Aroma Pets

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THE AROMATIC DOG - BUG CONTROL

NATURAL RESISTANCE

Healthy dogs, fed fresh whole food, are more able to resist bugs. By contrast, poor diet, high stress levels, flea treatments and vaccines all lower immunity and make infestation and irritation more likely.

Regularly offering essential oils makes sure the immune system is in tip-top shape, ready to repel bugs and the diseases they often carry.

MAKE YOUR OWN NATURAL REPELLENT
But in some climates and seasons bugs can get the best of even the healthiest dogs. Then aromatics are your best ally in the fight against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, because you can make your own 100% natural repellents.

But repellents made specifically for your dog, with his help, are most effective than anything shop bought. What's more, they have no unpleasant side effects and boost the immune system instead of lowering it. Plus, they are really fun to make.

My most tried and true bug control method is to mix essential oils and Neem oil in a hydrosol gel. Neem oil is one o nature's strongest insecticides.

Since the smell can be unpleasant, or even offensive to some people, you definitely need to dilute well. But it really works and has been tested to be effective at 19% dilution (1 ml in 100 ml/ 1 tablespoon in a cup).

I use sweet smelling insect repellent oils to help mask the Neem smell, Geranium, lemongrass Pachouli are some of my favourites. But, again, each dog has his own preference and many essential oils repel bugs, so I offer a selection of essential oils and hydrosols and let him choose.

A downside to using essential oils as bug repellents is that they evaporate quickly, so don't last very long. Neem oil lingers, and hydrosols do a good job of coating the skin/hair for longer lasting effects.  

HERE'S HOW TO DO IT

• 50 ml aloe vera gel
  5 ml neem oil
  3 drops cedarwood essential oil
  3 drops lavender essential oil
  3 drops lemongrass essential oil
• The final gel should be a consistency of hair conditioner, so slowly stir in up to 50 ml geranium hydrosol.
• 
  Rub a small amount through the coat every few days. Concentrate on the places bugs travel, the ruff, between the legs and around the ears. Reapply if you know you are going to a bug infested area or afte swimming.

MORE AROMATIC BUG REPELLENTS
A handkerchief soaked in bug repellent gel and tied around your dog's neck. This is good if you are going to a heavily infested area, such as a walk in the woods of Wisconsin.

A few drops of lemongrass hydrosol in a bowl of water for your dog to drink. This inhibits fleas.

You can add a few squirts of the bove lotion to a quarter bucket of water as a coat conditioning/flea repelling wash. Wet your dog down first then sponge on from the bucket, as much as possible leave to air dry.

Hydrosol spray, safer for daily applications if you feel it is needed , or around the face to protect from mosquitoes. Dilute hydrosol such as eucalyptus or lavender (or both) with distilled water 50/50.

Another very effective method is to mix half a cup diatomaceous earth (food grade) quarter cup neem leaf powder, and quarter cup kaolin clay, add a drop or two of cedarwood or lavender, and store in a plastic squeeze bottle. Dust underbelly and ruff lightly, once a week, or as required.

Reference: The Aromatic Dog Nayana Morag 

TAD - FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Essential oils are volatile, meaning they disperse easily into the air. An easy and natural way to use them is to diffuse them. Do this in an area where your dog can choose to hang out or leave. You can use an electric diffuser, an aromatherapy stone, or just put a drop or two of essential oil on a tissue and leave it in a warm spot, out of your dog's reach. you can also put a few drops of hydrosol in a dish of water for a similar gentle effect.

LIMIT INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Diffusing is particularly useful if you want to limit the spread of viruses, such as in a kernel or rescue shelter. Eucalyptus radiata and bergamot (Citrus bergamia) work well together for this. But many essential oils are immune stimulant, respiratory disinfectant and/or limit airborne bacteria, so you are spoilt for choice.

CALM TRAINING CLASSES
You can also diffuse essential oils in group situations such as dog training classes, where you might want to encourage calmness of focus. You can allow dogs to be as close to or far from the diffuser as suits them.

You can put frankincense in a burner or diffuser to help dogs who are scared of fireworks or thunder. 

Allow your dog freedom or movement when diffusing. Do not shut him up in the room, he still needs to be able to choose to interact.

• Diffusion works well for:
  Fears and phobias, such as fireworks
  Separation anxiety and other mental stress
  Preventing airborne bacteria and the spread of disease
  Inter-pack tension

Reference: The Aromatic Dog: Nayana Morag

TAD - How to Dilute Hydrosols

You can use hydrosols undiluted for acute conditions, if your dog chooses to lick them. You do not need to dilute for washing wounds or soothing skin. However for long term use or sensitive dogs dilution is necessary. The general rule is for emotional problems (sensitive issues) and sensitive dogs dilute more. You can start with as little as 1 drop in 1 cup/250ml of water. If your dog shows no interest in this dilution add more drops until he comes closer. If he leaves when you add more drops, just leave the water on the floor. Your dog will come back to it when the hydrosol has evaporated a little and the smell fades to a comfortable level.

