If your dog is out of sorts, essential oils and herbs may be all the help he needs.
Here's a handy guide to print out and use for common dog ailments. Don't use these suggestions on your cat, canary or any other pets. Each type of animal has special needs. Some, including cats, cannot tolerate essential oils.
- Essential oils (aromatherapy) are a safe, natural, cost-effective way to take care of many of your dog’s day to day needs.
- A dog’s sense of smell is many times more sensitive than a human’s sense of smell. Best to keep applications light so as not to overwhelm your dog.
- A small collection of quality essential oils and herbs provides a long-lasting natural care kit. You can use the essential oils for yourself, too.
- Lavender oil
- Tea tree oil
- Pine oil
- Cedarwood oil
- Peppermint oil
- Lemongrass oil
- “Odorbuster” blend for eliminating and neutralizing dog odors in your home or car
- Dried peppermint leaves or tea—available in bulk from health food stores.
- Comfrey plant
Fleas!
Public enemy #1 for dogs.
- Put 4-5 drops essential oil (choose or mix pine, cedarwood, peppermint, lemongrass) on your dog’s brush for an aromatic spa treatment to send the fleas fleeing! Brush your dog outside so the fleas don’t relocate to your couch.
- Sprinkle your dog’s bed with dried peppermint leaves and/or a few drops of cedarwood essential oil.
Ticks.
Make sure you have removed the entire tick (burn the tick)
- Soothe and disinfect the tick bite with a single drop of lavender or tea tree oil.
Indigestion
- Make up some peppermint tea from the dried leaves. Cool and add to dog’s water
- Plant comfrey in your garden in an area where your dog can graze as needed.
- Your dog may enjoy sniffing peppermint oil from the bottle. The oil is very strong.
Anxiety
- Add a few drops lavender oil to a small spray bottle of water. Spray around the dog, or on dog’s bedding.
Skin irritations/scrapes/wounds
- Clean out minor wounds (see vet for serious wounds). Add a few drops lavender and a few drops tea tree to a small spray bottle of water. Shake well and spray on area.
Respiratory problems
- A small diffuser or a water-based spray will disinfect the air in your dog’s area and the dog will breathe therapeutic essential oils. Use combinations of lavender, pine, peppermint.
Dog odors
- Use “Odorbuster” blend in spray or diffusion to freshen home, office, car.
Poisoning (even suspected).
Call your vet immediately
