Blog - Page 2 of 4 - Amy Williams Delong

Herb Gardens: Safe Aromatherapy For Cats

Posted on April 30, 2022May 12, 2022 by Amy DeLong

As pet parents, we want the best for our furry family. We wonder… are we feeding the right food, are they getting enough exercise, are they in pain, are they happy? We just want our furry friends as happy and healthy as possible. So it makes sense with all the essential oil safety factors that some pet parents just decide not to use essential oils with their animals, especially with cats … it just doesn’t seem worth the risk. (To learn the facts, check out The Truth About Cats and Essential Oils). If you’re one of those overcautious pet parents […]

When Essential Oils Expire

Posted on April 15, 2022January 26, 2023 by Amy DeLong

Have you ever seen an expiration date on a bottle of essential oils? Probably not since it’s not required on the labeling. Essential oils don’t expire, but they do have a shelf life. Just like the cooking oils in your kitchen, essential oils go bad. While they don’t have an expiration date, they do have an estimated “best by” date, an expected shelf life. Essential oils lose their therapeutic value over time as their chemistry changes. The process is called oxidization. Oxidized chemicals are not nice compounds – they tend to be slightly toxic and they increase the risk of negative […]

Ear Slides: An Easy, Must-Have First Aid Technique

Posted on April 8, 2022April 15, 2022 by Amy DeLong

If you’ve ever felt helpless watching your fur baby struggle, Ear Slides are the easy technique you want. All you need is your thumb and a finger, or 2. Ear slides are a must-have tool you always have with you. You just need to remember to use it. A few years ago, one of Jazz’s old dog symptoms was vomiting small amounts of bile in the early morning hours (like 4 am early). While that distressing sound jolted me out of bed fast… I was definitely not awake. (Someone should make a retching alarm because nothing gets me out of […]

Is Peppermint Essential Oil Toxic For Pets?

Posted on March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 by Amy DeLong

Is Peppermint essential oil toxic for pets? Well… it depends. On who you ask, and how you use it. If you ask Google … YES, peppermint is toxic, do not use it with animals! But is that the whole truth? To learn the whole truth watch the video, or keep reading below the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHosqDd1AYs Peppermint has a very long history of medicinal use, and a long history as a flavoring in our food. We know that it has a cool minty fresh smell. You know peppermint when you smell it, right? That’s menthol. It’s menthol that puts peppermint on the […]

Does Your Pet Need A Holistic Care Team?

Posted on March 9, 2022March 9, 2022 by Amy DeLong

These days “it takes a village” to keep Jake walking. His “village” is a team of holistic pet care professionals, all working together to support him as he ages. Jake wouldn’t still be here without them. Jake is my 13 ½ year old, 80 pound (36 kg) dog Jake. Maybe you’ve seen him before? He helps me demo things you can do for your aging dogs. (BTW- they work with cats too.) Sadly, his rear legs are getting weaker…he’s stumbling more, walking on his knuckles, and struggling to stand up from lying down. It’s becoming consistent enough that I’ve started […]

Essential Oils To Help Your Aging Dog

Posted on November 15, 2021November 15, 2021 by Amy DeLong

Have you ever had a tsunami of emotions wash over you as you watch your aging pet struggle? I’ve been having it a lot lately. Cuz Jake. You might have heard me talk about Jake… he’s 13 years old, 80 pounds, and his rear legs are getting weaker. Lately, he’s been stumbling and slipping more. My heart aches each time I find him stuck lying on the floor, unable to get up on his own. Maybe you know the feeling? While we can’t stop them from aging, we can help them age gracefully. To show you how easy it is, Jake […]

Hydrosols 101

Posted on August 25, 2021October 14, 2022 by Amy DeLong

What is a Hydrosol? Hydrosols are a water-based product created from steam distillation of a plant. Plants can be distilled for the hydrosol, or a hydrosol can be a by-product of steam distillation for essential oils. They are water-soluble, as opposed to fat-soluble like essential oils. Why use Hydrosols? Hydrosols are highly effective and gentle! They are non-toxic, making them an excellent choice for everyone including cats and kittens, sensitive dogs and puppies, birds, small pets like guinea pigs or chinchillas, even reptiles. And, of course, people too, including babies and young children. Hydrosols are safe to take internally. They […]

Dogs, Cats, and Tea Tree Essential Oil

Posted on August 10, 2021May 11, 2022 by Amy DeLong

Dogs, cats, and Tea Tree essential oil…OH MY! I’ve seen this question posted on social media a lot… “Is there a list of what essential oils are toxic to dogs and cats?” (The short answer is YES, I created one. You can grab it here.) But the first answer to the post is always “Tea Tree!” When it comes to using essential oils with our pets, no essential oil out there gets as much negative attention as Tea Tree. Where did all this Tea Tree hype come from? Is Tea Tree essential oil truly toxic to animals? Well… it depends […]

Prevent Pet Suffocation

Posted on July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 by Amy DeLong

Did you know that your pet can suffocate and lose its life in under 5 minutes? I confess I wasn’t aware of this fact until I was inspired to do a bit of research on pet suffocation prevention. Several weeks ago Carrie H., who I’d never met, replied to my email where I shared the Pet Poison Helpline and how I spent my birthday in the ER with Nala who overindulged in my dark chocolate. Carrie replied that her cat got sick from chocolate once. But she also wanted to share that there’s another threat that she had never heard […]

Keep Your Pets Safe AND Enjoy Essential Oils

Posted on July 5, 2021July 7, 2021 by Amy DeLong

After years of using essential oils, and no synthetic fragrances, I’ve become very sensitive to scent. That reminds me of our pets. Their sense of smell is SO much stronger than ours. (Check out this fun, short YouTube video called How dogs “see” with their noses.) If you’ve been using essential oils and haven’t considered how they’re affecting your fur baby, be grateful nothing has happened. Yet. I’m not saying it will. But it can happen anytime. I’ll never forget the day my friend’s dog, Kalika, showed signs of taking in too much essential oil. My friend and […]

Diffusing Essential Oils Can Not Only Be Safe For Your Pets, But Also Beneficial!

Learn how with my Pet-Friendly Guide to Diffusing Essential Oils. It’s FREE!