AROMADOG RESCUE TOYS can help soothe emotional trauma and experiences. Made with lavender blend of 100% therapeutic grade essential oils to help calm your dog. Releases aroma with each play and squeak. Rescue toys helps with emotional trauma and experiences that are difficult to work through. Fearfulness, betrayal, rage, abandonment, grief and depression are emotions that must be overcome for a healthy live. Rescue toys helps the dog transition through mentally challenging times to becoming balanced and optimistic. Oil mixture of cypress, ylang ylang, lavender, spikenard and neroli. Have a look at the various options available www.mcmac.co.za
AROMATHERAPY FOR DOGS
Guest Contributor - Sandy Cammell : www.earthpets.co.za
“USING THE POWER OF NATURE TO NURTURE”
In considering the use of Aromatherapy for animals this article considers 5 frequently asked questions
How does aromatherapy work on dogs ?
It is difficult to understand how aromatherapy oils have such a strong impact on an animal’s health. Considering that they are often viewed as solely aromatic, the secret becomes clear when we become aware that while essential oils strongest feature lies in their scent, it is their chemical compositions that harbour their true capabilities.
Plants produce essential oils for a variety of reasons; attracting insects, repelling pests and fighting off bacteria, mould, viruses and fungi. Aromatherapy works on various levels: physically, emotionally and holistically.
Animals have much larger nasal cavities than humans do, and as a result their sense of smell is 50 – 100 times stronger than ours. For this reason when dogs are exposed to the various scents found in essential oils they experience an immediate reaction. For example, the components of Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia) are widely known to be calming and soothing.
Aromatherapy treatments also work on a physical level with animals. Essential oils have varying effects on an animal’s physiology. Many of the capabilities found within the chemical components of essential oils have been found to be anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic (anti-itching), sedative, stimulating and regenerative.
In the case of Earth Pets products most are applied topically as this gives the greatest benefit. The oils are applied directly to the area they are needed. Once applied aromatics chosen for the various physiological effects can begin to get to work. For example an arthritis blend gets absorbed directly into the sore muscle or stiff joint to which is has been applied, yielding immediate relief.
On an emotional level, the oils benefit both the animal and its owner. Most companion animals react to human touch in a positive way, especially dogs. The topical application of applying natural essential oils in appropriate dilutions can greatly strengthen the human/canine bond though touch and massage.
Although Aromatherapy will greatly benefit your pet on many different levels, it is not meant to take the place of conventional medical treatment. If an animal needs to be taken to a vet for more immediate care, then this should definitely be done.
What is aromatherapy ?
Aromatherapy is defined as the therapeutic use of pure, unadulterated essential oils and other fragrant plant materials for holistic health treatments.
It began in 1912 when the father of modern aromatherapy, French Chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse badly burned his hands while working and treated himself with Lavender essential oil. Gattefosse marveled at the speedy recovery of his burns and was inspired to immerse himself in an intense study of essential oils. Scientific study of the chemical constituents of essential oils in combination with the case studies involving the application of essential oils for various veterinary treatments yielded positive results.
Aromatherapy was the name given to the use of fragrant plant oils by Gattefosse. He defined aromatherapy as “a therapy or cure using aroma, aromatics and scents”, noting that the most curative properties were found in plants.
Today aromatherapy is widely used and accepted as an exceptional alternative to conventional treatments for both humans and animals.
How are essential oils made ?
Aromatics are extracted from plant materials in a variety of ways. Essential oils can be produced in various parts of the plant, from the flowers, leaves and stems, the fruit, berries, bark, seeds or roots. The following is a list of the various ways in which these precious oils are extracted:
· Steam distillation
· Solvent extraction
· Expression
· Effleurage
· Carbon Dioxide extraction
· Florasol extraction
Why can’t we use aromatherapy on cats ?
It is potentially dangerous to use essential oils on cats for several reasons. Cats differ greatly from dogs in how they metabolize and excrete certain substances from their bodies. Cats do not have the necessary enzymes to break down certain substances and effectively excrete them. This leads to the build-up of toxins in their bodies, especially their livers.
Cats are particularly sensitive to certain essential oil components. Essential oils with their myriad of chemical constituents are all highly individual. Cats are adversely affected by certain essential oil components known as phenols and ketones. These constituents have been discovered to cause the most adverse effects.
Due to the extremely sensitive metabolic functions of cats and their inability to fully excrete toxins, which then stay in their bodies, resulting in permanently elevated enzyme levels and varying decrees of impaired liver function, Earth Pets do not produce aromatherapy blends for cats.
Are there any oils that should be avoided on animals ?
There is a common misconception that all natural ingredients are always safe, always gentle and never cause reactions. In reality this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many natural substances are highly toxic and irritating despite being of botanical origin.
