Aromatherapy for Pets
Heal Cuts and Scrapes, Repel Fleas and Parasites with Essential Oils
Apr 14, 2009
Humans aren't the only ones who can benefit from aromatherapy. Essential oils are safe, natural alternatives to improve pets' health and are increasingly recommended by veterinarians. It is possible to replace the toxic insecticides that kill fleas, the drugs used to treat parasites, and even antibiotic creams and lotions with simple aromatherapy remedies that anyone can give their pets at home.
Aromatherapy Insect Repellent for Fleas and Ticks
Pests such as fleas and ticks are a major concern to dog owners and housemates of outdoor cats. The easy solution is to pick a flea repellent solution or a flea collar off pet stores shelves… but this option has been known to be toxic to children, cats, and even dogs.
Essential oils such as melaleuca (tea tree oil), eucalyptus, and peppermint can be applied in your pet's shampoo or a drop added to their regular collar to repel fleas. If you're too late to prevent flea or tick problems, the same solution will kill fleas once they're there.
Just sprinkle the oils onto carpets, bedding, stuffed toys and onto your pet to get rid of biting pests. The same oils, as well as lavender and spruce, can be used to treat insect bites after the fact.
A judicious drop of peppermint has also been known to force ticks to pull out where they can be safely removed and killed.
Treat Pet Cuts, Scrapes and Injuries with Essential Oils
If you have the puppy who's always injuring herself or a tom cat who gets into too many fights, you probably keep something on hand to disinfect cuts, scrapes and wounds. If you're using something like hydrogen peroxide or an antibiotic cream, you should know that essential oils are even better.
Aromatherapy oils such as lavender, melaleuca, and melissa disinfect scrapes and injuries and assist in healing the skin, muscles and ligaments. These oils are rich in oxygen and other nutrients that speed healing and eliminate infection. They have a potent aroma and an even more powerful taste, preventing most dogs and cats from aggravating their wounds by licking.
If your pet has sprained a large muscle or injured its back, oils like wintergreen, peppermint, and marjoran can be effective in relieving pain and helping the muscles to heal.
Aromatherapy for Pet Intestinal Parasites
Essential oils such as clove, ginger, peppermint and fennel have been found to repel and kill intestinal parasites, without the side effects of the drugs normally prescribed. Depending on your pet's size and breed, these oils can be used internally or applied on the belly to expel parasites without the use of toxic parasite treatments.
Caution: Essential oil quality varies widely, from therapeutic grade oils that have been successfully used to treat pet health symptoms and complaints, to low quality "perfume grade" oils that are toxic to children and pets. Please consult a veterinarian or animal health expert before using any essential oils or aromatherapy treatment on your pets.
Reference:
Essential Science Publishing (compiled by), Essential Oils Desk Reference, 2nd Edition. USA, Essential Science Publishing, 2001.
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