3.  Internal Use
Offering your animal oils internally should be done in conjunction with a vet or a certified animal aromatherapy specialist.  Most of the time topical and diffusion is enough

2. TOPICAL APPLICATION
Essentials oils can be used topically on your pets fur, diluted. 
Guide for dogs: 1% - 4% concentration in a carrier oil.
Guide for cats:  0.5% - 2% concentration in a carrier oil.
Always start with a higher dilution and place the drop of oil in the palm of your hands and pat together and then pat down the spine area or in area of need.

There are 4 ways one can use essential oils for your animals effectively.  Today we will be discussing diffusion.
1. Aromatically
Diffusing the essential oils in your home helps affect mood, support immune system and can purify the air etc and a water based diffuser is preferred with 2 to 4 drops. We use less as a dog for example has 300 million olfactory receptors compared to humans who have 6 million olfactory receptors
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When we diffuse one always makes sure the doors and windows are open and the animals can leave the room.  In the case of birds and other small/caged animals, always diffuse in another room unless a specific oil is recommended for a specific ailment by a vet or certified animal aromatherapy specialist.

Another way is to use essential oils aromatically is to allow the dog, cat or horse to self select an oil.  Always introduce the oil with the cap on and a distance from their nose.  If you feel the oil is to strong for them to smell, you can always dilute 1 to 2 drops in 5 ml Fractionated Coconut oil and let them smell it with the lid on again.


If you would like a consultation with me or to find out when my next class is, please contact me on ingridliberte.loveofanimals@gmail.com or +27 76 941  4079
 
​​The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for vet care.  The statements made about the essential oils, blends, recipes, and products mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA.  The information given is not intended to diagnose treat or cure or prevent disease.  It is always recommended to consult with a vet or healthcare professional.

There’s no question that vegan diets for dogs are gaining in popularity. And while there may be ethical and ecological arguments in favor of feeding plant-based diets, there is a clear nutritional argument that goes against feeding a vegan diet for your dog. Here we discuss why we don’t believe a vegan diet is the optimal choice for your dog’s health.
 
One way to understand the deficiencies of a plant-based diet is to look at protein. It can be argued that many of the benefits of feeding protein are derived from the uptake of four vital amino acids: methionine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. Much of a dog’s body is made up of protein – and proteins are made up of amino acids. No dog can survive without ingesting amino acids, especially these four. Even restricting one of these four amino acids can lead to adverse health consequences.
 
Lets take a quick look at these amino acids and some of their important functions.

• Methionine - Without methionine, the body cannot make IGF-1. IGF-1 is an important growth hormone that has growth-promoting effects on almost every cell in the body.
• Leucine, Valine & Isoleucine - These branched-chain amino acids are critical to protein synthesis. This is primarily because of their effects on mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). In addition to being a core regulator of cell growth, proliferation, and survival, mTOR also regulates several key components of protein synthesis.

Now, guess which four amino acids are abundant in animal proteins, while present in significantly lower amounts in plant-based proteins? That’s right: methionine, leucine, valine, and isoleucine. This is one reason why we don’t recommend a plant-based diet as the optimal feeding strategy for your dog.
 
But isn’t there more to this story?

Diving even further into the science of optimal nutrition, there are actually some good arguments for restricting the intake of these four amino acids for short periods of time. This is because a lack of these four amino acids can create important signaling effects that may be protective against aging and diseases like cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
 ​

Wild Orange, whose main chemical component is Limonene is a wonderful oil to keep in your home for your animals. 

This oil is an uplifting, playful aroma and is beneficial to both dogs and cats via diffusion.  Please remember with diffusion to always leave the doors and windows open so the animals can leave when they have had enough.

Another benefit of Wild Orange is its use with your home made cleaning agents as it is a powerful cleaning and purifying agent.  Getting rid of toxic chemical cleaners in your homes is a fantastic way to help your animals health.

Diffuser recipe:  2 drops of wild orange and 1 drop of pink pepper in your diffuser in the mornings to get the day started.

