Written by Mary Ann Green, Holistic Practitioner
Mary Ann Green is a trusted energy practitioner, human nourishment coach and animal intuitive. Her journey through CPTSD, disordered eating and caring for loved ones, including companion animals, led her to certifications as a Pn1 Sports & Exercise Nutrition Coach, Reiki Master, Master Life Coach, Healy and Animal Reiki practitioner.
Another round of The Well-Oiled Pet, designed to provide facts and dispel fears about using essential oils (EO) with the animals in our lives. In the first article of this series, we explored species specific sensitivities, cautionary compounds, the simplest ways to introduce EO to animals and the importance of using the highest quality, organic, therapeutic-grade essential oils.
The second article discussed how to introduce your animals to essential oils and the crucial “what to avoid” for their safety. In part 3, we dove into dosing.
Next, we explore several external methods for using EO to enhance the wellbeing of the animals we adore.
As always, please make sure you are using 100% pure EO and only oils that are safe for the types of animals (species) in your life.
A reminder
As noted in the first Well-Oiled Pet piece, the easiest way to introduce our animals to oils is by you wearing an EO and spending time with them. Another simple option is cool-air diffusion.
Both of these methods are great introductions because they allow animals to get familiar with new scents while providing an exposure that is low and slow.
Time to try
Water diffusion
The first method is one we’ve touched on previously – water diffusion using a cool-air diffuser, which can be found online or at many larger stores.
Why “cool-air” diffusers? To ensure the quality of the EO is maintained throughout the process. Heating EO can change the chemical constituents, altering their impact on the body, mind, and spirit. For best results, use a diffuser that does not heat the oils.
NOTE: Please use distilled water when diffusing to ensure chemicals added to tap water are not introduced into the diffusion process. (If distilled water is unavailable, at least make sure the water is filtered.)
While we typically think of diffusing EO as inhalation, because animals have higher concentrations of hair follicles, many species also absorb the oils, making diffusion a topical application as well.
As noted previously, this is especially true with our feline friends, who benefit from diffusion as it offers that low and slow exposure!
No matter the species, we can control the concentration of oils in water-based diffusion by adding more or less EO and ensuring that animals are free to move to another space should they choose to do so.
Start with one drop of EO in the diffuser. Wait a few minutes and observe how the animal(s) respond, checking for changes in their breathing pace, sneezing, panting, drooling, lethargy, or coughing. Each is a clue to their tolerance of an oil.
Trust your companions and livestock—if they walk into another room, it means they’ve had enough for that session.
Passive diffusion
Here, instead of using a diffuser, we place a drop of EO on a cotton ball or in a glass dish and let the scent evaporate into the room. This method allows the oil to permeate the air naturally and is another wonderful way to introduce essential oils to animals.
Spritzing
Making a spritz (spray) can be especially useful when mixing up recipes to repel fleas, ticks, and other bugs, or for freshening up a space. Plus, it’s a simple process: fill a 4-ounce glass bottle with distilled water, mix in 15 drops of essential oil, and it’s ready for use.
Be sure to shake the bottle before each spritz and always use a glass container. Glass is recommended for storing EO or EO-based products, as some oils contain compounds that break down plastic, resulting in chemicals leaching into the mixture. This is something you want to avoid.
Similar to diffusing, spritzing is a wonderful way to not only introduce EO to animals but also freshen your home safely. In fact, I’ve used a lavender spritz on my dog’s bed to refresh it, help reduce any tension (body, mind, or spirit) he may be experiencing, and to help keep bugs at bay.
Of course, spritzing also works well on furniture, in closets, bedrooms, and bathrooms, as well as in shoes, boots, lockers, cars, and gym bags.
Topical application
While many oils are safe for direct application on your loved one’s skin or fur, please be sure you are using 100% pure, therapeutic-grade EO without synthetics!
Lavender is always a great oil to start with, as it’s one of the safest to apply neat (undiluted) and is typically well tolerated in low doses.
Another wonderful way to use EO topically with pets and livestock is by adding them to grooming products like shampoos, conditioners, and ointments. Of course, you can also brush diluted oils into the fur or put a drop on your hands and pet your companion.
