Some Benefits of Animal Aromatherapy
- Aids digestive system function
- Aids in the healing process of muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries
- Decreases blood pressure
- Helps the body eliminate metabolic waste
- Helps relieve the effects of seasonal and year-round issues such as pollen, spores, etc.
- Helps relieve hoof and paw issues
- Helps relieve muscle soreness, spasms, stiffness, swelling, and tension
- Helps relieve skin issues such as itching, redness, fur and hair loss, welts, insect bites and stings, etc.
- Helps skin and coat health
- Helps with flexibility and mobility
- Improves blood circulation
- Improves immune system function
- Promotes relaxation
- Reduces queasiness related to travel and motion issues
- Reduces nervousness and anxiousness
- Reduces joint pain and swelling
- Reduces nerve pain
- Stimulates the lymphatic system
- There are certain situations where massage can't be done but aromatherapy can be done
Cats and Aromatherapy
Cats lack several liver enzymes, such as the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes (UGT1A6, UGT1A9, UGT2B7), that are responsible for processing many of the chemical constituents found in essential oils. [1] [2] For this reason, I do not use essential oils with cats.
This does not mean that I cannot use aromatherapy with cats! Essential oils are just one branch of aromatherapy. Cats can benefit from the use of other aromatherapy products that are not only gentler than essential oils but are generally much safer for use with cats. I have found these products to be very effective with other animals as well.
[1] Feline drug metabolism and disposition: pharmacokinetic evidence for species differences and molecular mechanisms by Court, M. H. (2014); Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 43(5), 1–20
[2] Comparing the glucuronidation capacity of the feline liver with substrate-specific glucuronidation in dogs by Van Beusekom, C. D., Fink-Gremmels, J., & Schrickx, J. A. (2014); Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 37(1), 18–24
This does not mean that I cannot use aromatherapy with cats! Essential oils are just one branch of aromatherapy. Cats can benefit from the use of other aromatherapy products that are not only gentler than essential oils but are generally much safer for use with cats. I have found these products to be very effective with other animals as well.
[1] Feline drug metabolism and disposition: pharmacokinetic evidence for species differences and molecular mechanisms by Court, M. H. (2014); Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 43(5), 1–20
[2] Comparing the glucuronidation capacity of the feline liver with substrate-specific glucuronidation in dogs by Van Beusekom, C. D., Fink-Gremmels, J., & Schrickx, J. A. (2014); Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 37(1), 18–24
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