I've been doing quite a bit of research on using essential oils for pets.  There is certainly lots of information out there about what is safe to use and what is not.  I have chosen to use only oils that have been reported safe to use (from several sources) and to only use them after properly introducing each one slowly once diluted with a carrier oil.  Our fur-babies are family in our house and I intend to be just as cautious in treating them as I would be with small children.

I have read information on both cats and dogs, but for the purpose of this post I'll just be using information as it relates to only dogs.  It appears that using essential oils on cats requires even more care and caution than with dogs so PLEASE be sure to do your own research and check with a holistic veterinarian about what is appropriate for your own family pet.

Meet our Fur-Babies!  These photos were taken not long after we got each of them.  The little guy with the bat ears is my grand-dog Bruce Wayne.   He showed up on our porch a couple of years ago looking like he'd been on his own for some time. After not being able to locate his owner, my daughter decide to make him her own.  We found out on his first trip to the vet that this poor little guy had heart worms .  Treatment was difficult on little Bruce and expensive for my daughter, but they both persevered and he is now healthy and happy.    Bobbi (photo on the right) was a birthday present to me from my husband about 7 years ago.  She is a smart and loyal companion.  One of Bobbi's favorite things is sitting next to the diffuser when it has peppermint / lavender mist filling the room.

I began my research on essential oil uses for pets initially because of Bobbi's sensitive skin.  She has a flea allergy that sometimes results in a trip to the vet for a cortisone shot.  I am very pleased to report that the last time she had a bad reaction I was successful in treating it with lavender-water washes followed by applying  lavender essential oil (diluted to about 7% solution with sweet almond oil) directly onto the irritated areas  .  Because she is already so fond of lavender, it was a pleasant process for her.  We saw results almost immediately and complete healing within 4-5 days.

Make sure that you purchase only high quality, therapeutic grade, 100% pure essential oils.  There are many companies out there that are selling "scents" or will dilute the essential oils before bottling to cut down on the cost.  There are 3 companies so far that I am confident have quality oils (because I have used them). I'm sure there are many others. The comparisons I have been doing on different companies is still ongoing and include more than just oil quality, but so far I am confident that at least these 3 have quality essential oils:  Young Living, Edens Garden and Rocky Mountain Oils.  I will be including a testimonial in this post from a gal who will share with you where she purchases her oils.

You also need to make sure before using ANY essential oil on your pets that it is safe for them.  I ran across lists of various lengths of oils that are NOT safe for use on dogs.  In the book "Essential Oils for Dogs – Safe Natural Remedies for Your Dogs Care Guide Book" Author, Dave Lay, has quite an extensive list that included some oils that I have never heard of.   The following list of unsafe oils for dogs was included in Amy Joyson's book "Essential Oils for Dogs – The complete guide to Safely using Essential oils" and most all of them were also listed in other sources:

• Clove
  Horseradish
  Anise
  Juniper
  Wintergreen
  Thyme
  Yarrow
  Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil)
  Birch
  Cassia
  Wormwood
• DO NOT USE ANY OF THE ABOVE LISTED OILS ON YOUR DOG!

As I mentioned before, Lavender essential oil is one of my favorites to use on the dogs because it is gentle and has multiple benefits. It is anti-bacterial, helps to relieve itching, is good for treating irritated skin and allergic reactions, calms an anxious dog, and even helps repel insects.

Cedarwood has antiseptic properties, repels fleas, conditions skin and fights all types of dermatitis.

Citronella repels insects, treats insect bites, and calms a barking dog.

Eucalyptus is good at repelling fleas and relieving chest congestion.

Geranium repels ticks, fights fungal infections and is also good for skin irritations.

Peppermint repels insects, relieves motion sickness and improves digestion (and breath!)

Vetiver is very calming and is good for cleansing the skin.

Ylang Ylang is good for stress and anxiety, prevents wound infection and speeds healing, and helps to maintain healthy skin.

