For the best experience, please upgrade. Learn more
Aromatherapy for Pets
Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much as humans can. Aside from possibly eliminating bad odors and giving your pet a pleasant perfume, essential oils also serve many practical functions such as boosting your pet’s immune system, fighting off bacteria and viruses, preventing the growth of yeasts and molds and repelling insects. [...]
September 17 2005
Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much as humans can. Aside from possibly eliminating bad odors and giving your pet a pleasant perfume, essential oils also serve many practical functions such as boosting your pet’s immune system, fighting off bacteria and viruses, preventing the growth of yeasts and molds and repelling insects.
Aromatherapy is used by enthusiasts, groomers and pet salons to trea mild ailments such as skin inflammations, itchy skin ear infections, rashes, bad breath, flatulence and motions sickness. Psychologically, certain oils also have a calming or relaxing effect on animals. For example lavender oil not only helps kitties repel insects but it also makes them feel sleepy or content. Roman chamomile can be used to treat an ear infection as well as soothe the nerves of a dog in pain.
Essential oils are also frequently used as home remedies. However before you attempt to use aromatherapy on your own pets, keep in mind that essential oils are always diluted before they are applied to a pet’s skin or sprayed on their coat. Almond oil, olive oil and jojoba oil are common base oils to which a few drops of the essential oil is added. Usually all that is needed is about one ounce of the base oil combined with two to three drops of the essential oil.
Essential oils can also be diluted in a spray bottle and misted onto the pet or the pet’s bedding. You can simply dilute a few drops in distilled water or you can use water and a mixture of aloe, witch hazel or cider vinegar. The traditional recommendation is to use 20 to 30 drops of oil per eight ounces of liquid. Any less might not be effective and any more might be toxic to the pet.
Oils can also be diluted in vodka or brandy and dabbed on the bottom of the pet’s paws or on an acupressure point such as the tips of the ears. This is the technique to use if you are dealing with a panicky pet. Never feed your pet alcohol or essential oil directly.
Essential oils are also effective flea and tick repellents and are nearly as effective as sprays and powders that contain a lot of toxic chemicals. Oils such as peppermint, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, geranium, bay and myrrh have been components of herbal flea sprays and flea collars for many years. You can easily make your own flea and tick spray by combining about 25 drops of any of these oils into eight ounces of water. Shake the mixture well and spray it on your pet, being careful to shield its eyes from mist. This mixture can also be sprayed anywhere that you suspect there may be a breeding bug infestation.
When using essential oils it is also essential for you to remember that a dog or cat’s sense of smell is much more acute than our own. Signs that an aromatherapy treatment is too overwhelming for your pet are tearing eyes, sneezing, pacing or whining. Cats may lick themselves excessively and dogs may rub their head on the ground in order to escape the smell. Many pets also have allergies to essential oils. For instance, chamomile is related to the ragweed plant, which is a common allergen for both pets and humans. This is why it is so important to use a mild solution at first and use your powers of observation the first few times you use an essential oil mixture on a pet.
******* (c) 2005 Liz Santher – All Rights Reserved
Liz Santher is a aromatherapy enthusiast and freelance author.
ANANDA CONTINUES JUST DIFFERENTLY You will soon see a slight change to our website. We have decided to transition the online store to a resource and information site.So while you can not purchase products, you can still have access to the incredible depth of information!We have 16 years of research, and useful tidbits about Essentials oils, CO2 extracts, Carrier Oils and […]
In Eternal Memory of Eric Cech, Ananda’s Founder “The best business model I can hope for is one that will run out of business.” – Eric Cech Eric’s business mindset was otherworldly. He admitted in casual conversation to his wife Anita one day: “The best business model I can hope for is one that […]
We Want You To Know – We Have Heard You. Your sentiments are important to us. We are considering our next steps with YOU in mind. Dearest Ananda Customers~ Many of you have asked us if this closure is permanent, or if there is any way we may be able to remain open, or make […]
It Comes with the Greatest Pleasure To let You Know… that…Because of YOU Ananda has Managed to Survive one of the Most Uncertain Times of its Tenure ~ We can not thank you enough for your enormous patience, understanding and support. From your incoming calls, comments on social media, direct messages across various channels, emails […]
Here are a small fraction of the heartfelt responses we have received following the notice of our business closure and liquidation sale. We offer all of you a deserved shout out for being the improbable, most essential, significant, factor in creating the Dream you are voicing to us: Hope for a Sustainable Future and Provider […]
Thank You For your Support Since 2004 The Ananda Apothecary is Closing Business SAD BUT TRUE As previously disclosed, The Ananda Apothecary has been greatly affected by to the global health situation. Bottom line is, we were increasing growing slim on product with no resupply any time soon. We are unable to get goods […]
* SPRING CLEANING SPECIAL * *OFFERS VALID APRIL 24 – MAY 2, OR UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST. SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY. WE’RE GIVING OILS AWAY Get Yours Today! WITH ANY PURCHASE THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET GET UP TO THREE OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE OILS FREE *We have limited supplies due to overseas shipping restrictions. Order now while supplies last. ALSO […]
100% pure and genuine
×
What aspect of your life are you looking to improve?
window.cfields = {"1":"quiz_score"};
window._show_thank_you = function(id, message, trackcmp_url) {
var form = document.getElementById('_form_' + id + '_'), thank_you = form.querySelector('._form-thank-you');
form.querySelector('._form-content').style.display = 'none';
thank_you.innerHTML = message;
thank_you.style.display = 'block';
if (typeof(trackcmp_url) != 'undefined' && trackcmp_url) {
// Site tracking URL to use after inline form submission.
