[SoFlaVeg] Complementary Therapy for Dogs

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Complementary Therapy for Dogs

by Sevi Kay

 

We sip on chamomile tea to soothe our nerves or brew a refreshing

peppermint tea to ease our upset stomach and than sink into the

oceans of dreams. In the kitchen we add rosemary, thyme, oregano,

ginger, mint (and much more) to enhance the taste of our meals and

herbal infusions, botanicals, essential oils accompany our personal

care products. So, why shouldn't our canine companions benefit from

some of Mother Nature's gifts as well? Herbs, plants and plant

essences can be used for dogs internally and externally, but please

read my warnings and suggestions at the end of this article.

 

Holistic care needs moderation and should be considered a

complementary therapy only. Regular vet visits and grooming, a very

health diet, obedience training, plenty of workouts and playtime, can

make any puppy grow into a healthy, happy and a well-rounded dog.

 

Using herbs, aromatherapy and other natural substance in conjunction

with above canine-regime will complete and complement your canine's

health. Since external use is one of the gentlest and the safest way

you can use herbs, other botanical goodies and essential oils on

dogs, I have decided to share some simple recipes with you in this

article. Doggie Body and Coat Tea: Herbal teas make wonderful rinses

for canine coats and I will give a few recipes for you to try out and

of course when comfortable you can start adding your own touches. 1

Tbs. of organic cider vinegar 2 cups of herbal tea (chamomile,

rosemary or peppermint) Nettle, comfrey leaf, calendula leaf (loose

herbs) A few drops of glycerin (optional) Boil the water and poor it

over the tea bag of your choice, cover it and let it simmer for 10-15

minutes. If you are using a tea bag and some loose dry or fresh

herbs, you have to strain the whole thing when it cools. If you are

using roots, seeds or barks (hard plant parts) such as ginger,

fennel, valerian root, soak your them in cool water overnight and

than boil them for 10-15 minutes. Than follow the above steps. Once

it's cold add organic vinegar and glycerin. Dilute this solution with

 

1-2 cups of bottled water. Use this mixture as the last rinse water

for your dog. You can wipe your dog's face with it as well. It's

light and the scent is so mild that it will not bother her/his

sensitive nose. You can also put this doggie body tea in a spray

bottle without diluting it and mist lightly while brushing your dog.

I use both peppermint and chamomile all year around and it's makes

our German Shepherd's coat smell great and helps the itchies she gets

after hiking and excessive swimming. Make sure to label (date,

ingredients used) and refrigerate left over tea. Doggie Aromatherapy:

 

I do not suggest adding any essential oils directly to water, as they

will not mix water and will rise and stay on the surface. On the

other hand you can use essential oils diluted with base oils such as

olive, safflower, jojoba, almond or any other vegetable oil and use

it externally on your dogs. 5 drop of your choice of essential oil 10

ml of carrier oil (olive, jojoba, almond etc.) Mix well and apply

away from head (ear, eye, nose) area always. You can use this for

dogs and yourself too. a.. Citronella and lemongrass mixture with

your choice of base oil " carrier oil " would make a great insect

repellent. b.. Rose (Rosa damascena), Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata),

Clary Sage (Salvia sclare) diluted with base oil should help taming

tension for your over active dog about to take a trip to the vet or

groomer or yourself during a stressful event! c.. Rosemary

(Rosemarinus officinalis), Peppermint (Mentha piperita) with a base

oil will help itchy skin, dry or sluggish skin and coat and helps

fight against skin parasites. d.. Lavender and Marjoram diluted with

a base oil can help tight, cramping, sore muscles, etc. Add a few

drops on your palm and rub gently. Excellent for working dogs and

people too! e.. Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Patchouli (Pogostemon

cablin) with light base oil will help eczema, bruises, and cracked or

chapped skin. You can use it on minor cuts as well. Niaouli Essential

Oil (Melaleuca viridiflora) can be included to treat viral infections

as well. Please be cautions using certain essential oils on pregnant

or seizure prone dogs or people. I say this though I know all is

dose-related. Using herbs, essential oils, hydrosols and all other

natural therapies need to be respected and used with care as you

would all medication. If in doubt always use your best judgment and

always ask your trusted vet. There are many more essential oils and

certainly even more combinations one can use, but as you try a few

yourselves you can learn to experiment and come up with wonderful

concoctions of your own. Just keep in mind to use essential oils

externally, always keep them away from face, eyes and nose and never

use them on or around cats, birds, ferrets, etc. I will strongly

suggest that you find a few good aromatherapy books and read about

essential oil safety first so that you do not fear it, but respect

it!

 

You can view some of my favorite books and suggested suppliers at our

website. Infusing, a safe and simple alternative: You can infuse base

oils such as olive oil, grapeseed oil (almond oil etc.) with herbs,

leaves, and roots, which you can use on your dog without fear. Best

of all you can use these infusions on the whole family; you can cook

with it as well as using it in your favorite bath recipe. Prepare

enough herbs to make one cup total. Crush them well or you can use a

blender to chop them. Place them in a jar (I use a mason jar.) Get

your choice of vegetable oil (I prefer olive and hazelnut, but omit

hazelnut in case of nut allergies). Slowly pour the oil just enough

to cover your crushed herbs. Close the lid as tight as you possibly

can. I use a small thick plastic over the jar's mouth and than close

the lid to make it more airtight. Try to keep your herb jar in a warm

place about 75 degrees for 7-10 days. I move my infusion jars near

the window on sunny days and move them to the cozy warm shelves above

my beloved oven!

 

Below are a few herbs/botanicals of my choice:

Alkanet (root), chamomile flowers, calendula petals, chickweed,

comfrey root, neem, nettles, peppermint leaves, rosemary, rose

blossoms or petals, St. John's Wort and yarrow. I use only

organically grown and suggest that you try your first few infusions

with dry botanicals at first. You can venture into fresh ones later

as they do have the tendencies to go bad faster. The combinations are

endless and using natural ingredients should not be costly or very

hard to make and now you can make your own canine goodies. Next time

you are at your health shop look for tea bags, organic apple cider

vinegar and dried herbs. Soon you will be busy collecting mason jars,

cool new herbs, flower buds and start seeing each and every herb and

flower in a different light. A very powerful and healing light.

Welcome to the bewitching world of Mother Nature. Author: Sevi Kay

© 2001 Mundo L.L.C

http://www.cybercanine.com

 

Things To Keep In Mind: I do not use or recommend using essential

oils internally and suggest you contact a holistic veterinarian to

guide you in case you do. Each dog is different so always involve

your trusted veterinarian when introducing a new diet as certain

herbs may cause allergic reactions however natural or organic they

may be.

 

The above recipes are for dogs only. Never use aromatherapy products

on cats, birds or other exotic pets and animals. Always keep

essential oils away from pets, kids and store them in a cool dark

place. Never use essential oils undiluted " neat " on skin or coat.

Always label your finished products (date,ingredients used) and store

 

them in a cool place.

 

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