Your animal friend’s olfaction process is similar to humans though much more acute.

Animals are SUPER sensitive to smells!

Remember less is more with essential oils. 

Only a tiny amount is needed for results. 1-3 drops of an essential oil is equivalent to 1-4 cups of plant matter. As animals have extremely sensitive sense of smell use them in very low percentages of less than 1% to achieve the results desired.

You must always dilute essential oils in a carrier of aloe vera, jojoba or light coconut oil for safe skin application.

Compresses are also an effective method for using essential oils with your pets and animal friends.

Common Uses for Using Essential Oils with Animals:

• Pet wash
• Grooming spray
• Flea and tick repellent
• Anti-fungal
• Breath freshener
• Horsefly repellent
• Stress and anxiety relief
• Muscle rub
• Recovery from injuries, i.e. strains and sprains

Self Selection

Use Self Selection with your animal friends which means to include them in the selection process of essential oils to use. Pay close attention when introducing an oil to your animal. Look, watch and listen to how your animal or pet responds to a teeny-tiny amount of an essential oil first before using it.

Top 8 Essential Oils to Use with Pets and Animals
Click on each essential to learn more and find out if there are any cautions.

Frankincense (Boswelia frereana or carterii)

Keywords: Comfort, Relieve Distress

Frankincense oil slows and deepens cellular respiration, and has the characteristic effect of comforting and centering during times of distress. Use Frankincense for relieving insecurity and anxiety. Its calming and rejuvenating influence makes Frankincense especially useful for treating post traumatic stress syndrome.

For people too! Frankincense is the most highly recommended oil essential oil to use for emotional support and to relieve grief after the loss of an animal friend.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

Keywords: Soothe, calm and relax

Several animal experiments were conducted on the effect of lavender oil on the nervous system. Its anxiolytic, sedative, analgesic, and anti-convulsive and neuroprotective properties were shown to be as effective as the anti-anxiety drugs chlordiazepoxide and diazepam. Continuous exposures to lavender essential oil for 7 days was shown to significantly inhibit anxiety and depression-like behaviors. 

Apply Lavender pure essential oil immediately to burns to prevent blistering, or scarring, as well as speed healing of wounds as it stimulates cellular repair and regeneration.

Lavender essential oil has been used to help balance moods and calm emotions. It is helpful for calming intense feelings of nervousness, stress, depression, fear, and irritability.

Neroli (Citrus aurantium)

Keywords: Peace and Calming

Neroli resonates with the open nature of the heart’s energy and serves to uplift and inspire. Its subtle vibration can produce immediate results in any stressful situation.

Tea Tree (Malaleuca alternifolia)

Keywords: Powerful antiseptic, anti-fungal

Tea Tree essential oil has an undisputed popular reputation for being the first choice of essential oils when treating fungal and bacterial infections and known as a cure all treatment for many chronic and acute bacterial, fungal and viral conditions. Use Tea Tree as an antiseptic and to eliminate fungal infections, blend with Lavender and Thyme to enhance your results. An immune stimulant Tea Tree oil promotes and strengthens the immune system by stimulating the formation of white blood cells.

Essential oils with a strong medicinal aroma, like Tea Tree, are okay for treating fungal issues such as a horse hoof fungal infection. Your horse may not like the strong aroma. However, using it with your horse to treat a fungal issue with the hoof, so that the aroma is far enough away from their nose, is usually not problematic. Dilute your essential oils in aloe vera as your method of application for hoof fungus.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Keywords: Anti-fungal, antiseptic, insect repellent

Patchouli oil’s properties make it an effective mosquito and insect repellent, as well as useful for treating fungal infections.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Keywords: Powerful Immune stimulant, anti-microbial

A powerful immune stimulant, Thyme is one of nature’s most potent anti-microbials. Its fierce energy gives it the notable ability to support and protect the immune system that is unequaled by other aromatic oils.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus)

Keywords: Anti-fungal, astringent, insect repellent

A powerful astringent, use Lemongrass to regulate excess oily skin, hair and scalp conditions. Recent research indicates that Lemongrass oil has a sedating effect on the central nervous system. Adding a drop of Lemongrass oil to your favorite dog shampoo can help calm your dog during a bath, as well as help with any oily skin conditions.

Its anti-inflammatory and sedative effect help to relieve muscle spasms and promote regeneration and healing of soft tissue. While, its strong anti-fungal properties make it useful for treating a wide variety of fungal infections.

A natural insect repellent Lemongrass oil makes a powerful mosquito and insect repellent. Consider using Lemongrass for preventing and eliminating fleas and ticks from your dogs.

Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)

Keywords: Anti-spasmodic, pain reliever

A stimulating oil with antispasmodic properties, Sweet Marjoram makes an effective muscle rub oil. You can also try it in a compress for treating muscle strains and sprains, and to relieve joint stiffness.

A Word About Cats 

Please remember to take especial care when using any essential oil on or around a cat. They simply can’t metabolize them the way dogs, horses and humans do. When diffusing oils for your own use, make very sure that your cat can exit the room if he/she chooses. Hydrosols and floral waters, on the other hand, are safe and gentle for your feline friends.

Find out more about Animal Aromatherapy, along with recipes and methods of application to try with your animal friends, in my newest award-winning book available on Amazon, The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide: Over 250 Recipes for Natural Wholesome Aromatherapy.

READ my next article in this series, Elderly & Infirm Aromatherapy Alzheimer's & Memory Loss.

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