Scents'N'Sensibility - Pet Care & Pest Control, Using Essential Oils

Scents & Sensibility Newsletter - Volume II - Issue 12 - April 6, 2001

Pet Care & Pest Control - Using Essential Oils

It is a well known fact that animals, pets in particular, have a positive effect in our lives. Research has proven that stroking a cat or puppy can lower blood pressure, calm nerves and induce a sense of well being and the animals enjoy it also. What we may not appreciate is that our pets suffer from many of the same aches, pains and illness that we do and in many instances what works for us can help them also. Anyone who has ever watched a cat roll unabashed in feverish ecstasy in cat mint or nepeta is aware of the effect that plants can have on animals so it should come as no surprise that essential oils and aromatherapy can be very effective for your pets as well. Animals instinctively know which oils will relieve their upset stomach or rid their flea infestation but may have some difficulty relating this information to their owners so we offer a few suggestions here.

Pest Control

Dogs, cats even horses are all plagued by fleas and ticks. One or two drops of citronella oil or lemongrass oil added to the shampoo, will greatly discourage these pests from associating with your pet. Prepare a bowl of warm water and add four or five drops of cedarwood and pine oil, then soak a bristle haired brush in the solution and brush your pet down with it. The eggs and parasites will come off in the brush so rinse it out thoroughly several times during this process. The essential oils will also condition the coat and skin while ridding the fleas and ticks. Adding citronella and lemongrass to this mixture will discourage flies on your livestock when brushed into their coat.

You can also prepare your own flea collar by soaking an old cloth collar or even a cotton scarf in a mixture of cedarwood, lavender, citronella and thyme and four or five garlic capsules. Blend together and add less than a teaspoon of vodka or alcohol to help thin the mixture and blend the oils, soak your collar in this then put it on. These collars can work for about 30 days. Adding garlic capsules to your pets food will also make them less attractive to fleas and ticks.

nother nuisance, especially if you have horses or livestock is mice. Thankfully, mice despise peppermint in both plant and essential oil form. A few drops of peppermint oil in a bucket of water used to scrub out a stall and sprinkling a few drops around the perimeter and directly on the straw or bedding will eliminate or severely curtail the habitation of mice. Peppermint oil under the kitchen sink will eliminate mice there also. While peppermint planted without confinement can soon become a pest in and of itself, planters or pots of peppermint around your barns and home will also cut down on the mouse population. The added bonus of peppermint is that even smelling peppermint can make you feel cooler, (even if you aren't) and your livestock will find it refreshing soothing and calming.

Illness, Disease and Injury

Animals suffer from colds, flu, arthritis and dental problems just as people do and often what works for us will work for them also. It is always important to remember the highly concentrated nature of essential oils and use sparingly.

If your pet has bad breath it can be a result of gum disease and bacterial build up on their teeth. Mix a couple tablespoons of baking soda, one drop of clove oil and one drop of aniseed for a toothpaste. Apply it with a soft bristle toothbrush or cloth and rub your pets teeth gently. Remember, they likely don't like the dentist anymore than you do, so be considerate of their sensitive mouths. For general bad breath, apply lavender, myrrh and clove directly to their gums to kill the bacteria causing this.

For wounds, abcesses and burns lavender and tea tree can be indispensible. Apply tea trea to an abcess, once the infection is discharged apply lavender to help heal the wound. Scalds and burns can also be treated with lavender to speed and aid healing. Skin rashes and eczema can be treated by applying tea tree to the affected area, as well as lavender and chamomile. A mixture of lavender, chamomile and tea tree dropped into infected ears is another excellent use for a common problem with pets.

Horses are also subject to worms but to treat worms add tansy leaves and three or four drops of thyme oil to each feed. Aid healing from hoof rot in your livestock by treating with a hot compress made up of 10 drops chamomile, 15 drops of thyme and 5 drops of Melissa diluted in about three ounces of grapeseed oil, (I recommend grapeseed oil because of its light viscosity). Melissa oil added to feed can also increase the milk production of both cows and goats.

To treat your pet's teeth and gums mix up a toothpaste consisting of 2 tablespoons baking soda and one drop each of clove oil and aniseed oil. Use a soft toothbrush or cotton wool to rub their teeth and gums and give them free access to a drink of water afterwards. For bad breath caused by gum disease add a drop of myrrh and lavender oil. An affective arthritis treatment is to mix 4 drops of rosemary, 2 drops of lavender and 3 drops of ginger with a couple of tablespoons of grapeseed and massage directly into your pets affected joints. Another common problem among pets involves their ears. Dilute one drop each tea tree, lavender and chamomile oils in a teaspoon of grapeseed or olive oil and drip into each ear and massage around the outer edge of their ears.

All of these remedies are very simply and require a very small investment of both time and money and you may notice the added benefit not only of a happier pet but a fresher smelling home as well.