs... Read More
Mistake #1:"Here, Kitty Kitty..."Unless they have been educated, new horse... Read More
Talk to the animals?Yes.And what's more, they talk to us!If... Read More
Could a horse trainer, born about 154 years ago, teach... Read More
Are you considering buying a dog for your child or... Read More
Top five dog breeds for homes with children* Beagle *... Read More
Taurine, a water-soluble amino acid, has recently become the topic... Read More
In a world of computer games, the Internet and shopping... Read More
Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business,... Read More
Imagine that you are scolding your cat for scratching at... Read More
1.) Versatility- A good dog trainer will use techniques and... Read More
You've made up your mind, it's the American Pit Bull... Read More
It is always sad when a beloved animal family member... Read More
House rabbits are a perfect pet for many people, regardless... Read More
Pet |