There are a number of oils that should be avoided. The following is a list of oils that are not safe for use on animals and none of below are used in any form at Earth Pets in South Africa:
Anise, Birch, Bitter Almond, Baldo, Calamus, Camphor, Cassia, Chenopodium, Clove leaf & bud, Goosefoot, Horseradish, Hyssop, Juniper, Mugwort, Mustard, Oregano, Pennyroyal, Red or White Thyme, Rue, Santalina, Sassafras, Savoury, Tansy, Terebinth, Thuju, Wintergreen, Wormwood, Yarrow.
How does aromatherapy work on dogs ?
It is difficult to understand how aromatherapy oils have such a strong impact on an animal’s health. Considering that they are often viewed as solely aromatic, the secret becomes clear when we become aware that while essential oils strongest feature lies in their scent, it is their chemical compositions that harbour their true capabilities.
Plants produce essential oils for a variety of reasons; attracting insects, repelling pests and fighting off bacteria, mould, viruses and fungi. Aromatherapy works on various levels: physically, emotionally and holistically.
Animals have much larger nasal cavities than humans do, and as a result their sense of smell is 50 – 100 times stronger than ours. For this reason when dogs are exposed to the various scents found in essential oils they experience an immediate reaction. For example, the components of Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia) are widely known to be calming and soothing.
Aromatherapy treatments also work on a physical level with animals. Essential oils have varying effects on an animal’s physiology. Many of the capabilities found within the chemical components of essential oils have been found to be anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic (anti-itching), sedative, stimulating and regenerative.
In the case of Earth Pets products most are applied topically as this gives the greatest benefit. The oils are applied directly to the area they are needed. Once applied aromatics chosen for the various physiological effects can begin to get to work. For example an arthritis blend gets absorbed directly into the sore muscle or stiff joint to which is has been applied, yielding immediate relief.
On an emotional level, the oils benefit both the animal and its owner. Most companion animals react to human touch in a positive way, especially dogs. The topical application of applying natural essential oils in appropriate dilutions can greatly strengthen the human/canine bond though touch and massage.
Although Aromatherapy will greatly benefit your pet on many different levels, it is not meant to take the place of conventional medical treatment. If an animal needs to be taken to a vet for more immediate care, then this should definitely be done.
What is aromatherapy ?
Aromatherapy is defined as the therapeutic use of pure, unadulterated essential oils and other fragrant plant materials for holistic health treatments.
It began in 1912 when the father of modern aromatherapy, French Chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse badly burned his hands while working and treated himself with Lavender essential oil. Gattefosse marveled at the speedy recovery of his burns and was inspired to immerse himself in an intense study of essential oils. Scientific study of the chemical constituents of essential oils in combination with the case studies involving the application of essential oils for various veterinary treatments yielded positive results.
Aromatherapy was the name given to the use of fragrant plant oils by Gattefosse. He defined aromatherapy as “a therapy or cure using aroma, aromatics and scents”, noting that the most curative properties were found in plants.
Today aromatherapy is widely used and accepted as an exceptional alternative to conventional treatments for both humans and animals.
How are essential oils made ?
Aromatics are extracted from plant materials in a variety of ways. Essential oils can be produced in various parts of the plant, from the flowers, leaves and stems, the fruit, berries, bark, seeds or roots. The following is a list of the various ways in which these precious oils are extracted:
· Steam distillation
· Solvent extraction
· Expression
· Effleurage
· Carbon Dioxide extraction
· Florasol extraction
Why can’t we use aromatherapy on cats ?
It is potentially dangerous to use essential oils on cats for several reasons. Cats differ greatly from dogs in how they metabolize and excrete certain substances from their bodies. Cats do not have the necessary enzymes to break down certain substances and effectively excrete them. This leads to the build-up of toxins in their bodies, especially their livers.
Cats are particularly sensitive to certain essential oil components. Essential oils with their myriad of chemical constituents are all highly individual. Cats are adversely affected by certain essential oil components known as phenols and ketones. These constituents have been discovered to cause the most adverse effects.
Due to the extremely sensitive metabolic functions of cats and their inability to fully excrete toxins, which then stay in their bodies, resulting in permanently elevated enzyme levels and varying decrees of impaired liver function, Earth Pets do not produce aromatherapy blends for cats.
Are there any oils that should be avoided on animals ?
There is a common misconception that all natural ingredients are always safe, always gentle and never cause reactions. In reality this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many natural substances are highly toxic and irritating despite being of botanical origin.
There are a number of oils that should be avoided. The following is a list of oils that are not safe for use on animals and none of below are used in any form at Earth Pets in South Africa:
Anise, Birch, Bitter Almond, Baldo, Calamus, Camphor, Cassia, Chenopodium, Clove leaf & bud, Goosefoot, Horseradish, Hyssop, Juniper, Mugwort, Mustard, Oregano, Pennyroyal, Red or White Thyme, Rue, Santalina, Sassafras, Savoury, Tansy, Terebinth, Thuju, Wintergreen, Wormwood, Yarrow.
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