If you would like a consultation with me or to find out when my next class is, please contact me on ingridliberte.loveofanimals@gmail.com or +27 76 941  4079
 
​​The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for vet care.  The statements made about the essential oils, blends, recipes, and products mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA.  The information given is not intended to diagnose treat or cure or prevent disease.  It is always recommended to consult with a vet or healthcare professional.

​ I am often asked if there is any natural dewormer one can use for our dogs and cats, because as fur parents we are always worried about overuse of dewormers etc

The following intestinal parasites are some of the most common types of dog worms (taken from Viera East Vet Centre):

• Roundworms: The most common dog worms of all types. Roundworms in dogs grow reach 3-5” long in adulthood, and they resemble a piece of wet spaghetti. Roundworms in dogs can be transmitted via the nursing process, by feeding on an infected animal, or by contact with the infected faeces of another animal.
• Tapeworms: Tapeworms in dogs have long and flat ⅛” segmented bodies that can grow to 8 inches in length. Tapeworms in dogs happen when a dog encounters or ingests a host that is carrying tapeworm eggs, like a bird or a flea.
• Hookworms: Hookworms in dogs are the smallest of all common dog worms varieties. Hookworms in dogs reside primarily in the small intestine. They grow to approximately one inch in length and feed on the blood. They can cause life threatening anaemia in dogs of all ages, but especially puppies. Hookworms are passed in the faeces, and can infect other animals and people too. *Hookworm can also stay in the ground for years. *My add in.
• Whipworms: Whipworms in dogs are about ¼” long and reside in the cecum and colon. Whipworms can cause severe damage to these organs, and are considered one of the most harmful dog worms in existence, but are also more geographically distinct than other dog worms.
• Heartworms: Heartworms in dogs live in the heart and pulmonary arteries. They are transmitted by infected mosquitoes, which migrate throughout the body over about 6 months before finally coming to rest in the circulatory system. Heartworms are transmitted only from an infected mosquito’s bite, and not within or between species. They are preventable and treatable, but can be fatal if not diagnosed and arrested before the advanced stages of infestation. (not common in South Africa)
• Ringworm: Ringworm, or dermatophytosis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus that results in lesions and sores on the epidermal (or outer skin) layer. Interestingly enough, ringworm is not caused by a worm at all, but rather by an infection of dead layers of skin, hair and nails. Ringworm is curable, but treatment can take time and the condition can be very painful.

Another worm, found in South Africa is Spirocerca lupi.  It is a deadly worm that lives in a dog’s oesophagus after a long journey through the body. On its journey to the target organs (oesophagus and aorta) S. lupi causes serious damage that leads to disease of the intestinal, respiratory and circulatory system.



Worms in Cats:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Tapeworms
• Whipworms

There are also a number of less commonly diagnosed worms in cats that can cause serious health problems and can even be fatal, including:

• Lungworms
• Stomach worms
• Bladder worms
• Liver flukes
• Heartworms

As you can see from the above there are a lot of different worms that animals can get and it affects their health and can even be fatal.  Signs of worms are in dogs are:

• Weight loss accompanied by a marked increase or decrease in appetite
• Distended abdomen, or ‘pot-bellied’ appearance
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea/chronic soft stools
• Chronic coughing
• Dulling of coat and/or hair loss accompanied by skin irritation/inflammation
• Rubbing or dragging the hindquarters across the ground
• Visible presence of segments of tapeworms in dogs attached to the skin and fur around the anus/hind quarters area
• Visible presence of roundworms in dogs in infected stool, like tiny grains of rice

Common signs of worms in cats include (taken from PETMD):

• Vomiting (sometimes with worms in the vomit)
• Diarrhoea (with or without blood)
• Tarry faeces
• Weight loss
• Distended abdomen
• Skin lesions
• Generally poor body condition and a dull coat

As infestations worsen and symptoms progress, you may see signs such as:

• Weakness
• Dehydration
• Pale lips and gums due to anaemia
• Low blood pressure
• Shock
• Death, in the most severe cases

As an Animal Aromatherapy Specialist, my recommendation is to do faecal floats at your vet to check for worms and that way one only deworms with traditional deworming when necessary.  And of course prevention as much as possible.  Pick up the animals stools 3 times a day if necessary especially if you have dogs that eat poop.  