“Hot oils,” those that draw extensive circulation to the surface and feel warm on the skin, like cinnamon, clove, or peppermint, can be mixed with a carrier oil like V-6, coconut, or even olive oil and massaged gently into the skin.
I often apply a bit of peppermint EO mixed with coconut oil to my dog’s belly when it’s gurgling in the middle of the night. It’s also wonderful for achy or stiff joints—again, diluted. (Works on humans, too!)
A reminder to always wash your hands after using oils because you definitely want to keep “hot oils” away from sensitive areas.
Perching
Bird lovers are far too often told they can’t use EO with their feathered friends. Not true. Birds are regularly exposed to certain EO in the wild through the branches, twigs, and trees they use to roost and nest.
The easiest way to mimic this in your home aviary is to place a drop of pure EO on your bird’s perch. Start with a lower exposure by dispensing one drop of oil onto a toothpick and then running the toothpick along the perch.
NOTE: Birds tolerate nearly all essential oil singles and blends, especially when cool-air diffused in a water diffuser.
Vita flex points
Similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine’s acupuncture and acupressure, Vita Flex is a Tibetan practice based on the wisdom that we contain a network of reflexology points that correspond with our organ systems.
Literally meaning the “vitality of the reflexes,” Vita Flex features a gentle massage of specific points on the hands, feet, head, and ears to stimulate other parts of the body, sending a beneficial "electric charge" to areas that need support.
Living beings are dynamic energy circuits. If there is interference in the flow of this vital energy, it gets stuck or stagnates, the body becomes unbalanced, and discomfort or disease arises. If this energy flows freely, well-being is restored and maintained.
By massaging the Vita Flex points with essential oils, there is a synergistic effect that enhances the benefits of both the oils and the stimulation of the points.
Since the Vita Flex points are on the feet, ears, hands, and head, it’s a wonderful modality for bringing EO into the lives of your animal companions while strengthening the bond you have with them.
Of course, as many pet owners know, not all animals enjoy having their feet or ears touched.
The pads, feet, and hooves of our animal companions are not the same as human feet, so the Vita Flex system that works for us will not necessarily correspond with animals. Plus, the Vita Flex points are often different from species to species.
All that said, our canine companions seem to respond extremely well to reflexology applications, and many of us who use essential oils regularly with our dogs can see the correlation between the following points on their hind paws and other areas of their bodies.
Points on pups
If your dog is foot-friendly, you’ll want to try these Vita Flex points on its hind feet!
Please note: These points are all located on the hind paws. Also, be sure to note whether the placement is on the inner or outer portion of the dog’s foot and whether it’s the left or right paw.
I know one of my dogs didn’t enjoy having his feet touched, but he loved when I placed a drop of lavender or frankincense on my hands, massaged along his spine, and rubbed his ears!
*Please never place essential oils directly into an animal’s ear canal or eyes, as these areas are extremely sensitive. (You may put one drop of lavender on a cotton ball and place the cotton ball gently at the opening of your dog’s ear canal, for example, but do not drop oils directly into the ear canal.)
While this largely covers using EO externally, there are also options for using EO internally with our animals. Stay tuned for Part 5 of The Well-Oiled Pet, where we’ll explore safe internal uses for EO with the animals in our lives, additional usage tips, and more!
For More Tips on Using EO with Animals:
Project Pet: Dog Tips – 5 Essential Oils for Canines
Project Pet: Cat Tips – 5 Essential Oils for Felines
Project Pet: Equine Tips – 4 Essential Oils for Equines
Unsure how to proceed or have a question? Let's work together to identify your animals’ needs and preferences! Get in touch today and take the first step towards a healthier, happier, well-oiled pet. Your companions will be glad you did.
Read more from Mary Ann Green
Mary Ann Green, Holistic Practitioner
“Never follow anyone else’s path, unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost.” ~Ellen DeGeneres (maybe not even then)
A holistic health practitioner and nourishment coach, Mary Ann Green melds modern science, ancient wisdom, personal experience and insightful senses into an artful practice empowering clients to discover and walk their most nourished path.
She believes all beings have an innate tendency towards wholeness. All beings have an inherent desire to live their fullest lives. However, Green knows that not all have the same backgrounds, experiences, or skills to support the well-being of body, mind, and spirit. This is the genesis of the NourishedPath.net.
