On Saturday on my Rach Rey’s flock I mentioned that dogs have up to 300 million receptors in their nose. Dogs noses are wet to help absorb scent chemicals, this helps them understand the smell.
This is also why dogs are good at smelling out drugs, rats, picking up the scent of lost children/people and more. Just another reason why I love dogs. The use of oils can help with health issues, skin allergies, anxiety, thunderstorms and more.
Anyway the reason why I was interested in using essential oils for myself was not only for my health and wellbeing, but for that of my pets too.
I soon came to the realisation that they’re one powerful tool.
I did some study and research and started with using lavender oil on the stressful dogs I would groom. Within about 15 min I saw most of these dogs totally relax.
I then began using lavender oil on my own dogs. I made a roller bottle of oils so i could easily roll there paws and belly.
They both would jump up onto my head when thunder was coming.
(storms and dogs will be the following Mondays blog)
The oils worked amazingly on my dogs. They still had the occasional shiver and they liked being next to me, just not on my head.
So this is how I introduced my dogs to the calming effects of Lavender oil
1.My dogs were quiet calm on the lounge sitting next me and I put one drop of lavender and mixed it with a small amount of fracture coconut oil or MTC oil, rubbed my hands together.
2. I put it in front of the dogs nose and watched for their reaction. Our two both kept coming over to smell it. Some other dog may show you signs like trying to lick your hands, move away from it, turn their head away, twitch their noses, or raise their ears.
If they back away, try again tomorrow. Perhaps put some oil on yourself so the dogs can be familiar with the smell.
3. I put some coconut oil and some essential lavender oil in a roller bottle and used this on the dogs paws. I read from a vet that this works quickly and effectively. So I used this under their paws and around their bellies.
Stay away from their ears, eyes and nose.
Watch their reaction closely. Mine jumped off the lounge rolled around on their bed, ran around and then went back to sleep. Winning!!
I put the oils on them while they were calm and relaxed. So when a storm comes and I would put the oils on them they would relate the calming of the oil with calm times.
This was so effective for our dogs.
4. I also made a small jar of oils (lavender, vetiver etc) with lots of coconut oil and this I keep for the huge big storms that they are reacting too more than normal.
I dunk my finger in the jar and rub my hands together. I put one hand on the top of their body from their neck and the other on the bottom side from their chest and gently go down towards their tail.
This makes them run wild and toss and turn over the bed to get rid of the smell a bit and then they return to relaxation.
Remember I only have a few drops of oil to a lot of coconut oil, its very diluted.
This is the method I used on my dogs, however I do advise you to check with a specialist on oils before using any on your animals so you can learn how to use them safely.
ALWAYS TEST THE SMELL WITH YOUR ANIMAL FIRST AND USE A SMALL AMOUNT AND MOVE TO THE WHOLE BODY LIKE I DID WITH CAUTION.
DO NOT USE OILS WITHOUT CHECKING WITH AN EXPERT FIRST.
BE VERY CAREFUL USING OILS ON TOY POODLES, SMALL AND SENSITIVE DOGS.
DROOLING, HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING or A BIG CHANGE IN YOUR DOGS RESPIRATION OR SKIN, MEAN YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM STRAIGHT TO VET.
If you would like to try a roller bottle, a small bottle of lavender oil to help calm your pooch please let me know.
Stay tuned for Storms and Dogs in next weeks blog.