When it comes to essential oils there are oils we can use like Thyme for example, but these need to be worked out by a qualified Animal Aromatherapy Specialist. I have a range specifically made for dogs and cats, so please contact me to purchase yours

If you would like a consultation with me, to purchase essential oils or find out when my next class is, please contact me on +27 769414079 or email ingridliberte.loveofanimals@gmail.com

The information provided is for educational purpose only and is not a substitute for vet care.  The statements made about the essential oils, blends, recipes and products mentioned have not be evaluated by the FDA.  The information given is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent disease.  It is always recommended to consult with a vet or healthcare professional.

Milk thistle is a supplement often recommended for dogs to support their liver.  It is considered an aid to healing after drug therapy, vaccinations, and infections like parvo virus etc.  Milk thistle generally supports the immune system throughits powerful antioxidant, free radical scavenging action.
Milk thistle should be reserved for treatment for an existing disease or when your animal is on medicines like Phenobarbital that affect the liver, rather than using it everyday on a healthy dog.

Dosage is particularly important as high dosages of milk thistle will eventually suppress the liver function. As a general guidance, the recommended dosage is 75 to 100mg for every 5kg of body weight, once a day.
Please be aware of what product you purchase at your local shops as some of the  milk thistle products have other ingredients in them like magnesium and vitamin b12  and turmeric etc.
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Why must one be careful with the added ingredients?  In the case of magnesium, there is not a lot of research into the use of it with dogs and in the case of turmeric, if your dog is on epilepsy meds, turmeric is contra indicated for use with these meds.

As I always say, natural does not equal safe.  One must know how to use these products correctly with animals in all cases.
 
If you would like a consultation with me, purchase essential oils or to find out when my next class is, please contact me on ingridliberte.loveofanimals@gmail.com
​or +27 76 941  4079 
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for vet care.  The statements made about the essential oils, blends, recipes, and products mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA.  The information given is not intended to diagnose treat or cure or prevent disease.  It is always recommended to consult with a vet or healthcare professional.

Grief in Domestic Animals
 
Animals experience grief when losing a friend and a lot of the times this grief goes unnoticed as they do not display grief in the same ways as we do.  In fact, some people believe that animals do not grieve.
 
Every animal grieves differently, however there are certain universal sign:
Dogs or cats grieving the loss of a friend:

1. They may eat less, or not eat all.
2. They may sleep more.
3. They may be more listless.
4. They may not want to play.
5. They may hide.
6. They may move around more slowly.
7. They may withdraw from people and more.

 
Horses show their grieving slightly differently to cats and dogs:

1. They may wait at the gate for their friend.
2. They may exhibit reduced social interaction.
3. They may eat less.
4. Sometimes they are just a litter quieter overall which can go unnoticed.

Here is a beautiful article about wild horses and their grief:
​https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2018/07/04/wild-horses-death-grief-insight/
 
How do we help our animals in their time of grief?

1. Tell them that you can see how losing their friend has affected them and that you are here for them.
2. Share stories of their friend with them and talk to them in a calm voice.  I do believe in crying with your animal, however you do not want them to get overwhelmed by your grief as well, so please be aware of this.
3. Do different activities with them.  Perhaps a walk in a new place, or a something new to learn or focus on.
4. Do more of what your animal already loves.
5. Use essential oils specifically for grief during this time.

 
Essential Oils and Grief
One of the easiest ways to use essential oils during this time of grief is a diffuser.  I use the Diffuser with the intermittent function of 5 min on and 5 min off, which is the best for animals. When we use diffusers we always make sure the animals can leave the area and we never close them in with the diffuser on.
One of the oils I recommend for grief in the diffuser is Wild Orange as it is well known for use in depression in animals as it is a very uplifting oil and has numerous benefits.


If you would like a consultation with me or to find out when my next class is, please contact me on ingridliberte.loveofanimals@gmail.com or +27 76 941  4079
 
​​The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for vet care.  The statements made about the essential oils, blends, recipes, and products mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA.  The information given is not intended to diagnose treat or cure or prevent disease.  It is always recommended to consult with a vet or healthcare professional.