With a little common sense and the same care and attention you give yourself when using essential oils, your pets can also benefit from the power of natural solutions. In today's post we'll cover the top essential oil recipes for dogs, cats, and horses as well as some introduction, application and safety tips.
Essential oils shouldn't be treated like the off brand foods we buy to save a little money, it goes beyond the label and price - not all essential oils are created equally. Quality and where oils are sourced from does matter. It's important for yourself and your family, including your pets, that you use essential oils that are tested, pure, and work for their intended purpose. I trust doTERRA Essential Oils for my families needs, but if you want to learn more about how you can determine the quality of an oil check out my post on
Adulteration.
Now that you know you're using a high quality essential oil let's talk about introducing new oils to animals is important because of their strong sense of smell and essential oils being so potent. This method will work particularly well with dogs:
1. Unscrew the cap, but leave it on the bottle
2. Hold it out to the animal and invite them to come to you
Observe how they respond - if they turn away, sneeze or rub their nose or face on the floor you may need to avoid the oil or use extra dilution.
BASIC SAFETY
- Always dilute for topical use
- Do NOT use in eyes, ears, nose, or genitals
- Water diffusers are safe for use around pets - diffuse in an open space so the animal can leave the room and put diffuser in a location it won't get knocked over and/or licked
- Do NOT use at the same time as topical medication or dermal patch
- ONLY use Certified Pure Tested Grade essential oils
Now, let's dive into the fun stuff - the most requested dog recipes: DIY Shampoo and Toothpaste, Road Trip Roller, Calming and Hot Spot Spray, Outdoor Pest Collar, and Joint Support. I'm also sharing the top 5 essential oils and the uses with dogs.
Here's the most requested cat recipes: Calming Spray, Litter Box Fresh, Skin Support, Scratch Deterrent, and Outdoor Pest Collar. Plus the top 5 essential oils and the uses with cats, as well as the oils that should be avoided with our feline friends, this is due to an enzyme they lack in the liver that helps metabolize.
For my equine loving friends here are the most requested horse recipes: Fly, Healthy Joint and Stress Sprays, Happy Skin, Hot Hoof, and Healthy Gut.
If using essential oils with your animals outside of the provided recipes, once you've selected the oil to use with your pet there are several ways to get the oils on your pet. One of my favorite methods, especially with cats due to their temperament, is the petting method. Remember to dilute the essential oil. When in doubt err on the side of caution and "over dilute" using 1 drop of oil to 2oz or 4 tablespoons of carrier oil (FCO - fractionated coconut oil, jojoba, avocado, etc.), then only use 1 drop of the essential oil/carrier oil mixture. Place the drop of mixture into your hands and pet your animal along the spine. Dilution for a horse tends to follow more like a human, since they are larger and stronger animals.
I'm always happy to answer any questions, but if you have something specific about animals I encourage you to find a veterinarian who incorporates essential oils into their practice. Dr. Janet Roark is known as the essential oil vet and has built an amazing mobile vet service in Austin, Texas. She also has authored a book, has a social media presence and a community of animal lovers with lots of educational opportunities, both paid and free. Check her out!
xoDanette