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.
Welcome to the fifth installment 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, and in the fourth part, we explored several external methods for using EO to enhance the well-being of the animals we adore.
Today, we delve into a few ways of using EO internally (consumption/ingestion) with companion animals and livestock.
*As always, it’s vital you use only the highest quality, 100% pure, therapeutic-grade EO (free from solvents, chemicals, dyes, etc.) for the safety and well-being of your loved ones.
It’s natural
From the scent of flowers and cut/broken stems, branches, leaves, and roots to the vapors emitted during plant respiration, wildlife, livestock, and our companion animals are naturally and regularly exposed to the complex organic compounds found in EO (oils are derived from nature itself). Animals also frequently consume the same compounds found in 100% pure, therapeutic-grade EO.
For millennia, EO have been used in caring for animals holistically. As always, we need to be mindful, watching how an individual animal responds to a given oil and trusting that animal’s innate instincts.
As shared in the first well-oiled pets piece, the easiest way to introduce your animals to oils is by you wearing an EO and spending time with your animals or through cool-air diffusion.
Time to try essential oils
Watering
A basic way to add the benefits of EO to your animals’ lives is by adding a drop to their ceramic, glass, or stainless steel water bowl. You’ll likely notice it doesn’t mix or blend, as oil and water don’t mix, but it will disperse, reducing concentrations.
How your animal responds to the scent and taste provides you instant feedback on the use of any given oil and will help you decide if you should try another method.
Tips:
Please use glass, stainless steel, galvanized metal, ceramic, or non-reactive plastic when using EO. Chemicals in plastic can be broken down by compounds in EO, causing plastic chemicals to leach into the water, something you want to avoid.
Whenever possible, use filtered or natural spring water, as chlorinated water suppresses the immune system and thyroid function, reducing the effects of EO.
Dose: 1 drop of EO per 32 ounces (1 quart) of water and mix/agitate the water to disperse. (I simply saved a glass juice bottle and used that to mix up the oil with water before pouring it into my dog’s bowl).
Feeding
Often, animals will be more tolerant of oil in their food than in their water supply, so you can feel free to experiment with any EO generally regarded as safe for ingesting for the species, but you can also simply start with the EO you used in their water.
Tips:
Use flavors that blend with the food, and since most feed has a higher fat content, the feed itself acts as its own carrier oil.
Try a drop or 2 of an EO mixed with wet food or gravy on top of the bowl to get things started.
With one of my dogs, I just dropped the oil into the bowl, mixed the dry food up, and he devoured it. You may need to experiment a bit to see what the animals in your life prefer.
Oral application
Oils absorb quickly through the mucous membranes of an animal's cheek or lips, so if you and your companion are willing (and s/he is tolerant of it), you can quickly and gently pull the animal’s lip out and drop an EO directly onto the cheek/lip.
FYI: Any direct EO application that doesn’t go well may mean the animal is less likely to “play along” with oral applications in the future, so unless it is a more critical situation, start with an EO your animal already knows.
Tips:
Mix the EO with a carrier to dilute it a bit, especially a “hot oil” like peppermint or ginger, which quickly pulls circulation to the air, creating a warming sensation.
Carriers safe for consumption include honey, coconut and olive oil (veggie oils).
This cheek/lip method is especially effective with horses, livestock, and dogs:
Horses: 10-15 drops
Dogs: 1 drop (for smaller dogs, please dilute with a carrier oil like coconut or olive)
Large dogs: 1-3 drops
Licking
Whether wildlife, livestock, or pets, animals groom themselves, even soothe themselves, through licking. By placing 1-2 drops of a safe-for-consumption EO on YOUR hands and petting the animal on areas they typically “groom”, you can incorporate EO into their lives fairly effortlessly. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy some bonding time with your loved one!
Capsules
After chatting with your holistic vet, and if your companion is pill-friendly, you can try using capsules. Drop EO into an empty gel cap (sold at pharmacies, health food stores, and some pet stores) and give it to your companion. Be mindful of “hot oils” (like peppermint), and consider purchasing pipets to make filling the capsules not only easier but less messy.
Species-specific suggestions
Birds
While birds are sensitive to chemicals, their sense of smell and taste is lacking,g so adding EO to water typically isn’t an issue. You can also try adding EO to their food.
Try:
1 drop of EO to 32oz of water in a glass container. Shake or stir and pour into their water dish. Remember, birds are known to bathe in their water dishes, so watch their “intake.”
For food, start with one teaspoon of their favorite seed and add a toothpick tip of a complimentary flavored EO (dip the toothpick into a drop of EO), increasing the dose to 1 drop over time.
EO to try with your avian friends:
Frankincense
Citrus (orange, lemon, etc.)
Copaiba
Cats
Felines are more sensitive to EO than other animals, and as previously noted, a few EO should be avoided. Use only the highest-quality, feline-friendly OE, and start with “the licking” method before moving to water and/or food.
Try: Mixing water or food with a toothpick tip amount of EO (make sure another bowl of EO-free water/food source is also available):
Copaiba
Frankincense
Peppermint
Citrus
Avoid: Do not use oils that contain Sesquiterpenes, Phenols, and Eugenols (as shared in article 1)
Dogs
Many dogs will eat/drink/try anything, while others are a bit more particular. Either way, the one drop EO to 32oz (1 quart) of water is a great place to start!
Try: For selective canines, place one drop on a chewy treat in a small dish of wet food, mixed into gravy or something you know that they enjoy (cottage cheese or a piece of chicken):
Frankincense
Citrus
Copaiba
Peppermint
Livestock
Livestock and horses respond well to EO in water and food (they naturally ingest EO with their feed and while grazing). While stainless steel and galvanized metal troughs are ideal, I know that most are plastic. Fortunately, plastic troughs are typically made from harder substances with less breakdown and are okay to use with EO.
Try: 10s drop EO to 50-100 gallons of water and mix into drinking trough, increasing gradually to 1 drop per 32oz concentration; or drop EO into oats, applesauce, maple syrup, or onto hay:
Copaiba
Frankincense
Citrus
Peppermint
While there are other options, like oral drops, sublingual application (under the tongue), and rectal instillation, the ones I’ve shared above do not require veterinary professionals and are the easiest for you to use with your beloved animals at home.
As always, consult your holistic veterinary team before starting any new modalities.
For more tips on using EO with animals, download these quick guides:
Of course, this is just the “tip of the tail” in exploring EO use with animals. There’s always something more to discover when it comes to the health and well-being of our beloved animal companions!
Still seeking support?
Have questions on using EO with the animals in your life? Let's work together to identify your animals’ needs and preferences! Get in touch today to 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.
