Info You Can Trust
When we first started working with essential oils about 10-12 years ago, while not considered exorcism-worthy, aromatherapy still had a bit of a woo-woo vibe. The information was spotty at best and there were just a few trusted books on aromatherapy and animals. Now the internet is flooded with "books" and info of various levels of credibility.
The hard part is in discerning what info to trust and what should be discarded when it comes to safe essential oils and aromatherapy for dogs. Most, ok many, people are relatively well-intentioned and share information they believe to be accurate. But like that old game of telephone or gossip where the original message gets completely twisted after being retold just a few times, finding good info online can be tough.
What is the Difference?
Essential oils are natural plant products extracted using a variety of methods from various parts of plants or trees for specific properties.
Fragrance oils are man-made, synthetic products made for scent only. They do not have any of the natural healing potential essential oils do. Fragrance oils are used in candles, general room sprays, and cleaning products.
Essential oils are available in a wide range of quality levels. Some essential oils are more expensive than diamonds due to the complicated extraction process and the precious little oil that is gotten from large amounts of plant matter. Some are heavily diluted with carrier oils and sold as "pure." Plus, everything inbetween!
Our Cinnabar loves her Relax Dog Aromatherapy when her brother, Larkan, tweaks her last nerve.
While we try to never make sweeping generalizations, in this case we will.
Essential oils should never be used on our dogs undiluted or neat, as that is called.
For one thing, it assaults their infinitely more sensitive noses. For another, many oils can burn, as in leave a mark, if used straight or neat!
If you are using essential oils on your own, dilute, dilute, dilute. Use a high quality carrier oil such as jojoba oil, grapeseed, a good olive oil or blend.
Use a dilution rate of 1-2% essential oil to carrier. Math: Use ten drops per ounce of carrier oil to start with.
Our safe essential oil aromatherapy blends for dogs are mixed according to these principles and formulas. We greatly dilute the blends to ensure compatibility with any size of dog.
What We Know To Be True About
Dogs and Aromatherapy
• Use only quality essential oils, never fragrance oils
• If purchasing a blend make sure it has been diluted (all of ours have)
• Dilute, dilute, dilute if mixing your own
• Find resources you can trust
Now THAT Pug is a Very Blissful Dog!