Organic Coconut oil is not an essential oil, but is commonly used as a carrier oil and has all kinds of handy and helpful uses.  I cook with it, make beauty products with it, and frequently use it as a carrier oil in many of my essential oil recipes. Turns out it is also quite good for your dog.  It is good for the immune system and the digestive system.  It is great for treating itchy/dry skin and I recommend it as a carrier oil for any of the essential oil applications for your dog.  It is safe (and beneficial) for your dog to ingest coconut oil in small quantities daily.  It can even be applied to a rag and rubbed on their teeth to freshen breath and whiten their teeth. Because of it's detoxifying properties it is best to introduce it to your dog in very small daily doses at first to see how they tolerate it and to give their bodies time to adjust.  After gradually increasing dosage, the recommended daily maintenance dose for a 20 lb. dog would be a teaspoon or less.  With close observation you can adjust the dose for your own dog's weight and tolerance.  Do not introduce too much coconut oil into your dogs diet too quickly or they could experience tummy upset and digestive issues.

Use patience and caution when introducing your pet to a new essential oil.  Try diffusing it in the room  and watch to see if they show any signs of aversion.  You may also apply a couple drops of a diluted oil to your hands or soft rag and allow them to smell it.  It is not a good idea to put a bottle of undiluted essential oil near your dog's face for them to smell.  Not only could it possibly cause them distress (their sense of smell is highly developed and pure essential oil is highly aromatic), but it would be too easy to accidentally get some of the oil in their nose, eyes, or mouth which could be very irritating or even damaging depending on the oil.

If your dog exhibits no signs of distress when exposed to the aroma , then you may take the next step of rubbing some diluted oil on your hands and gently applying it to their fur on their back.  Signs of distress may include heavy breathing or lethargy.

Before applying essential oil directly to their skin, always dilute the oil with a carrier oil and apply to a very small test area first.  Watch the area for 24 hours to be certain there will not be any sort of adverse or allergic reaction to having the oil on their skin.

DO NOT APPLY ESSENTIAL OILS TO EYES, NOSE, EAR CANAL, OR GENITAL AREA

To freshen and help get rid of bad smell you can mix up the following ingredients into a spray bottle (I would suggest glass or aluminum spray bottle).

• 1 cup distilled water
• 10 drops Lavender essential oil
• 5 drops Peppermint essential oil
• 6 drops Orange essential oil
• 2 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

Shake well before each use. Spray lightly over your dog's coat being careful to avoid face, ears, and genital area.

Flea and Tick Repellent Drops - Combine the following in a 30 ml glass dropper bottle:

• 6 drops Cedarwood essential oil
  
• 2 drops Citronella essential oil
• 6 drops Peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops Geranium essential oil
  
• 7 drops Lavender Essential oil
• 15-20 ml of a carrier oil such as Fractionated coconut oil, Sweet Almond oil, or EVOO.

Use the dropper to apply several drops to your dogs collar and a few drops down the back to the top of tail.

To help ease cracked or dry toe pads, you can make a balm from coconut oil (the type that is solid at room temperature) and a few drops of Lavender essential oil and apply it to the pads on the bottom of your dog's feet. 

I recently saw some posts on my Facebook feed from a very sweet young lady.  She was sharing how much she and her husband were enjoying their experience with essential oils and in particular what a benefit the oils had been for them and their dog.  I am very happy that Mary Ann agreed to allow me to share her testimonial here:

So I wanted to start off by saying if you ever thought about using essential oils for your pet and have questioned if it is safe to use for them, I can say that it is in fact completely safe to use for them!!

Back in 2014 my husband and I decided that our family needed a new addition so we decided to get us a little puppy. Not long after we got Fisher, we realized he some serious dandruff that would pile up on his back really bad even after he had a bath, he was shedding horribly all the time, his eyes were runny and we also started to realize he was developing some really bad rashes!! At first when we took him to the groomers and the vet they kept giving us these dirty looks like we had not been properly taking care of him and just letting this get out of control, note that the vet never seemed concerned or ever said anything about him being this way.

A few months ago I decided that it was time to order young living essential oils that my friends had been telling me so much about. My husband and I started to use them to help with our allergies and my husbands asthma, we went from having a sinus infection once a month to no sinus infections, also my husband was using his inhaler 2-3 times a day, now he might use essential oils for his asthma twice a month which is a huge difference for us!!!

