Aromatherapy for your dog is great if your dog dislikes being left alone in the house, even for a few minutes.
Aromatherapy for dogscan help you calm him and relieve his separation anxiety.
If you combine this treatment with some soothing music and some behavioral training you’ll make life more enjoyable for both of you.
Certain aromatherapy for your dog will also help calm a dog who’s terrified of thunder, fireworks and other loud noises.
If a storm is on the way (you’ll know when you see your dog get up and hide or start to shake), put a drop or two (up to six, depending on his size) of a calming blend on his chest or neck and watch him relax.
Essential Oils
Aromatherapy for your dog uses essential oils (oils extracted from various species of plants) each have a scent that, when inhaled, activates the limbic system in the brain, which is the seat of emotions.
Thus a calming scent will evoke calmer thoughts or behaviors. An invigorating scent will put the person or animal smelling it in a more excitable state.
Essential oils can also be used on the skin to kill microbes, and taken internally (under the supervision of trained medical personnel) to improve the immune system.
Most aromatherapy for your dog particularly in terms of calming anxiety, uses inhalation methods.
Inhaling the Scent
Aromatherapy for your dog’s anxiety and nervousness can be relieved by letting him breathe calming scents during the time that you’re away from home, or in other stressful situations.
For immediate help in specific situations, such as a sudden thunderstorm, or fireworks, place a few drops of a calming oil blend on the hair of his chest or his neck, below his mouth.
Do not put it on his nose, and be sure not to get any in his eyes.
As the scent rises and he inhales it, the calming effect will begin. Typically, it takes only a few minutes before you’ll see a change.
For a longer period of time, you’ll need some type of device that slowly releases the scent. These devices are known as aromatherapy diffusers. There are several types available.
Nebulizers use electricity and air pressure to create microscopic particles of the calming oil and release them into the air.
While perhaps the most effective of all diffusers, they are also the most utilitarian in their design. They don’t use a fan, so they operate quietly.
Electric diffusers are effective for delivering scents over a large space of up to 500 square feet (approximately 50 square meters). A low-powered electric coil heats up a small plate where you’ve placed a pad containing some oil.
The heat releases the scent into the room. These diffusers are completely silent. However, there is the ongoing expense of replacing the diffuser pads.
The third type of aromatherapy diffuser uses a candle to heat the oil in a reservoir. Although most of these diffusers are very beautiful, they are impractical for use when you’re away from home, due to the risk of fire.
You’ll find them made from soapstone, copper, even geodes.
If you decide to use one of these when you’re home, be sure to use beeswax candles. Paraffin candles are made from hydrocarbons (petrochemicals) and release pollutants when burned.
Beeswax candles burn much more cleanly, are brighter, and give off a pleasant scent of their own.
If you prefer low tech, try a terra cotta diffuser. Terra cotta (the material used to make clay gardening pots) is highly absorbent and makes a great slow-release device for essential oils.
Place a few drops of the calming oil on the diffuser. The scent will slowly release over days or even weeks.
If your dog suffers from extreme separation anxiety, a terra cotta diffuser may not release enough scent to calm him sufficiently.
However, it would make a great 24 hour a day base to add to with another diffuser when you leave.
If you travel a lot, and your dog doesn’t handle it well, there’s a diffuser that plugs into your cigarette lighter or accessory plug.
Be sure, however, that any scent you use does not lull you into a slowed response rate. You need to be alert at all times while driving, so weigh the benefits and risks of your alertness to his calmness.
Which Scents To Use
Each essential oil has different levels of various organic compounds, and thus affects a person or animal differently than do other oils.
Because of this, it’s best to blend several oils. This provides a scent in which one compound takes over where another one leaves off.
There are several levels or grades of quality. Some distillation methods ruin the healing properties of the oil, resulting in a waste of your money.
Be sure to use oils that are therapeutic-grade. They cost more, but they’ll also get the job done.
Calming scents include lavender, marjoram, valerian, or spikenard (also spelled spikenarde), neroli and green mandarin. If you’re purchasing a calming aromatherapy for your dog blend, look for one with most or all of these oils.
Debbie one of our readers sent me the following:
Hi When I saw your site, I was so excited because most sites promote the “traditional” approach to healthcare for dogs, so people don’t realize just how things like essential oils can help, with little to no side affects, unless a dog has an allergic reaction.
When you click on an oil or oil blend, it will open a new window that tells you about that oil or blend, and in some cases, there is also a PDF file that can be downloaded about it.
I have a page on the Oil Testimonials.com site that has testimonials from people who use the oils, not just people who sell them, and anybody who signs up for a free account can post their own testimonials.
Aromatherapy for your dog is a safe and effective method of relieving stress, calming nervousness, and improving the overall well-being of anyone who uses it.
Aromatherapy for your dog provides the same benefits to your favorite companion.
Combine essential oils with some behavioural modification and how dogs think to help reduce his separation anxiety and nervousness. You’ll have a much happier dog at the end of your work day.
If you would like to learn more about aromatherapy for your dog, this Aromatherapy Article will start you on a fascinating journey.