Animals Enjoy Aromatherapy Massages Too

Aromatherapy massage works wonders for the human body and psyche. Humans are considered as a higher form of animal because of his intelligence but none the less still an animal. If humans greatly benefit from massages can other types of animals also benefit from aromatherapy massage? A lot of people are looking for new ways of improving the lives of their pets specially those that suffer some form of ailments.

 

The Jury's Still Out

 

Massage for common pets like dogs and cats and horses are not uncommon. Just remember to keep your hands warm and dry since they have thick furs. Aromatherapy may be a bit different since it would involve scented oils which pets may be sensitive to with their heightened sense of smell. 

 

What some pet and horse owners do is diffuse calming aromatherapy scents into the air while they are giving their pet a massage with warm, dry hands.  This has had mixed results with cats, dogs and horses.  A lot had to do with the individual animal over whether they liked or hated the aromatherapy scent.

 

Some Don'ts

 

Don't just subject your pet to an aromatherapy massage without taking some precautions.  First off, you really need to talk to your vet.  An aromatherapy massage might not be helpful for the kind of problem your pet has.  You need to be sure your pet has a proper diagnosis in order to get proper treatment.  Aromatherapy is great for many people and pets – but it's not a cure all.

 

Please don't place aromatherapy essential oils at full strength on your pet.  This will sting and may cause a chemical burn.  Your pet will go off aromatherapy massages for life.  You need to use only one to three drops of pure oil at the most in a mixture of olive oil or some other vegetable based oil that's easily absorbed by the skin.  Some people even skip on oils altogether and put a drop or two or aromatherapy oil into rubbing alcohol.

 

Don't use just any old essential oil you may have on hand for an aromatherapy massage.  There are some oils like rosemary that should never be used on a pregnant animal (or a pregnant woman) because the oil can induce contractions.  There are also scents that can trigger seizures in animals with epilepsy. 

 

If your pet reacts negatively towards aromatherapy massage due to the smell, it would be advisable to discontinue. Remember one of the primary goals of aromatherapy whether to humans or animals is to provide ease and release tension.