Your furry friend is important to you, and so is their health. But caring for your pet may have required you to use chemicals or products that you aren’t entirely comfortable with. Isn’t there a natural way to care for pets’ everyday needs?

Essential oils might be the answer. Long known as a natural remedy to many ailments for humans, studies are finding that essential oils can be just as effective in helping your four-legged friend.

Remember, essential oils are powerful, concentrated extracts, and should always be used with caution. Here are some tips for using essential oils with pets.

Always make sure the oils you use are of the highest quality and pure. Do not use perfume-grade oils on your pet.

Consult with your vet if you are concerned about potential side effects.

Pay attention to the dilution ratio, which will be related to the weight of your dog. When in doubt, less is more. If you are ready to start sharing the love, here are 6 great ways you can use authentic essential oils to improve your pet’s quality of life.

1. Keep the Bugs Away
No one wants their best friend to suffer from bug bites and infestations. Thankfully, several essential oils have been shown to work as natural insect repellants.
For mosquitos, Lemon, lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus are some of the most commonly used.
For ticks try pine, or lavender essential oils.
Fleas can be treated with lemongrass oil. 

Be careful with your kitty, though. Some citrus oils aren’t good for them. Stick to cedarwood and lavender to help your cat deal with fleas.

2. Keep Your Bird From Plucking
To make sure your bird keeps singing a happy, healthy tune, you can add some aromatherapy to their daily routine. If your feathered family member is demonstrating emotional distress by plucking feathers, aromatherapy can be the answer to restoring their emotional equilibrium.

Since birds are highly sensitive, it’s important to be careful and stick to non-hot oils (that means no cinnamon) and dilute them in a spray bottle that makes it easy for you to gently mist them two to three times a day. A diffuser is another good way to share the benefits of essential oils with your bird.

3. Welcome New Litters

Just as calming oils can assist with human births, oils like lavender have shown positive effects for animals as well. One of the best ways to help your pet reap the benefits is to use a diffuser with lavender oil where your pet usually rests or sleeps. Some feline owners have seen their cat get more and more cozy with the diffuser as gestation continued, even having their litter right next to it.

4. Make Traveling a Breeze

If your pet gets anxious when you have to take a trip, try using lavender to calm them down, reduce anxiety and assist with car sickness.

5. Make Time Away Easier

For pets that experience separation anxiety while you’re at work or away on vacation, you can help them feel more secure with the use of essential oils. Rosemary, orange, and jasmine have all been shown to have calming effects. They can also help boost mood and keep your furry friend from falling into a depression while you’re away.

6. Battle Bad Breath

Unfortunately, our four-legged friends can be prone to less than savory breath. If your pet could use some help in that department, look no further than these essential oils. Cardamom, coriander, and peppermint oil are all great for turning your pet’s breath from horrible to heavenly.

All of these oils can be ingested, but you’ll want to make sure to dilute them with water or NSP's carrier oil. You can also use coconut or almond oil.

Conclusion
Your pets are important to you and you want to make sure they live the best life possible. Authentic essential oils are just one more way to ensure you’re delivering the best care to these important family members.

Sources
http://www.liveoakacupuncture.com/parrots-essential-oils
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/05/14/dr-shelton-on-pets-essential-oils.aspx
http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/home-remedies-for-dogs.html
http://www.weedemandreap.com/essential-oils-dogs/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-palmquist-dvm/pet-aromatherapy_b_877199.html
http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/dog-anxiety.html
http://www.petguide.com/health/dog/7-natural-essential-oils-for-dogs/
http://www.gritman.com/EO_Papers/AnimalsandEOs.html