(First of two parts)
Essential oils have many healing qualities. For example, chamomile calms and lavender balances.
Humans have grown to love essential oils for these healing properties.
Some essential oils, however, are not good for pets. The aroma or smell of some oils can be toxic to animals when inhaled.
In Essential Oils for Pets: The Best & Worst Oils to Help Your Furry Friends posted in Dr. Axe site, Annie Price (CHHC) gave a list of essential oils that are good for animals and another list identifying oils that are bad for dogs and cats.
“Essential oils are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that come from the seeds, bark, stems, flowers, and roots of plants. If you’ve used them before, I’m sure you’re already familiar with how incredibly potent, fragrant and beneficial they can be to your health, but have you ever tried essential oils for pets?” Price wrote.
The American Kennel Club said: “Preliminary research suggests that these potent oils may have some health benefits for dogs and humans, and many holistic veterinarians incorporate essential oils into their practices.”
Today, many pet owners use some products with essentials oils due to health concerns such as flea and tick infestation and prevention, skin issues, and behavior problems like anxiety.
While some oils have been beneficial for pets’ well-being, some oils may have an adverse effect on some pets such as allergies and even poisoning.
“Similar to the use of oils with children, it’s absolutely crucial to remember that a little goes a long, long way with pets, “Price said.
“There are a good amount of essential oils that have been deemed safe and, even better helpful, to pet health. However, there are also many essential oils toxic to dogs and cats (and animals in general),” she added.
5 Best Oils for Dogs and Their Uses
Price said the following oils have “impressive potential benefits.”
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil, a popular choice among pet owners, has helpful effects on cases of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD and has an anti-anxiety ability, according to studies, Price said.
Thus, this oil will likely calm you and your pet.
“For pets like dogs, lavender essential oil’s calming effects can be very helpful for anxiety (often induced by visits to the vet or car rides), car sickness or sleep troubles,” Price said.
“A 2006 clinical trial looked at the effects of lavender essential oil on 32 dogs with a history of travel-induced excitement in their owners’ cars. What did they find? The dogs exposed to the scent of lavender oil spent a significant amount more time resting and sitting and a lot less time moving around and vocalizing, “ Price added.
Price said the researchers concluded, “Traditional treatments for travel-induced excitement in dogs may be time-consuming, expensive, or associated with adverse effects. Aromatherapy in the form of diffused lavender odor may offer a practical alternative treatment for travel-induced excitement in this species.”
Lavender oil is also a topical remedy for canine skin concerns like allergies and burns.
It is also good for dog wounds and dog’s itching.
2. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint is known to help get rid of fleas. It is found in some dog flea repellant.
Price quoted Dr. Janet Roark, a veterinarian and the owner of Hill Country Mobile Veterinary Service in Austin, Texas: “Peppermint essential oil can be used to cool sore muscles, energize tired animals, and soothe upset stomachs. It refreshes the air when diffused and can freshen breath with taken internally. This oil can open the airways and promote a healthy respiratory tract, as well as soothe aching joints.”
Peppermint also energizes and is a great mood booster for animals.
Roark, who is also known as the “Essential Oil Vet,” said peppermint oil is best used topically with dogs.
Using a shampoo with peppermint regularly will help kill fleas on dogs.
3. Chamomile Oil
Roman chamomile oil is known for its anti-inflammatory property, making it a great choice for both humans and dogs if the problem is a skin irritation, burns, wounds, ulcers or eczema.
“This is a very gentle essential oil that can also help calm a stressed-out dog,” said Price.
4. Frankincense Oil
Dr. Richard Palmquist, chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, Calif., said frankincense oil can be helpful in some cases of cancer.
“The use of frankincense oil in pet cancer isn’t that surprising when you consider that research has shown the powerful potential for frankincense oil to help fight some forms of human cancer, including bladder cancer,” Price said.
Frankincense oil has potent antimicrobial abilities, thus it is also a good choice for fighting germs and boosting the immune system, Price added.
“Research using animal models (mice) also shows that this ancient oil has powerful anti-depressive effects, “ Price said.
5. Cedarwood Oil
Cedarwood oil, according to Dogs Naturally Magazine, is an efficient and natural pest repellent.
“Cedarwood essential oil when used in dogs also can act as an antiseptic for the lungs, expectorant for coughs (like kennel cough), circulation stimulator (making it helpful for bodily pains and arthritis), hair growth booster and dandruff reducer, diuretic, and a general calming agent that can help with behavior concerns like shyness or nervous aggression, “ Price said. DC
Next week: 5 essential oils for cats, old toxic to pets, and how to use essential oils for pets.