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Immune Booster for Dogs
DIY Boost Dog’s Immune System Essential Oil Blend
Dexter The Dog is approaching 8 years of age. As he ages and as his disease progresses, I’m constantly looking for natural ways to support his health. I provide Dexter a natural home-cooked diet, healthy dog supplements, dog rehabilitation, exercise, daily walks, and lots of dog play. He seems to be a pretty happy boy.
What I have noticed over the last year is that it seems that his little dog immune system may be struggling. There are a few signs such as a yeasty face, feet, and mouth. One of his ears is also developing a tiny bit of yeast. Dog yeast can grow from a poor diet or diet high in carbohydrates such as grains, potatoes, and legumes. Now, in the right proportion, there is nothing wrong with these foods, but a year ago I eliminated them from Dexter’s diet to see if that made a difference, and it did not.
My other clue that Dexter’s immune system may be struggling is that over the past five months, I have found two ticks. Now, that may not seem like a big deal, but for over four years we have been tick- and flea-free with natural tick and flea sprays. When a dog’s immune system struggles, they are more susceptible to parasites and creepy crawlers. Read how to make DIY dog tick spray.
A lot of natural remedies can help offer immune support for dogs. The first thing I always turn to for Dexter’s health is food. Foods that are immune boosters for dogs include oranges, bell peppers, almonds, spinach, and broccoli. Herbs and extracts such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, Echinacea, and olive leaf extract can also support the immune system. Daily dog probiotics are a must in our home. By using a dog probiotic, you can increase your dog’s gut health, increase the good bacteria, fight off the bad bacteria, and boost the immune system.
I’m a person who likes to add layers when tackling a medical or behavioral issue. Over the years, I have attended workshops on essential oils for pets, read various books, and researched online about whether essential oils are safe for dogs and cats.
Essential oils can be very helpful in assisting with medical and behavioral concerns, but they are also very volatile and potent. Dogs and cats should NOT be treated as small humans or kids. They are completely different creatures. A dog is different than a cat, too. In your head, you know this. Think about foods that are toxic to pets and safe for humans. Or toxic to a cat, but safe for a dog. The same is true for essential oils and the dosing of essential oils. This is why, during my research, I’m drawn to professionals truly working with essential oils for pets, not just a person well-versed in essential oils for people. Some common essential oils you may see in pet products that I personally avoid are anise, clove, oregano, red or white thyme, and wintergreen. This is also why I don’t just take one research source; instead, I gather a lot of information, then draw my own personal conclusion. The same should go for you. Don’t just take my word for it, do your research, too! Read my interview with Isla Fishburn Ph.D on essential oils and hydrosols and pets.
Determining the quality of an essential oil for our pets is extremely important and actually very difficult! Label terms such as “veterinary formula,” “therapeutic grade,” and the like truly do not have any real meaning or regulations. Digging around on the essential oil’s website to learn about the growers is the best way to determine quality. I’m still learning this, so I will do my best to link to high-quality essential oils for your pets. The other important thing to note is the Latin name. For example, above I stated I don’t recommend red or white thyme essential oils, but you may see me post a recipe with “thyme,” But, I’m using Thymus vulgaris ct thujanol, which is milder than the other two thyme varieties, which have higher phenol content than thymus vulgaris ct thujanol. Confusing, I know!
So, let’s get to the Essential Oil Blend for Dogs to Boost a Dog’s Immune System
Immune Booster for Dogs | Essential Oil Remedy For Dogs
- 1 oz Organic Sweet Almond Oil
- 2 drops Coriander Seed Essential Oil, Coriandrum savitum
- 2 drops Niaouli Essential Oil, Melaleuca quinquenervia
- 2 drops Palmarosa Essential Oil, Cymbopogon martinii
- 2 drops Ravensara Essential Oil, Ravensara aromatica
Directions
- Place all the ingredients into an amber or cobalt glass jar with a lid.
- Done! Easy-peasy.
Using an amber or cobalt bottle helps ensure the essential oils are properly stored. Light, heat, moisture, and oxygen all affect the oils’ properties and expiration date, so by properly storing your dog’s immune-boosting mix, you will be able to maintain potency.
How to Apply Your Dog’s Essential Oil Immune Booster
- Massage 1-4 drops into your dog’s neck and chest daily.
Have you used essential oils with your dog? Tell me in the comments.
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I have 3 of the 4 essential oils needed for this blend. I know what I’ll be adding to my order this month. Thanks! 🙂
hahaha Sure thing!
thank you very much for the information that you provide. this really gives me more ideas of how to help my king charles.
Thank, you Norris. I really appreciate your comment. 🙂
because my king charles has syringomyelia-.. Im finding ways that can help her. May I ask if you have any recommendation on food or supplements on syringomyelia..? hopefully that can reduce the fluid?
Hi, Norris. Are you in the SM Facebook group? It was a huge help for me in the beginning. I feed foods that “drain the damp” vinegar, radish, celery, squash. scallops, sardines etc. If you haven’t purchased my book, What’s For Dinner, Dexter? I would highly recommend it. Those recipes are Dexter’s recipes to help his SM, so they are very SM friendly. https://raisingyourpetsnaturally.com/naturalpetcarebooks I also provide things for brain health, like CoQ10. I will email you the link to the group.
Can you place these oils in a diffuser and use it at night while dog sleeps or is topical best?
Hi, Ayesha. I would make the mix, then add 2-3 drops in your diffuser. Please ensure your dog can leave if he wishes. 🙂