Essential Oils and Pets: A Quick How-To

If you love using Young Living products in your home, you’ve probably wondered how you can share their amazing benefits with your animals. Which oils are safe to use? How much can I apply? Should I diffuse or apply topically? 

If you’ve ever had questions like these, we’re here to help! Check out this quick-and-easy how-to guide for using essential oils with animals.* Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, here are a few things to keep in mind: 

Most animals are more sensitive than humans to essential oils.

• Start by diluting heavily and use in moderation.

• Every animal is different, so carefully observe how each animal responds to the oils. Use common sense and good judgment as you try different methods.
• Take special care to not get essential oils in an animal’s eyes.
• Avoid using high-phenol oils such as Oregano and Thyme with any animals, especially cats.
• Use special caution when using essential oils with cats. Cats are also generally averse to citrus essential oils.

Your animal’s size affects the amount of oil you should use.

• For smaller animals like cats and small dogs, use 3–5 drops. Be sure to dilute 80–90 percent prior to application (for example, for every 1 drop of oil, use 4–5 drops of a diluting agent, such as V-6^™Vegetable Oil Complex).
• For larger animals, like large dogs, start with 3–5 drops. Unless otherwise indicated on the product label, dilution is unnecessary.
• For very large animals, like horses and cattle, start with 10 drops. Unless otherwise indicated on the product label, dilution is unnecessary.

Apply oils to yourself or diffuse to introduce animals to essential oils and help them get comfortable.

• Wear oils around your animals, diffuse in their space, or apply to your hands and let the animal smell them.
• If your animal is jittery or resistant to essential oils, try applying an oil to yourself and staying near the animal for several minutes so it can get used to the aroma.

Once they’re used to essential oils, animals can respond well to topical application.

• For cats and dogs, paws are a great place to apply essential oils.
• For hoofed animals, we recommend application on the spine or flanks.
• Try rubbing oils onto your own hands and then stroking the animal’s fur.
• For large or hard-to-reach areas, combine essential oils with V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex or water in a spray bottle for easier application.
• Animal Scents^™ Ointment can be used to seal and protect areas where essential oils have been applied topically.

Essential oils can be administered internally.

• Some essential oils can be mixed with your animal’s food.
• For large animals, you can pull out the bottom lip and drop oils directly into the mouth.

Young Living offers a full line of animal-specific products.

• Animal Scents Shampoo
• Animal Scents Ointment
• Animals Scents oils (available individually)

*If your pet or animal has a known health issue, please consult your veterinarian before administering essential oils.

Get started on your amazing essential oils journey at:

www.NaturalLivingEssentialOils.com

Essential Oils for Cats

Cats present their own unique controversies and requirements to essential oil use.  Most cat owners would agree that cats have distinct opinions of the world in which they allow us to co-exist, and this certainly holds true for aromatherapy. Cats are likely very proud of the fact that they are indeed the most contested topic in the world of essential oil use.  Human viewpoints of this subject range from the adamant stance that essential oils cannot be used safely for cats, to those who use contraindicated essential oils on a daily basis for their felines.

Essential oils for cats (and other animals) is a highly controversial topic, however it really is an argument that boils down to the quality of the essential oils.  Rest assured that ALL of the oils we recommend for use on your animals have been tested for safety and effectiveness prior to us recommending them to you.  The one factor that we stress is to ONLY use therapeutic grade essential oils, and the only one we recommend is Young Living Essential Oils, as they are tried and true for more than 20 years.

Cats are sensitive to most synthetically made products and "natural products" as well as someessential oils . . . . even if we are not aware of it!  We bring this up as many of us have sensitivities to food, household cleaners, hair and skin products, etc., however we may not recognize it because most of us are just not that tuned into our bodies and our environment. We may only recognize a change when we cease using certain products or stop eating a particular food item.

Have you ever considered the toxicity to your pets when you bomb your home with synthetic air fresheners, household cleaners or carpet cleaners?  Our pets have extremely sensitive noses and much smaller lungs, so subjecting them to breathing in chemicals and other toxic substances can do a lot of damage.

Many health problems today for humans, as well as for pets, can be traced back to toxicity within their environment, whether it's diet, personal care, or household products. 

Thankfully, there is something we can do about it!  Make a commitment to using non-toxic, holistic cleaning supplies, as well as diffusing healthy essential oils in your home and workplace for yourself and for your pets. 

Essential oils are the perfect solution for us and for our animals. Essential oils can replace most toxic medications for cats, dogs, birds, horses and any other living creature.  There are some oils that we cannot use on certain animals, cats included, so please do be careful and please ask us for guidance if you are not sure.  It is better to be safe than sorry, and the reason Healing Oils for Animals exists is to educate folks on the proper usage of essential oils for their pets, as well as for themselves.

Some of the best essential oils for cats include Lavender, Oregano, Thieves and Peace & Calming, however there are many other oils and nutritional products that are also quite effective!  Remember to always use therapeutic grade essential oils from a trusted source, such as Young Living.  There IS a difference, as demonstrated in the graph below.  

Please contact us for more information on Essential Oils for Animals, 

as well as Essential Oils for You!

www.GiftedGuidanceEssentialOils.com