_load_script(trackcmp_url);
}
if (typeof window._form_callback !== 'undefined') window._form_callback(id);
};
window._show_error = function(id, message, html) {
var form = document.getElementById('_form_' + id + '_'), err = document.createElement('div'), button = form.querySelector('button'), old_error = form.querySelector('._form_error');
if (old_error) old_error.parentNode.removeChild(old_error);
err.innerHTML = message;
err.className = '_error-inner _form_error _no_arrow';
var wrapper = document.createElement('div');
wrapper.className = '_form-inner';
wrapper.appendChild(err);
button.parentNode.insertBefore(wrapper, button);
document.querySelector('[id^="_form"][id$="_submit"]').disabled = false;
if (html) {
var div = document.createElement('div');
div.className = '_error-html';
div.innerHTML = html;
err.appendChild(div);
}
};
window._load_script = function(url, callback) {
var head = document.querySelector('head'), script = document.createElement('script'), r = false;
script.type = 'text/javascript';
script.charset = 'utf-8';
script.src = url;
if (callback) {
script.onload = script.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (!r && (!this.readyState || this.readyState == 'complete')) {
r = true;
callback();
}
};
}
head.appendChild(script);
};
(function() {
if (window.location.search.search("excludeform") !== -1) return false;
var getCookie = function(name) {
var match = document.cookie.match(new RegExp('(^|; )' + name + '=([^;]+)'));
return match ? match[2] : null;
}
var setCookie = function(name, value) {
var now = new Date();
var time = now.getTime();
var expireTime = time + 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 * 365;
now.setTime(expireTime);
document.cookie = name + '=' + value + '; expires=' + now + ';path=/';
}
var addEvent = function(element, event, func) {
if (element.addEventListener) {
element.addEventListener(event, func);
} else {
var oldFunc = element['on' + event];
element['on' + event] = function() {
oldFunc.apply(this, arguments);
func.apply(this, arguments);
};
}
}
var _removed = false;
var form_to_submit = document.getElementById('_form_3_');
var allInputs = form_to_submit.querySelectorAll('input, select, textarea'), tooltips = [], submitted = false; var getUrlParam = function(name) {
var regexStr = '[\?&]' + name + '=([^&#]*)';
var results = new RegExp(regexStr, 'i').exec(window.location.href);
return results != undefined ? decodeURIComponent(results[1]) : false;
}; for (var i = 0; i < allInputs.length; i++) {
var regexStr = "field\\[(\\d+)\\]";
var results = new RegExp(regexStr).exec(allInputs[i].name);
if (results != undefined) {
allInputs[i].dataset.name = window.cfields[results[1]];
} else {
allInputs[i].dataset.name = allInputs[i].name;
}
var fieldVal = getUrlParam(allInputs[i].dataset.name); if (fieldVal) {
if (allInputs[i].type == "radio" || allInputs[i].type == "checkbox") {
if (allInputs[i].value == fieldVal) {
allInputs[i].checked = true;
}
} else {
allInputs[i].value = fieldVal;
}
}
} var remove_tooltips = function() {
for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) {
tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip);
}
tooltips = [];
};
var remove_tooltip = function(elem) {
for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) {
if (tooltips[i].elem === elem) {
tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip);
tooltips.splice(i, 1);
return;
}
}
};
var create_tooltip = function(elem, text) {
var tooltip = document.createElement('div'), arrow = document.createElement('div'), inner = document.createElement('div'), new_tooltip = {};
if (elem.type != 'radio' && elem.type != 'checkbox') {
tooltip.className = '_error';
arrow.className = '_error-arrow';
inner.className = '_error-inner';
inner.innerHTML = text;
tooltip.appendChild(arrow);
tooltip.appendChild(inner);
elem.parentNode.appendChild(tooltip);
} else {
tooltip.className = '_error-inner _no_arrow';
tooltip.innerHTML = text;
elem.parentNode.insertBefore(tooltip, elem);
new_tooltip.no_arrow = true;
}
new_tooltip.tip = tooltip;
new_tooltip.elem = elem;
tooltips.push(new_tooltip);
return new_tooltip;
};
var resize_tooltip = function(tooltip) {
var rect = tooltip.elem.getBoundingClientRect();
var doc = document.documentElement, scrollPosition = rect.top - ((window.pageYOffset || doc.scrollTop) - (doc.clientTop || 0));
if (scrollPosition < 40) {
tooltip.tip.className = tooltip.tip.className.replace(/ ?(_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _below';
} else {
tooltip.tip.className = tooltip.tip.className.replace(/ ?(_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _above';
}
};
var resize_tooltips = function() {
if (_removed) return;
for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) {
if (!tooltips[i].no_arrow) resize_tooltip(tooltips[i]);
}
};
var validate_field = function(elem, remove) {
var tooltip = null, value = elem.value, no_error = true;
remove ? remove_tooltip(elem) : false;
if (elem.type != 'checkbox') elem.className = elem.className.replace(/ ?_has_error ?/g, '');
