Oils & Pets
Hi friends! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love my pets. If you’re new here, don’t worry, you’ll catch on quick! I love my fur babies and want the absolute best for them. Last year, I started using essential oils from Young Living and absolutely fell in love with the company and the incredible products they’ve formulated. After seeing the benefits of using oils and Young Living products on ourselves and in our home, I thought to myself, “I wonder how these oils could work on our pets?” And so, the research began. I was pleasantly surprised with the resources and tools our community has regarding oils and pets, and I wanted to share that with you!
Using Oils
So, what do I mean when I say I use oils with my pets? To some that might sound confusing, it did to me at first, too. There are so many ways use oils on your pets, especially as a natural remedy to support a health issue. With our growing homestead and my growing passion for using essential oils, I wanted to incorporate more of a natural method of caring for our animals. This year, it’s all about getting back to the basic of natural homesteading. Caring for our pets with natural products is one of the best ways to give them the BEST life. One of health & happiness where they can thrive. Animals have a unique way that they metabolize synthetic products & drugs. That means that the more “green” or “natural” you can make your home, with the products you use, the healthier your pet can be. Other things that promote wellness include reducing stress (happy thoughts people), feeding high quality food, having fresh clean water, and lastly, plenty of exercise! For us, essential oils are another key part of our pet’s overall wellness. We chose Young Living because they create the purest and highest quality essential oils. To read more about the Seed to Seal standard, click here.
Pet Precautions
Before I go into too much detail, I wanted to share a few tips about safety when using oils! Animals are all unique and so will respond differently. Animals are more sensitive than humans, so use common sense. Every pet has their own preference. Some like topical application, some do very well with ingestion and others prefer diffusing only. It’s all about trial and error and seeing what works best for your pet. Personally, I would begin by slowly introducing oils into their life. That means, diffusing oils in a large room and wearing oils on yourself (StressAway on our wrists or Lavender behind your ears). Animals have an incredible sense of smell so the last thing you want is to overwhelm them with 20 different essential oils at once. If applying topically, start simple by diluting your essential oil with a carrier oil (ie. Coconut or Jojoba Oil) and then build up from there. Keep oils out of their eyes, nose & ear canals. Citrus oils are okay, just use slowly and cautiously (most cats don’t enjoy citrus oils, therefore use and diffuse wisely). Read the signs your pet gives you and don’t push them to like a certain oil. Lastly, leave a way out open so your pet can choose to leave the room if they don’t like the oils being diffused.
Benefits of Using EO’s for your Pets
1. They are quick, convenient and easy. 2. Diluting is really simple 3. They are organic & natural 4. They are safe 5. They can work almost immediately 6. They have oxygenating properties 7. They can be soothing to joints & muscles 8. They are great for supporting the immune system 9. They are great in aiding digestion.
AnimalScents
Young Living has an incredible AnimalScents line specifically formulated for pets! Everything from Paragize for digestive support (sensitive tummies) to
T-Away for emotional support (separation anxiety, nerves or before vet visits). They also have products such as shampoo, ointment and even dental pet chews.
Click here to learn more about the AnimalScents line!
Using Oils Topically
Add two drops of Lavender & on drop of Frankincense to a Tbsp of Carrier oil for cuts or cracked paws.
A drop of Lavender behind your pup’s ears to help promote relaxation and support their emotions.
A drop of Peppermint Vitality in their water dish for fresh breath & support digestion.
Copaiba to help reduce inflammation or directly along the gum line for teething puppies or after a pet dental visit.
Toxins & Cleaning Products
If you’re like me and your goal is to eliminate the existence of pet odor, you clean your home regularly. We do the floors and wipe down counters, daily! We also have air purifiers in almost every room of our home. I never want to be “that person” who’s house smells like a zoo. With that said, I wanted to make sure that the cleaning products in our home were benefiting our health and the health of our pets. I don’t know about you but the idea of using harsh chemicals around my pets makes me a bit uneasy. That’s why we DITCHED the household cleaner (Clorox, bleach, Oxyclean, even Method and Mrs. Meyers) and SWITCHED to Thieves household cleaner. Thieves household cleaner is SAFE to use in your home and around pets, it helps support our (and their) immune systems plus it smells incredible, like fall and Christmas combined! Not only is it wonderful when we eliminate toxins in our home for us and our family (especially the tiny humans with strengthening immune systems), it’s just as important to eliminate toxins in our home for our pets! It may not be possible to remove all sources of toxins (i.e. kitty litter), but the more we can do the better. I find so much peace of mind knowing I’m helping improve their health every time I clean my home!
_____________
Alright, dog owners. Let’s talk about that stinky dog smell.. you know the one that lingers on your couch because that’s their nap spot… or the rug where your new pup had an accident..? Following me? Surely, I’m not the only one who’s had those moments (or lots of those moments for that matter!). One of my favorite essential oils to use for times like that is Purification. Purification helps keep your home smelling fresh and clean by kicking bad odors to the curb. A few drops when washing the dog bed, add to your Thieves cleaner when cleaning up accidents or even spray on the couch or rug where your pets have been! It’s the perfect weapon against pet odor. Purification is not just for pets! I diffuse it to eliminate odors from cooking or even a drop in the laundry when it's sat for too long… Yes, I admit I’ve forgotten about laundry overnight, but just a drop of Purification with the load in the dryer and voila!, it’s a whole new world!
DIY Stinky Dog Spray
Lastly, I wanted to share with you a DIY “Stinky Dog” Spray to use! Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have lots of rain, which means wet dogs! Even after they’ve been brought inside and dried off, there is still that lingering wet dog smell, so I did some research and developed this recipe! Not only will this help with the smell, but these essential oils are all recommended to help deter fleas and ticks. I love a good multi-use tool to benefit our pup’s health!
What you’ll need:
2 oz glass spray bottle 8 drops Lavender EO 3 drops Orange EO 5 drops Lemongrass EO 3 drops Peppermint EO
Add recommended amount drops of essential oils, fill with water & shake well before each use. Spray on legs, back and belly but avoid face and ears as their nose, eyes and ears are sensitive!
_____________
If you’re interested in learning more about how to get essential oils for you, your home, or your pets, send me a message: thehappyeggblog@gmail.com.
Join our team & get your Premium Starter Kit here!
- The Happy Egg