How Essential Oils Complement Animal Chiropractic Care

Our pets are an integral part of our family. I am reminded of this every time someone brings their fur baby in for an adjustment. Pet owners will do anything to ensure their little companions have the best quality of life possible. People are shocked when they realize that chiropractors and essential oils along with traditional therapies like surgery or medication can help support pets suffering with joint and spine issues.

It usually shocks pet owners when they find out that chiropractors for animals exist. A look of disbelief follows when they learn chiropractic adjustment is beneficial for animals afflicted with issues like back pain, hip issues, arthritis, and disc disease. As an animal chiropractor, my purpose is to identify misaligned joints in the spine, hips and extremities - then gently correct them back to a state or normalcy. As a complement to chiropractic care, essential oils are a great way to help your pet hold an adjustment while also supporting the discs and joints in a natural way with less side effects.

What conditions do animal chiropractors see that essential oils might benefit?

I see many opportunities from head to tail where chiropractic care and essential oils can support better health for pets. Often, issues begin as a consequence of a slight joint misalignment.

These misalignments may be the result of playing, falling off a couch, or from constant pulling on their collar during a walk! When these joints are in an abnormal position, the body responds to the stress which can lead to chronic issues over time. Therefore, it is important to maintain the joints of the spine, knees, ankles, etc. within a normal range for the individual animal.

However, we also need something to be a healthy support for those areas during normal every day use.

This is where I believe essential oils come in handy.

The Animal Desk Reference: Essential Oils for Animals recommends certain oils for promoting a healthy muscular-skeletal system in our pets. The ADR suggests:

• Joint support – balsam fir, copaiba, frankincense, helichrysum, lavender, lemongrass, palo santo, peppermint, pine, spruce, vetiver, wintergreen.

• Promotes healthy joints – rosemary, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus.

• Spine support – helichrysum, juniper, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, peppermint, wintergreen, palo santo.)

Lavender is a go-to essential oil for many issues because it is extremely versatile. In fact, if I could only use one essential oil for the rest of my life it would be lavender. When I need to address an occasional skin irritation, rather than dig out my "old" go-to, I look for my lavender essential oil.

I do the same with my pets. There have been numerous instances when my pet has come home from daycare with the occasional skin irritation. A drop of diluted lavender in that area often does the trick. In my practice, I believe essential oils, in conjunction with gentle adjustments, are a powerful weapon against the occasional muscular-skeletal issues I find in many of my patients.

How should essential oils be used with pets?

Essential oils can be used in a variety of different manners when it comes to our pets. For help with calming, and overall support, diffusing the oil is likely your best bet. Rather than utilizing one concentrated dosage for your pet, a diffuser allows the surrounding air to be purified and filled with essential oil particles - promoting overall wellness.

Essential oils can also be used topically or internally, though I would recommend consulting your holistic veterinarian before having any pet ingest an oil. Though they are natural, they do contain potent properties that might not always mix well with your specific pet.

For instance, my dog does not do well with essential oils applied directly to him. He gets aggravated, itchy, and red at the spot of application. When I dilute the oil using either coconut or almond oil, he tolerates it much better and his skin doesn’t react.

Oil usage will depend on the weight of your pet as well, a 100 pound dog will not require the same amount as a 5 pound pet.

The golden rule is to always consult a professional before trying to "self-medicate". Guidance from someone who understands oils thoroughly will go a long way toward your pets’ health.

Also, please note that some oils are toxic to cats but okay for dogs.

To sum everything up, essential oils are a great way to help our pets naturally. They benefit a number of conditions and promote overall health and well-being.

However, you want to be sure the way you apply essential oils matches the needs of your individual fur baby. I would highly recommend consulting an expert and finding out what works best for your pets!

Visit www.advancedanimalchiropractic.com for more information.

Bonus Recipe: Dog Shampoo

2TBS Castile Soap

1C Water

4 drops Young Living Peppermint essential oil

5 drops Young Living Lavender essential oil

5 drops Young Living Cedarwood essential oil

For more info on which oils you might find helpful, visit: https://www.essentiallyeducated.info/children-pets-more

Want your own starter kit? You can obtain this affordable bundle (of everyone's FAVORITE oils) by clicking on this Link to get you and your pet started on YOUR oily journey to wellness.

Visit Dr Christina Cole's website for more information on her chiropractic services HERE.