if (elem.getAttribute('required') !== null) {
if (elem.type == 'radio' || (elem.type == 'checkbox' && /any/.test(elem.className))) {
var elems = form_to_submit.elements[elem.name];
if (!(elems instanceof NodeList || elems instanceof HTMLCollection) || elems.length <= 1) {
no_error = elem.checked;
}
else {
no_error = false;
for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) {
if (elems[i].checked) no_error = true;
}
}
if (!no_error) {
tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option.");
}
} else if (elem.type =='checkbox') {
var elems = form_to_submit.elements[elem.name], found = false, err = [];
no_error = true;
for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) {
if (elems[i].getAttribute('required') === null) continue;
if (!found && elems[i] !== elem) return true;
found = true;
elems[i].className = elems[i].className.replace(/ ?_has_error ?/g, '');
if (!elems[i].checked) {
no_error = false;
elems[i].className = elems[i].className + ' _has_error';
err.push("Checking %s is required".replace("%s", elems[i].value));
}
}
if (!no_error) {
tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, err.join(' '));
}
} else if (elem.tagName == 'SELECT') {
var selected = true;
if (elem.multiple) {
selected = false;
for (var i = 0; i < elem.options.length; i++) {
if (elem.options[i].selected) {
selected = true;
break;
}
}
} else {
for (var i = 0; i < elem.options.length; i++) {
if (elem.options[i].selected && !elem.options[i].value) {
selected = false;
}
}
}
if (!selected) {
elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
no_error = false;
tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option.");
}
} else if (value === undefined || value === null || value === '') {
elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
no_error = false;
tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "This field is required.");
}
}
if (no_error && elem.name == 'email') {
if (!value.match(/^[\+_a-z0-9-'&=]+(\.[\+_a-z0-9-']+)*@[a-z0-9-]+(\.[a-z0-9-]+)*(\.[a-z]{2,})$/i)) {
elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
no_error = false;
tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Enter a valid email address.");
}
}
if (no_error && /date_field/.test(elem.className)) {
if (!value.match(/^\d\d\d\d-\d\d-\d\d$/)) {
elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
no_error = false;
tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Enter a valid date.");
}
}
tooltip ? resize_tooltip(tooltip) : false;
return no_error;
};
var needs_validate = function(el) {
return el.name == 'email' || el.getAttribute('required') !== null;
};
var validate_form = function(e) {
var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error'), no_error = true;
if (!submitted) {
submitted = true;
for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) {
var input = allInputs[i];
if (needs_validate(input)) {
if (input.type == 'text') {
addEvent(input, 'blur', function() {
this.value = this.value.trim();
validate_field(this, true);
});
addEvent(input, 'input', function() {
validate_field(this, true);
});
} else if (input.type == 'radio' || input.type == 'checkbox') {
(function(el) {
var radios = form_to_submit.elements[el.name];
for (var i = 0; i < radios.length; i++) {
addEvent(radios[i], 'click', function() {
validate_field(el, true);
});
}
})(input);
} else if (input.tagName == 'SELECT') {
addEvent(input, 'change', function() {
validate_field(this, true);
});
} else if (input.type == 'textarea'){
addEvent(input, 'input', function() {
validate_field(this, true);
});
}
}
}
}
remove_tooltips();
for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) {
var elem = allInputs[i];
if (needs_validate(elem)) {
if (elem.tagName.toLowerCase() !== "select") {
elem.value = elem.value.trim();
}
validate_field(elem) ? true : no_error = false;
}
}
if (!no_error && e) {
e.preventDefault();
}
resize_tooltips();
return no_error;
};
addEvent(window, 'resize', resize_tooltips);
addEvent(window, 'scroll', resize_tooltips);
window._old_serialize = null;
if (typeof serialize !== 'undefined') window._old_serialize = window.serialize;
_load_script("//d3rxaij56vjege.cloudfront.net/form-serialize/0.3/serialize.min.js", function() {
window._form_serialize = window.serialize;
if (window._old_serialize) window.serialize = window._old_serialize;
});
var form_submit = function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
if (validate_form()) {
// use this trick to get the submit button & disable it using plain javascript
document.querySelector('#_form_3_submit').disabled = true;
var serialized = _form_serialize(document.getElementById('_form_3_'));
var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error');
err ? err.parentNode.removeChild(err) : false;
_load_script('https://anandaapothecary.activehosted.com/proc.php?' + serialized + '&jsonp=true');
}
return false;
};
addEvent(form_to_submit, 'submit', form_submit);
})();
You'll receive your quiz results along with occasional updates, news, and training from Ananda Apothecary. We promise to only send you things of real value!