Different Uses of Essential Oils for Your Dog

If you are looking for a more natural, and effective, way to treat many of your dog's common ailments try looking into the different uses of essential oils for dogs. Many uses of essential oils for dogs can be found to help both internal and external health problems. Depending on the type of essential oil used they can act as a calming agent for anxious or stressed dogs as well.If you want to read more, check out the resources I used, K.L.Bell (Findhorn Press, 2002) and A.D.Shojai (Rodale Press,1999) Japan Pet Aromatherapy Association If you want to read more, check out the resources I used, K.L.Bell (Findhorn Press, 2002) and A.D.Shojai (Rodale Press,1999) Japan Pet Aromatherapy Association

If you want to read more, check out the resources I used, K.L. Bell Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals (Findhorn Press, 2002) and A.D. Shojai New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats (Rodale Press, 1999) Japan Pet Aromatherapy Association
Infections

You can use both Bergamot and Niaouli for ear infections to relieve pain from rashes and bacterial overgrowth. Bergamot is good for yeast infections while Niaouli aids in the treatment of many types of allergies. Another remedy for general infections is lemon mixed with sage and rubbed around the infected area.

Pain Relief

Roman Charmomile can be used for muscle pain and cramps. It also works very well for sore gums and teeth in older dogs. Ginger can alleviate motion sickness. Marjoram is another remedy which can be massaged into the skin. Juniper, Pine Oil, Rosemary and Ginger can all be used for arthritis and sprains; which is especially useful for older dogs.

Skin

Carrot Seed, Cedarwood, Charmomile and Helichrysum are good for treating skin irritations. Usually these will work when your dog has dry flaking skin. Cedarwood is also good for treating a dermatitis allergy reaction as well. Charmomile is what you want to use for burns. Peppermint, Geranium, and Cedarwood can be used to repel fleas and ticks.

Anxiety and Stress

One of the best essential oils for anxious or stressed dogs is Lavender. In liquid form it can be added to food or water; it can also work through smell. Valerian is an oil which is good for separation anxiety and for dogs who are stressed by noise. Another useful oil is Clary Sage, but it only needs to be used in very small amounts and it must be diluted. It comes in liquid form and is mixed with water. The reason for this is that it is has a strong sedative effect on the central nervous system.

A Word of Caution

Make sure the essential oils for dogs you pick is 100% pure oil. Read the labels; you should find the scientific name and the common name of the oil, how it was extracted and the country of origin as well as how it was harvested. It does not make a difference how it was extracted or harvested, but the information should be there to verify that it is pure oil and not diluted or mixed with other items. Don't buy your essential oils for dogs in supermarkets or health stores as these are generic and lower quality.

As another word of caution, do not apply pure oil directly to your dogs skin without diluting it in a "carrying oil" such as virgin olive oil or sunflower oil because this helps the skin to absorb the oils at a more controlled rate and at a rate the skin can handle. Believe it or not, this also helps keep your dogs skin from drying out.