i. Combating dog odors - If you have an indoor dog it is likely that their bedding and your carpet, lounge etc will at some stage have that 'doggy' smell, particularly if the house has been locked up all day in the middle of summer. By spraying essential oil blends on your dog and the affected areas around your home you can freshen the house up immediately. I have found that the scent from essential oil sprays last much longer than the commercial air fresheners.



ii. Repelling fleas and ticks - There are a number of different blends you can make to repel fleas and ticks. There are a number of ways to apply these blends as well. Certain essential oils can be added to the dogs shampoo or a few drops can be placed under his collar to name just a couple. Dogs can be sprayed before going into areas that may be tick infected like cattle country to protect them against ticks. If they do get a tick on them essential oils can also kill the tick and after extraction can disinfect where the tick was.

iii. Rheumatism and Arthritis - Many older dogs in particular suffer from aching arthritic joints, some to the point where they have trouble even walking. Massage is excellent for greatly improving their happiness and mobility. By making massage oil and rubbing the affected areas morning and night you can see a huge improvement.

iv. Anxiety and nervousness - Some dogs suffer emotionally. They can make themselves ill or can become very destructive, particularly in the case of separation anxiety. Spraying your dog with a blend of calming essential oils prior to whatever stresses them eg: storms, being left home alone, fireworks etc can have an immediate effect and work wonders.

v. Boosting energy levels - If your dog suffers from lethargy you can restore some of his energy levels by rubbing a blend of oils into his spine. Only do this in the morning so he has all day to burn off the energy.

vi. Bad breath - Most dogs at some point suffer from really bad breath making it more uncomfortable for his owner than himself. Usually bad breath is a result of plaque that has formed on his teeth. You can actually brush your dogs teeth with a few drops of oil to prevent this but if that is just too time consuming or too much hassle, particularly if the dog is not happy to let you, you can add drops to his food.

vii. Poor coat condition - Some dogs suffer from a poor coat. There are many reasons why this may be the case but again aromatherapy can help. You can brush a blend of oils through their coat or you can add some to their food. His coat will be shiny and healthy in no time.

viii. Skin problems - Rashes, bites and cuts are another problem that dogs often endure. Essential oil blends are great for healing them quickly.

ix. Treating an abscess - If your dog has an abscess essential oils can treat this problem too. After applying the blend, however, make sure you keep an eye on it and if you don't see an improvement fairly quickly he may need a course of antibiotics from your vet.

x. Itching and scratching - I've seen dogs who seem to scratch endlessly without having even one flea on their body. A blend of essential oils can really make a difference and stop his itching altogether.