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Jake, RIP, was a very lucky dog. In the last years of his life he received massages to relieve his aches and pain. Aimee, a canine massage therapist, is amazing. She has a really big heart for older dogs and hospice patients. (Yep, there’s hospice for dogs too.) We always find something to chat about when she’s here. Recently, we talked about pain, as she literally has her hands on dogs in pain every day.   During our conversation, she mentioned that pet parents often don’t realize how much pain their dog is in. And cats are masters at hiding pain. […]

There’s no question that inhalation is the most effective way to use essential oils, especially with animals. Many studies prove inhaling essential oils is effective for reducing anxiety and pain in people. But there’s a new study out that I think proves that inhalation is best for animals too. As much as I rely on my intuition, I also rely on science and research, so please bear with me while I geek out on a little science… A study was published in August 2021 on the effectiveness of inhaling lavender on child burn victims ages 2-7 years. These kids had […]

If you’ve ever searched for  “which essential oils are toxic to dogs” you probably found a list that looked something like this…    A Google or Pinterest will bring up several lists of essential oils that are toxic (or harmful) to dogs. On the surface, these lists appear good… they list enough essential oils to seem complete and not enough to feel overwhelming. There are just right. However, when you actually know essential oils, and how to use them with animals, these lists are misleading. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad pet parents are asking what essential oils are bad, […]

Walking alongside our beloved furry friends through their final season of life is one of the hardest things we do. You want to treasure every moment of every day with them, while wondering if tomorrow, or next week, is the day your whole world stops. I’ve been down that path myself, with friends, and with clients. I know how it goes…. It sucks. Big time. Your life is never the same. You are never the same. And yet, somehow, you survive.  Our most recent loss was Jake. We helped him across the Rainbow Bridge when his rear legs were too weak […]

Over the last several weeks I’ve witnessed the ways stress affects our pets… When Neece’s 99-year-old mom was taken to ER and then unexpectedly placed in hospice care, Zara, her 5-year-old Doberman mix, began avoiding her. As her mother’s principal caregiver, it was a tremendous stressor for Neece, not to mention the deep grief. And, she missed the comfort Zara provided. When Kelly’s health deteriorated, Wilson, her Pomeranian, barely ate.  Elliot, Barb’s 19-year-old cat, became anxious when Barb returned home with a cast on her foot. They both had to adjust. Chalee the Chesapeake’s neck and shoulder were so tense, […]

If you’ve ever searched for germ fighting essential oil blends on Google or Pinterest you probably found lots of recipes containing Eucalytus.  With good reason… it’s a germ fighting powerhouse! The problem is there are several different Eucalyptus essential oils, and most recipes don’t specify which one to use. (This is one reason why you shouldn’t blindly trust recipes on Pinterest.) Botanists have identified over 700 species of Eucalyptus trees so it’s no surprise that there are several different eucalyptus essential oils.  However, not all eucalyptus’s are the same. When it comes to using eucalyptus with our pets, it’s important to know […]

If your pup has ever had a hot spot, you know hot spots are often as frustrating for us pet parents as they are for our dogs. The itchy, red, and inflamed skin is difficult to treat, and the licking can be non-stop. Typically hot spots are viewed as an allergy and treated with antihistamines. But what if there was another option? One that treats the underlying cause and not just the symptom.  Well, there is another way to deal with hot spots, but first I need to tell you about Nala…  Nala and I had a follow up visit with […]

The use of essential oils with cats is undoubtedly the most controversial topic in animal aromatherapy. If you Google cats and essential oils, you’ll probably find comments that essential oils are toxic to cats. And you might read that cats cannot metabolize essential oils and that essential oils will kill your cat.  The truth is… Cats have a unique metabolic process that CAN breakdown essential oils, but is MUCH SLOWER than dogs, other animals or humans. The problem is that there are very few studies examining a cat’s drug metabolism. It’s uncertain how slowly a cat is able to metabolize […]