After seeing how well the oils worked for my husband and I, I decided it was overdue to try to figure out something to help my sweet Fisher. After looking it up and seeing other dogs who suffered from seasonal allergies I decided to try to use a few oils such as lavender, lemon, and peppermint in his shampoo just to see how it worked on him. Even while giving him his bath I could already see how well the lavender was working because I always have a hard time with him being everywhere in the tub and for once he was calm, he stood still and was really enjoying his bath. That night after getting him out of his bath I already noticed a change in his hair, it wasn't so wiry and was soft and smooth. By the next morning I could notice his rash was starting to clear up and his eyes were not runny so I decided to add a drop of lemon, lavender and peppermint to his water, by that afternoon it had cleared up even more plus he had not started to develop any dandruff. After just two days of using peppermint, lavender and lemon young living essential oils his skin has completely healed up, his eyes were no longer runny, his shedding has died down a lot and still no dandruff!! After a week he is still doing wonderful!! I am so thankful I decided to make a decision that I felt was best for my sweet Fisher. Using the young living essential oils has changed our lives and I am so thankful to have a healthy and even more happy puppy thanks to God and their products.

If you have ever thought about using young living essential oils it is definitely worth trying. It has changed our family and we are so happy we took a step out to try the product and it feels great to know that not only know that it is 100% all natural, but to know that it is good for us and our pets!!  Here is the link to my page for the young living essential oils. I recommend that you look into it, it is amazing how these oils can no only change the way we live life but how it is so much better for our bodies then the medicines we can put into our system. I started off by using the premium starter kit with the home diffuser and it has been wonderful!! I hope you get the chance to experience these wonderful oils and see how much it can change our way of life.
This link is a list of their products that they sell.
https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products
If you decide you want to order you have to make a member account so that you can buy these amazing products. It will ask you if you have a member who referred you and that would be my member number which is 3951842.

I hope you get to experience this wonderful product and see all the great ways it can change your life!!

Here are some pictures of Fisher before his bath:

I'd like to thank Mary Ann for sharing Fisher's story with us. 

If you have any comments or experiences you would like to share I would love  to read them! You may use the comment link at the bottom of this post or share anything you would like at the  Share/Contact page

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Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your holistic veterinarian before using alternative medicine or making a change to your pet's regimen.

Since adding essential oils into my everyday life I am always looking for ways to use them.  I have done quite a bit of research on the effectiveness of essential oils as a pest repellent.  One of the most important things to know is:

DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS ON CHILDREN OR PETS UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THEY ARE SAFE!

Essential oils can be very powerful and what is safe for use on adults is not necessarily safe for children or pets.  As a matter of fact, it is always a good idea to use a carrier oil even in adult applications and to always test a small area of skin before applying topically or inhaling.

Now that I live in the Deep South, I can think of all kinds of things that are bugging me! (I'm speaking of pests, of course.)  Seems like at least once per year we have an invasion of ants, and the ants down here bite, so do flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and the list goes on.   The only place I have lived where the mosquitoes were more aggressive was in the Alaskan Interior.  I had to see what I could find out about how to keep the nasty bugs away.  Since research is what I do, I started reading, making databases, and testing out a few things.

There is a lot more information out there about which oils are effective against pests than what I am going to share here, but maybe this will give you some quick solutions for keeping away some of the most common pests.  In the list below I will highlight in Red the oils that I personally would not feel comfortable using on children, and will highlight in Yellow the oils that I would only use on children after serious dilution with carrier oil.

• Ants:   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Aphids:   Cedarwood   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Beetles:   Peppermint   Thyme
• Caterpillars:   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Chiggers:   Lavender   Lemongrass   Sage   Thyme
• Fleas:   Lavender   Lemongrass   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Flies:   Basil   Cedarwood   Patchouli   Peppermint   Rosemary   Spearmint
• Gnats:   Patchouli   Spearmint
• Lice:   Cedarwood   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Mice:   Peppermint
  
• Mosquitoes:   Basil   Cedarwood   Cinnamon Bark   Citronella   Eucalyptus   Geranium   Lavender   Lemongrass   Peppermint   Rosemary   Spearmint   Tea Tree(Melaleuca)
• Moths:   Cedarwood   Lavender   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Slugs:   Cedarwood 
• Snails:   Cedarwood   Patchouli
• Spiders:   Peppermint   Spearmint
• Ticks:   Basil   Cedarwood   Cinnamon Bark   Citronella   Eucalyptus   Lavender   Lemongrass   Rosemary   Sage   Thyme
• Weevils:   Cedarwood   Patchouli

For ants, spiders, and other things that can creep into the house, I have used the essential oils to keep them out by putting a few drops (undiluted) onto a cotton ball and poking them into areas where I have seen a problem.  I have no young children in the house, so I don't need to be as careful about keeping the cotton balls out of reach of curious hands.