If you have a strong, robust dog ( not necessarily large in size, it could be a Jack Russel, we are talking about robust character here) start with 1 teaspoon/5ml in 1 cup/250ml. You have a lot of leeway with hydrosols, they are extremely safe. It is just a matter of finding your dog's comfort level.

Rates of Dilution, Hydrosols

Physical problems, start at 10% to 50% hydrosol in filtered water. Emotional problems, 1 - 10 drops in 1 cup/250 ml of filtered water.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR DOG'S RESPONSES
Once you have diluted the aromatics your dog selected, offer them to him again. You must be patient when offering and watch carefully.The key to using aromatics is understanding what your dog is saying when he responds to them. A dog's response can be so subtle you think nothing is happening. Or he may want to eat the bottle out of your hand. This depends on your dog's character and the nature of his imbalance. when working with a dog on a particular problem, set yourself up for success. Make this quality one on one time with your dog, a quite healing time for you to share together. Choose a time when there are no other distractions or excitments, such as food time or walks. Exclude other animals if they will be a distraction.

There are three major ways dogs choose to interact with aromatic extracts....

INHALATION 

Your dog may just smell the oil, lying down quietly. He will go into a trance-like state, head lowered, eyes flickering as he processes what's happening. It may look like he is just lying there doing nothing. But if you observe carefully, you will see the eyes flickering and nostrils slightly flaring. If you move the bottle away, he may either follow the aroma with his nose, or glance at you quickly.

If there is no reaction when you move the bottle, replace the lid and wait for your dog to return from his relaxed space before offering another oil. Do not hurry the process and do not try to offer other oils until he has " come back", this may take half an hour or so. You can leave him to it. I consider inhalation the most powerful way to deliver essential oils, since they go straight into the brain via the olfactory system, which trigger the appropriate responses in the body. That is why just smelling an essential oil can be enough to reduce pain, balance hormones, relieve itching, etc. 

ORAL

If your dog tries to lick or bite the bottle, dab a small amount of diluted oil on your hand, and allow him to lick it off. Repeat this three or four times in  session. The sense of smell and taste function together, and most essential oils taken into the mouth will be absorbed into the olfactory cavity. Some of the oil will be absorbed into the blood system via the mucous membranes, but only a minimal amount will reach the digestive system. Dogs are most likely to want to lick the oils if they have a physical problem or one that is not very deeply rooted.

TOPICAL
Your dog may occasionally indicate a particular spot on the body by putting his nose to it, scratching, moving into you with his body, or communicating what he wants in some unique way of his own. Often he is indicating an acupreSsure point, or a spot that is painful. In this case, slowly move your hand into the area, allowing your dog to guide you to the exact spot, or to move your hand into the area, allowing your dog to guide you to the exact spot, or move away if he does not want oil on his body after all. Massage the area lightly until he moves away.

LEVEL OF INTEREST
Your dog will interact differently with each essential oil at different times. in the beginning he may be intensely interested in others. But this interest can vary from day to day. As treatment progresses your dog should lose interest in all the oils. Interest levels are classed "Keen", "moderate", or "none". Signs of keen interest are intense concentration on the bottle, trance, and/or eye flickering.

When the interest is moderate the dog will be easily distracted from the bottle, not go fully into trance, lick a little, then sniff around. I offer the remedy twice a day when interest is keen, once a day when moderate. Dogs will normally start to lose interest in the oils within three days to a week of the first session. In rare cases your dog will lose interest after one session, especially if the problem was not deep seated. By the time your dog loses interest in the oil completely you will normally see a significant reduction of the problem.

• Basic Guide
  Let your dog smell the oils on your shortlist, with the bottle caps on
  if your dog pulss away from one of the bottle, take it away.
  If your dog likes or needs a specific oil, it will say 'yes' with a big lick
  I dilute the carrot seed 2 drops in 5ml/1tsp sunflower and put it on my hand for the dog to snifff or lick as he chooses.
  hthe dog licks 1/2 ml diluted oil from my hand twice cleaning up thoroughly each time.
  The third time I add oil to my hand he licks my wrist, avoiding the oil, This means he has had enough internally but is still taking it by olfaction.
  The second diluted essential oil, lavender, he just inhales.This is a typical pose for a dog when inhaling and slipping into trance.
  He then lies down, but before he does so he licks his tummy. I think he may want a little of the lavender rubbed there.
  I hold my oily hand just above the spot he was licking, he doesn't move.

Reference: The Aromatic Dog : Nayana Morag