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.
​
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.

 With regards to massaging, often people just use their hands and do not use any essential oils, however the benefit of adding the oils in is phenomenal!

There are various ways one can incorporate them into the massage:

1. One can use the Essential Oils in the area the dog need only;
2. One can use the Essential O ils along the spine only;
3. One can use the Essential Oils all over where you are massaging.

General Massage Recipe
Here is my general recipe for you to use on your dogs:
1 drop Frankincense
1 drop Peppermint.
1 drop Cypress
1 drop Lavender
1 drop Basil (please leave out if your dog has epilepsy) 
Place all 5 drops into a 10ml bottle and top up with Fractionated Coconut Oil.  
​
Instructions for use of the General Massage Recipe Mixture
For use in are of need only:  1 – 2 drops and massage in;
For use in spin area only:  1 – 3 drops and massage in;
For use all over:  1 drop at  a time as you move to a new area up to max of 5 drops
 
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.

Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt (LMT) says there are 4 T’s we need to be aware of when we massage: Temperature, Texture, Tenderness and Tension and these we need to do all by feeling with our hands/fingers. 
Temperature
Changes in the temperature of the dog’s skin suggests that certain problems exist in that area.  For example, an area that is abnormally cool to touch compared to the rest of the body, due to lack of blood circulation in that area, may indicate problems such as muscle contraction etc
Texture
Texture of the tissues refers to the density and elasticity of the skin and muscle fibres.  With practice you will develop a sense of touch for what feels normal and or too soft or puffy.
Tenderness
Tenderness of the structures such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, will relate to the sensitivity response of the animal to your touch.
Tension
Tension refers to the tonicity of the muscle fibres.  Muscle tension can be a result of too much exercise or overuse of certain muscles due to pain like arthritis in other areas of the body.
Therefore please remember that when you start to massage that you use your fingers as sensors to get feedback through the 4 T’s on the condition of your animal.
Common Stress areas in dogs are:

• The head and neck
• The shoulders and forelegs
• The back and ribcage
• The hind quarters and hind legs

Part 3 will include essential oils, so see you next week.
 
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  079

We all love a good massage, right?  But imagine if you are giving your dog a massage and she is not enjoying it?  In this article I will give a few pointers on the benefits of massage and how to keep in tune with your dog’s comfort.
 
First and foremost, YOU need to make sure you are in the mood to massage your dog.  They are so sensitive to our moods and it is no good trying to get them to relax and enjoy it when you are impatient, irritable, and not fully present.
 
The first thing you need to do is create the ambience.  I use soft music, dim lights, and relaxing essential oils in the diffuser like Lavender.  I make sure the diffuser is on the 5 min on and 5 min off function and I use only 1 drop of Lavender as they cannot leave the room while you are massaging like I recommend in the safety guidelines with diffusers. (for more info on this contact me for my next essential oils and animals’ class)
 
Your first approach of touch must be gentle with no massaging yet. Speak softly to her while you are busy as she may feel her space is being invaded.  Because of this she needs to know you are there to part love and healing to her and this will develop trust between you with regards to massaging.  Watch her body language as she will tell you if she is uncomfortable by lip licking, panting and generally looking tense.  This process of developing trust for massaging must not be rushed and if you need to do only 5 minutes a day of just touch for a while, then do it.  Remember the goal is that you are wanting to develop trust and a deeper relationship with your dog so that she will relax and enjoy a massage and this will only benefit both of you in the long run.
 
When you place your hands on her, your hands must be warm, as it is no good tensing her up with a freezing hand.  Always keep one hand on her if you need to do something with the other hand, e.g. add oil to the massage (this is later).  This constant touch keeps her relaxed because if you take your hands off her and then place them back on, it is like starting from the beginning again.
 
Part of your ‘dog sense’ is to learn to read her body language so that you can learn if you have pressed to hard, or she has sensitive area of pain etc.  Take your lead in your massaging from your dogs’ cues as you keep speaking softly to her and learn to be sensitive to her body’s cues under your hands and fingers.
 
Sensitivity of the hands is important, and you need to learn to trust your hands and your fingertips to give your accurate feedback of the physiological state of the parts you are working on. A good way to develop your perception is to do the work with your eyes closed as this will help you focus on your fingertips and developing your tactility.
 
 All of this is started straight away when you are just touching your dog in the beginning without even massaging yet.
 
If you wouId 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