For personal bug repellent, you can put your choice of oils into a 10 ml roller bottle with a carrier oil and roll it directly on your skin or clothing.  Another option that would be particularly useful for children would be to apply drops of diluted oils onto a cotton bracelet or cuffs of clothing.

I have a post on how to crochet an Aromatherapy/Bug Repellent Bracelet if you want to make your own.  But any bracelet made of an absorbent material will work.

Roll on bug repellent for Adults:   In a 10 ml glass roller bottle (w/metal roller-ball) add 5 drops each of: Citronella, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lavender & Rosemary.  Fill bottle (leave a little space at the top) with your carrier oil of choice. Put the roller top on and shake gently. 

Repellent drops (Kid Friendly):  In a 10 ml glass dropper bottle add 5 drops Spearmint, Cedarwood, Citronella, Geranium and Lavender.  Fill to the shoulder of bottle with fractionated Coconut Oil. Shake Gently.  Put a few drops onto cuffs & collars of clothing and/or put several drops onto an absorbent Aromatherapy Bracelet.

Bug Spray (Kid Friendly): In 2 oz glass spray bottle add 10 drops each of Lavender, Citronella and Geranium.  Fill to shoulder with a 50/50 mixture of distilled water/witch hazel.  Spritz some on before going outside.  *Be sure not to spray near face where it could get into eyes or mouth.

I encourage you to try different combinations to see what works best for you.  A simple Lavender/Peppermint blend may work just great for you.   Citronella oil on it's own may be enough.  Just remember that less is more when it comes to essential oils and when experimenting, always start with less and increase concentration if you need to.

Remember this:  If you have bug bites driving you (or your child) crazy, reach for the Lavender.  Lavender is good for just about everything!

Please  share any of your favorite bug repellent recipes that have worked well for you!  Be sure to check back for a future post we are working on now about using essential oils on your fur-babies.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.

I tried a couple of different ideas for making the bracelets.  I settled on a cotton yarn so that it would have good absorbancy and "hold onto" the oils dropped onto them.  The first bracelet I made was a closed circle - (I joined the 2 ends).  This worked fine - but I started thinking about my friend's grandkids and the fact that they were different ages.  Each bracelet would have to be custom-sized for the wrist that would wear it.  Could be done -- but wouldn't it be easier to have an adjustable bracelet?  A little trial and error resulted in the product shown above.  You simply hold the strings while pushing up the bead until the bracelet fits snugly.  It's a good idea I hoard craft supplies!  I already had a bag of pony beads and plenty of different cotton yarns to work with to develop the following pattern:

For the bracelet pictured above I used a cotton yard that I had on a spool -- can't tell you the exact weight as it has been sitting in my stash for some time and I think it originally came from a yard sale or something.  But it is the type you would use to make washcloths or dishcloths. I found a size "G" aluminum crochet hook in my pencil holder next to my chair so that's what I used for a hook!

Chain 3.  (leave a bit of a tail - you will use it later)
Place hook in first stitch (3rd from hook) and make a shell (Shell=1 sc, ch2, 1sc in same stitch)

When you reach the desired length cut the yard a couple inches out and pull through last loop. This will give you another tail to work with.  You can join the 2 sides of the bracelet using a needle, but I simply weave the tail from one side through the stitches on the other, then tie the 2 tails together and weave in the loose ends.

You should now have a perfectly serviceable bracelet.  This stitch allows for some stretching to get it over your hand, but in order to make it adjustable there are just a few more steps:
  Make a chain just an inch or two longer than the circumference of the bracelet and fasten off.  (keep in mind that when bracelet is tightened it will make the strings longer, so I usually go shorter rather than longer on the chain).  The shell stitch leaves a little hole at the center of each shell. I use my hook to weave the chain in and out of these holes all the way around the bracelet.  You will want to end on a hole that leaves both ends of the chain hanging on the outside. Pull and adjust until both sides of the chain are of equal length.

If you are looking for ideas on which essential oils to use as bug repellent, you can check out my post: Repel Pests with Essential Oils.

