| Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy makes good scents
by Beth McCormack
 As
alternative therapies are embraced by
the mainstream, more people are looking
for ways to incorporate the ancient healing
art of aromatherapy into their lives.
Aromatherapy is proven to enhance physical,
mental and spiritual health in humans,
so why not share this wonderful, non-intrusive
healing technique with your dog or cat?
Your animal will benefit from the healing
sessions, and the wonderful feeling you
get from helping your animal will lift
your spirit as well.
Using essential oils to help heal
Dogs have an extremely keen sense of smell
so it’s important to dilute the
powerful scent of essential oils (EO)
before you begin. Use a dilution of 1%
to 3%, similar to the dosage recommended
for a human child, with approximately
7 to 10 drops of EO per ounce of carrier
liquid eg. sunflower or olive oil. Always
buy pure, aromatherapy grade essential
oils, not fragrance or perfume oils. You
can find these at your local health food
store.
Essential oils are not recommended for
cats because they are unable to metabolize
them the way dogs and humans can. Due
to their thin skin, cats absorb the oils
rapidly into the bloodstream where they
quickly build up to toxic levels because
they cannot be excreted. Instead, use
hydrosols as an excellent alternative
to essential oils. Hydrosols, a by-product
of the distillation process, contain gentler,
water-soluble molecules of the plant,
and can be safely used on felines. They
are easier to use than essential oils
because they are much less concentrated
and require no further dilution. You can
buy hydrosols at health-food stores and
body shops. Read labels carefully to ensure
purity.
Please
note:
All the treatments described below for
cats may be safely used on dogs, but not
vice versa.
Aromatherapy
can work wonders on stress
Animals experience stress just
as we do. The animal may be grieving,
suffering from separation anxiety, summer
heat, the upheaval of moving or the introduction
of another animal or human into the household.
Aromatherapy can do a lot to assuage your
companion’s distress. Remember that
at times like these, your animal needs
quiet. A tranquil atmosphere will go a
long 36 animal wellness way toward calming
your dog or cat. In addition you can try
the therapies below:
Massage
for Dogs
Rub 1 drop of lavender EO between your
palms until heated. Starting with the
dog’s snout, use long, firm strokes
to massage the animal. Work your way up
the head, gently massaging the ears, behind
and below the eyes, the top of the skull,
the cheeks, the neck and chin. Work down
and then up the forelegs, down the spine,
rump and down and back up the hind legs.
Massage the belly very gently. Finish
with the tail. Always keep at least one
hand on the animal. Don’t use pinching,
hitting or pulling techniques.
Other essential oils you can use include
Neroli (calming, anti-depression, anti-anxiety);
rose (euphoric, anti-anxiety, sexual problems,
loneliness); marjoram (for restful sleep,
sedative, calming, aching muscles); or
Roman chamomile (skin conditions, insomnia,
calming, euphoric) These oils may also
be applied using a rubber horse groomer
to smooth through the fur.
Massage
for Cats
Spritz your hands with rose, lavender
and/or Neroli hydrosols, and rub gently
into your cat’s fur.
Calming
Bath for Dogs
Add 1 drop lavender or marjoram EO to
bathwater. Speak to your pet in soothing
tones and use your hands to scoop the
warm, scented water over his body. Don’t
demand that the dog sit or stand; let
him do what he likes. After the bath,
wrap the dog in a clean towel and gently
rub him. Place one drop of lavender essential
oil on your palm and rub your hands together
to create heat. Smooth your hands over
the dog, rubbing the oil into his coat.
This will calm him immeasurably.
Dog
Bath for Stress due to Heat and Irritation
Prepare a cool bath with 1 drop each of
marjoram and lavender and 2 drops tea
tree (for itching and hotspots). Spoon
cooked oatmeal into a sock and tie it
closed. Place the sock in the bath and
swirl it around. Oatmeal is an excellent
curative for severely irritated skin.
Motion
Sickness
Dogs
10 drops peppermint EO
1 ounce distilled water
Blend in a spray bottle. Shake well and
lightly mist the dog’s belly and
tongue (carefully avoiding the eyes).
Repeat every few hours as needed. You
may also mist the dog’s kennel liner
before the trip.
Cats
Mist peppermint hydrosol on kennel liner
before trip. Avoid spraying directly on
cat.
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