Aromatherapy for Excitement in Dogs

Also called aromatherapy, the value of odors in affecting behavior has been documented in humans and has been shown to have some effects on the moods and behavior of people.  To determine the effect of aromatherapy in dogs, a study by Dr. Deborah Wells in Ireland was performed to determine if a specific odor could have a calming effect on dogs and decrease excitement.  A common problem is that many dogs become excited when traveling in a car and this can be dangerous for everyone involved.  Typical signs seen with these dogs were excessive barking, hyperventilation, and hyperactivity.  So Dr. Wells performed a study in which one group of dogs was exposed to a specific odor while in a vehicle, and a control group of dogs were not exposed to the odor.  Prior to the study, all of these dogs were noted to exhibit unruly behavior in a car. 

The odor chosen was lavender as lavender has been shown to exhibit a calming effect and reduce anxiety in people.  Lavender oil was placed on towels that were placed in the car to produce the odor.  Results of the study indicated that dogs exposed to the lavender spent more time resting and sitting while in the car and less time moving and barking.  It is unclear how the odor affects the dogs but it does appear to have an effect.  It is also possible that lavender had some effect on people in the car and this may have also affected the dog’s behavior.  Regardless, it does appear that the odor of lavender has a calming effect on dogs.  The major question we receive in our practice related to traveling with dogs involves motion sickness and vomiting.  At this point, there is no evidence that lavender has any effect on preventing motion sickness.

AROMATHERAPY FOR DOGS

It is well known that dogs employ a profoundly acute sense of smell. For that reason, it is no surprise that aromatherapy for dogs would be beneficial. Nonetheless, because of that very same sensitivity, it is important to talk with with an aromatherapy health professional if you are interested in using this holistic treatment on your pet. This guide will help you find out a bit about essential oils, safety and natural healing for your dog.

Essential oils can be blended with a carrier oil, one drop per teaspoon of carrier oil such as jojoba, sweet almond or olive oil and massaged into the dog’s skin where there is the thinnest measure of hair, such as the joints, armpits or the groin. For dogs, the massage can last 3 or 4 minutes for full benefit. Never apply undiluted essential oils as it could create a reaction on the animal’s skin, and always consult an aromatherapy health professional for specific remedies.

A mister can be employed to spray the dog’s sleeping area or bedding and a diffuser also works in dispersing the oil fragrance throughout the house from where the dog will breath it throughout the day or night. As with people, aromatherapy for dogs may have different effects from assorted scents. Experimenting will help find the right scent for your dog.

As you investigate aromatherapy for dogs, you may discover learning what works for your pet is time consuming. According to holistic veterinarians, a number of the scents that work for you also work on dogs. Lavender, which for humans encourages relaxation or sleepiness, can calm hyperactivity and hyper-sexuality in dogs. It can also be used as a pain killer and as a relief against vomiting, generally as a massage oil or in a diffuser.

An aggressive dog can be relaxed by the use of sandalwood or ylang ylang, by massage or diffuser, with many recommending the diffuser method until your pet shows signs of being calmer. A blend of a carrier oil and lavender or rosemary can help dogs in the event of a burn, by massaging the region around the burn. Lemon oil can help fight against congestion.

A massage with citronella will rebuff fleas, and in a mister or diffuser can repel them from your pet’s favorite hangouts in the house, just as tea tree oils can aid with insect bites and bee stings. People who use aromatherapy for themselves and know the benefits they receive should try aromatherapy for dogs for any problems your pet displays. The use of essential oil is a wonderful way to bring holistic healing into your animal's life, helping them remain healthy while utilizing products that are earth-friendly and safe for your pets. Always enlist the services of an aromatherapy health professional for more in-depth diagnosis and treatment of graver medical conditions.

 

While conducting the research necessary to write an informative and helpful article on aromatherapy and pets, I came across many more things Not to do, rather than how helpful aromatherapy can be. One of the most important of these was that aromatherapy is not good for cats. Just about every essential oil you can buy, as pure as the label may say, is not helpful to cats in any way and can cause irritation and breathing problems. So my first order of business is to caution you against it. Seek out the advice of a holistic veterinarian before attempting to use any oil around or on your cat. Birds and aromatherapy are not a good mix, either, and read all aromatherapy instructions closely before using. You could be hurting all of your pets by just splashing it wildly. Anything that states "for external use only'' is a bad idea, because cats and dogs lick themselves clean-making whatever you put on them internal.

That said, there are some good sites with information about aromatherapy for dogs. Most herbs used in misters and sprayed on the couch and carpets are okay for use around animals, much like the commercial fabric fresheners on the market. These are made up of diluted oils and are much safer, but tend to sell for upward of $18.00 for an 8 oz. bottle, so perhaps you could make it at home. That way you know exactly what went into the spray.

For instance, if Fido is a little on the high strung side, try mixing chamomile, lavender, and marjoram ( sweet) to spray in their bedding area. Lavender can be nasty on the coat if overused, so you only need a very small amount to smell the aroma. Any apothecary store can show you what you need to make a tincture from organic herbs, so take advantage of their knowledge. They will know which oils are the safest to use for mixing- from spraying the cat litter box to doggy antidepressants. Essential oils will take the ever present pet smell out of your house, too. An online aromatherapy class can teach you the basics, in animal therapy and human scents for relief of stress and fatigue. Until then, ask questions when visiting your homeopath, research about using essential oils around your pets and read all aromatherapy instructions

Wow ...This is great!  I'm printing it out right now.  Thanks

jeri