Essential oils for dogs

Flea treatment with essential oils

First, get a dog brush adapted to the length of your pet's hair. Then cut 2 or 3 pieces of burlap the size of the brush head. Lay one piece flat on the brush, teeth side down, and press the cloth halfway down. Do the same with the 2nd piece (you can replace the burlap with another fabric, provided it's not too dense).

In a bowl, prepare a solution of essential oils and hot (but not boiling) water. For the essential oils, use 4 drops of cedar or 4 drops of pine (or a mix of the two, as long as you don't exceed 4 drops in total).

Dip the brush and cloth into the bowl and start brushing. Don't hesitate to re-dip the brush as regularly as possible. The cloth will collect the parasites and their eggs, allowing the essential oils to diffuse perfectly into the coat

If the parasite infection is severe, soak the cloth directly with the drops of essential oils before soaking the brush for the first time. This method of treatment ensures a higher concentration of essential oils.

As a preventive measure, and if you're in the habit of washing your dog, add a drop of lemon litsea or lemongrass to the shampoo. Dogs seem to love these aromas, which also create a natural barrier against parasites of all kinds.

Scrapes and wounds

To disinfect a wound and ensure rapid, effective healing, wash the area to be treated with a composition of warm water and essential oils. Use a solution of equal parts thyme and lavender essential oils. Use 2 drops of this mixture per liter of hot water. Afterwards, your dog will lick the wound. Above all, let him do this. There will always be enough essential oil left, and the dog will then ingest a small amount, which will continue to do its job... from the inside.

If the wound is infected and producing pus (your vet would call this a supurative skin infection), the first thing to do is to remove as much of this secretion as possible from the area. That's where we come in with an effective grandmother's recipe. Take a cabbage leaf and heat it with an iron. Apply the hot cabbage leaf as a compress to the wound and keep it there for at least 20 minutes with a bandage.

Repeat several times if necessary. In fact, cabbage leaf has the virtue of absorbing toxins and drying up secretions produced by the infection. Only then can you apply the essential oils. Use a mixture of warm water (a bowl) and 2 drops of lavender essential oil (healing and disinfecting). This method can be used for all animals, from cats to horses.

Joint pain

After a certain age, dogs (and to a lesser extent cats) can suffer from joint pain (rheumatism or arthritis). Essential oils can help.

Prepare a lotion composed of rosemary essential oil (4 drops), lavender essential oil (2 drops), ginger essential oil (3 drops) and 2 tablespoons of argan oil.

Use this lotion to massage into painful areas, trying to work through the coat with your fingertips to make contact with the skin. Use light, circular movements on muscles and joints. Don't hesitate to massage along the spine, starting from the back.

Precautions for use

For animals, the precautions for use are broadly the same as for humans.

• Scrupulously respect recommended dosages and directions for use, which may differ according to the route of absorption indicated by your veterinarian/aromatherapist.
• Do not administer essential oils to a baby animal.
• If your animal is expecting or breast-feeding: we recommend not using essential oils during this period. Some essential oils may have an abortifacient or milk-suppressing effect, even when diffused in the air.
• Do not use essential oils on epileptic, asthmatic or allergic animals > Never inject essential oils intravenously or through the muscle.
• Allergy: It is advisable to carry out an allergy test before using an essential oil. To do this, apply a drop of essential oil (mixed with a drop of vegetable oil) to the crease of the elbow. If there is no reaction after 24 hours, you can use the essential oil. Particular attention should be paid to the following essential oils: Ceylon cinnamon, Mint, Litsée and Lemon balm.
• Respiratory allergies, asthma: The use of essential oils for atmospheric diffusion is contraindicated. > Never apply essential oils to the eyes, ear, nose or ano-genital mucous membranes.
• Accidental eye splashes: Wipe the eye with absorbent cotton soaked in pure vegetable oil, or apply one or more drops of vegetable oil to the eyeball. Do not wash with water!
• Essential oils are not water-soluble. If you pour them into a bath or dish, they float to the surface and may cause skin irritation or burns. Always dilute them beforehand (p.ex. in neutral liquid soap, vegetable oil, honey, liquid cream, Solub-HE).
• Avoid skin and coat contact with essential oils of Cinnamon, Exotic Basil, Mint, Clove, Niaouli, Thyme, Scots Pine, Marjoram, Savory, Lemon Grass. They are dermo-caustic. Used undiluted, they can irritate or even burn your pet's skin.
• A veterinarian is irreplaceable in cases of serious illness or prolonged use.