While this cotton yarn made a great bracelet for holding oils and was sturdy enough to hold up to kids, I wanted something a little more feminine that I could wear at work and drop my favorite custom blend onto. (Vetiver, Sandalwood, Frankinscense with just a touch of Lavender and Lemon).   I had some black cotton thread that I thought would do.  I dug up one of those little bitty aluminum hooks for this project and started to work the same pattern.

Turns out that the pattern I used above made just a sliver of a bracelet when using Cotton thread and a smaller hook so I modified the pattern a bit.  I started with ch 6 and made 2 shells per row (no extra ch between shells - only the ch 2 and the end of each row)  It made a nice lacy-looking bracelet.  I did not add the chain to adjust size since I made it just to fit me, but I did add a little "button" on the top to hold the essential oil.  There's no pattern for the button because I didn't write anything down.  I basically just made a small circle (like the first few rows when making a doily) then started decreasing the edge so it curled back in on itself.  I kept reducing until I was back to just 1 stitch.  I sewed it onto the bracelet with the same black thread it was made from and it turned out pretty good :)

More info on modification made later:
     It doesn't take long for the lacy bracelet made from cotton thread to stretch out to a point where it doesn't spring back into shape.  I promised to send my Auntie a bracelet and a little bottle of my special blend, but she needed one that could be adjusted and tightened as needed.  For her bracelet I added the chain that wove through the length of the bracelet. (like in the first pattern) Because the thread was so small, I used one of my jade beads that had a much smaller hole than the pony beads.
     I have enjoyed playing with different variations of this bracelet because they are so quick and easy to work up.  Hope you will enjoy it too.

The botanical name for is Vetiveria Zizanioides. The word "Vetiver" is from a Tamil word that means "Hatcheted up".   it is also often referred to as Khas Khas Grass. This tall, scented perennial grass has a  network of white roots that grow downward (2-4 meters) unlike most grasses which have a more wide-spread, shallower mat configuration.  The essential oil is distilled from the roots and rootlets.
Vetiver is native to India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka but has also been cultivated in other areas such as the Philippines, Japan, West Africa and South America.  The roots are mainly steam-distilled in Haiti and Java.  Haiti is reputed for producing the highest quality of Vetiver essential oil.

Vetiver use dates back to the 12th century where it was actually a taxed item in India. 
The cooling properties of Vetiver resulted in it's use for bringing natural freshness and cooling during the warmer summer months by weaving mats of the Vetiver roots for use in the home.  The roots were also placed into earthen pots to naturally cool drinking water and keep it fresh. The grass was used in making roof thatches and Africans used the grass for making rugs, baskets, and other items for their homes.
Vetiver was used in folk medicine due to the belief that it had properties that produced abundance and is known in India as the "Oil of Tranquility".

Vetiver is commonly used to help treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, anorexia and more.  Because the aroma has grounding, calming, and tranquilizing properties is has been a valuable tool in relieving stress and helping to induce a good night's sleep.

Clyde’s Note:  I recommend that you always combine your essential oil with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, coconut, avocado, etc.)  when applying essential oils to the skin or adding to your bath.

• Add a few drops to your favorite carrier oil and use to cleanse your face using the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM).  I use organic coconut oil most often for this purpose,
  
• Add drops to a natural home made after shave or face toner.  Make a 50/50 solution of distilled water and witch hazel, Put the mixture in a glass spray bottle and spray onto cleansed face,
• Diffuse by itself or combined with other essential oils.  I love the relaxing scent of Vetiver and Australian Sandalwood being diffused together. (no carrier oil needed)
  
• Use in a warm bath (make sure you add to carrier oil first and THEN put a few drops into your bathwater)
• Add to your favorite massage oil
  

Vetiver should not be used on children under the age of 6 and should be greatly diluted for children over age 6.   Pregnant or nursing women should consult their health care providers before using any essential oils.
Internal use of frankincense (and other essential oils) may have toxic effects and should not be ingested without supervision of a health professional.
Always test for skin sensitivity prior to use. Excessive use of any oil can lead to skin sensitization. Keep out of eyes, ears, or nose.
Not all oils are created equal, so be particular about the brand of essential oil you use.

livestrong.com
Vetiver Essential Oil (post dated March 20, 2016
Aromatic Science

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.