Essential oils are the potent aromatic, volatile liquid that is within many shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds and that is usually extracted through steam distillation. Citrus oils are cold pressed from the rinds of the fruit. They are wonderful misted or diffused into the air. It takes 3,000 lemons to produce 2.2 pounds of oil, so pure therapeutic grade lemon oil is very concentrated. It is generally recommended that most oils be diluted when used either topically or internally. This is especially true when using oils on small children and animals. Since 98% of the oils are not made to be used to assist the body in wellness, it is very important to make sure the oil you are using has been lab tested to guarantee its purity.
Essential oils have been used very successfully on many different types of animals. Animal shelters and veterinarians are beginning to document some amazing results. There are also many studies about the use of essential oils on dogs,cats, and horses in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website (pubmed.gov). The studies document the positive results of using essential oils with animals for killing ticks, treating dermatitis and fungal infections, killing particular strains of staph bacteria, treating gingival disease, and more. One study confirmed the repellent activity of essential oils against mosquitoes.
Essential oils are an effective and gentle answer to many common animal health problems. In the wild, animals choose the healing plants they need to help them stay in optimal health. So many veterinarians and practitioners recommend offering a diluted essential oil to an animal and allowing them to “choose”. In general, the oil that you would choose for an animal is the same as the one you’d choose for a human with the same condition. The need to look for natural remedies for animals is just as important as it is for humans. There are many websites and books available to help guide you in using essential oils for your animals.