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essentialdog

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Everything posted by essentialdog

  1. Honey is a humectant and great for dry skin.
  2. If you want to take this route my opinion is you'd be best off buying calendula extract rather than making your own tincture. Extracts are standardised, cheaper to buy than making your own and less likely to pose a risk of possible bacterial/funghi & yeast growth.
  3. Ate a whole set of keys? I just visualised that one and it made me giggle a bit as my sisters lab is the same and will pretty much eat anything (he once ate an entire phonebook)!
  4. That's a pity it didn't work for you. Just read a few entries of your blog. It is great and am looking forward to reading all the reviews.
  5. I have also heard great things about the rosehip vital. I spoke with one of the owners and they said they went through 3 years of empirical testing to demonstrate to the APVMA it reduces arthritis. The fact that the APVMA passed it is a registered pet medicine gives it great merit as a natural alternative.
  6. Apologies for repeating myself in these types of posts, but aloveen contains sulphates and synthetic fragrances which are irritating for sensitive skin. Whilst it has helped a little for some dogs I know alot of them itch after using it.
  7. Slightly off topic but an interesting fact - an experiment in Japan has shown that if you have a strong bond with your dog, when you gaze at your dog, your body produces oxycotin (hormone bonding drug). Here is a link to the article for those of you who are interested.
  8. There sure is! When I first started I was astounded by how many harsh and outright dangerous chemicals are used in cosmetics. Of course there are scaremongers out there that say everything is bad, but if you do a little reading you'll start to know what to avoid, not only for pets but humans as well.
  9. I can't see if anyone has mentioned it here so far, but you could ask your vet (just go to the reception, no need to have a consultation) and they will give you a list of antihistamines and dosage rates that you can buy from your local chemist that are suitable for dogs.
  10. Sure, Charissa Smith from http://www.acaciaanimalcare.com. She's located in Gatton but comes to Brisbane twice a week. :) Like I said, it took a while and some trial and error but Chase improved slowly and steadily. Her consultations are a bit pricey at $120 but she really takes her time - I usually see her for an hour and a half when I have an appointment. Also this is a bit graphic but really shows how far Chase has come.. from the end of 2010: And now he's the happy, pretty dog in my signature :) That's quite upsetting seeing the state of your Sheltie's skin back in 2010. I'm so glad he feels better. I would freak out if that were happening to my dog. Good for you for persisting.
  11. Hi, I have a spoodle who had terribly itchy skin for years and I changed to a more natural shampoo. I wouldn't be using malaseb - it's way too harsh on the skin. It contains sulphates and harsh chemicals and often does more harm than good. Aloveen also contains sulphates and both of them synthetic fragrances which are really harsh especially for a dog with such sensitive skin. I deal with alot of groomers and the majority of groomers use really cheap shampoo that costs them around $14 for 30 litres. This stuff is really nasty and contains copious amounts of synthetic fragrances and additives. I've had to help many itchy dogs who come back with massive rashes, redness and itching after a groom. A great groomer who only uses natural products is Nose 2 Tail in QLD. Perhaps you should think about buying a shampoo with no sulphates or synthetic fragrances. I wouldn't be going fragrance free as masking agents are used to disguise the base of the shampoo which is quite stinky. These masking agents are also full of irritating chemicals and just as detrimental to a dog with sensitive as synthetic fragrances. Fab powder also contains alot of synthetic chemicals and is pretty harsh and the pH is out of whack with your dogs skin. Perhaps try and use baking soda when you wash your dogs bedding. You might want to check if it is suitable for your particularly type of washing machine, but there is a baking soda especially made for washing machines that can be found in most supermarkets and it only costs about $2/kg.
  12. After receiving a bunch of messages from members of this forum, will continue to discuss these topics. Thanks.
  13. As a starting point, you may want to check if the oatmeal product contains sulphates or synthetic fragrances. If it has a sweet honey-like oatmeal smell, it's a synthetic fragrance. Synthetic fragrances contain all sorts of harmful chemicals like DPG, Silicones and Pthalates, all of which encapsulate and extend the fragrance and they're not good for dogs, let alone those with itchy skin or a skin condition. Secondly, if doesn't say the product is sulphate free, it probably contains sulphates. All of the above ingredients are highly irritating for a dog and the major cause for itching and even worse if your dog is itchy before their bath. I'm not saying this is the only reason why your dog is itching. You'd need to see a vet about that one, but for starters you may want to use a shampoo and conditioner that doesn't contain these ingredients.
  14. Hi Dame DD, yes I certainly am getting a double whammy of love! I love this girl so much. Here is a pic of my little love.
  15. And the dumbing down of DOL continues. You are not alone in your frustration. Thank you Haredown Whippets.
  16. Healthy discussion and debate is great, and I apologise for my frustration over the concern about some of the information presented. Natural therapies is very much a science and adheres to the same scientific principles as mainstream science through chemical analysis, experimental design & analysis. More often than not, there are ways of presenting information that can be misleading. The arguments being presented here and not backed up by any raw data (proof). They are heresay based on simply reading abstracts from full studies. The fact is essential oils are dangerous if used over 1% on a dog and there is extensive scientific data to back this up which is why these regulations are in place, especially with the rise of more natural products. I know I really appreciate when a veterinarian involves themselves in discussions on this forum and thought perhaps in the same way I could help other pet owners formulate natural products at home. I will now bow out of this discussion and try to keep scientific related discussions to scientific forums.
  17. Funny you mention that. Every time I get cramps (trying not to be too graphic!) my dog sits across my lower belly. At first I was like 'ah get off, i'm in pain'! but realised she was trying to help me. She is like a walking, barking hot water bottle and it cures the pain so I no longer use pain killers for it. Dogs are amazing.
  18. If it is an allergy, it is a case of trial and error to find out what is irritating her and what remedy works for her and that can take some time. All the suggestions above are great alternatives to steroids which most vets would probably recommend if it is an allergy. There are some vets out there who see the merit in natural remedies and all of the above ingredients mentioned in these posts can help. Another great remedy that has helped numerous dogs is administering a teaspoon of flaxseed oil. Just pour it over her food. Every dog is different and it is a matter of finding what works for your dog. I've also found with some dogs, lavender essential oil helps soothe itching. Put a few drops of lavender in a trigger spray bottle that's over 200ml, shake it up thoroughly and spray it on her. Make sure you shake it thoroughly each time you spray it as the oils and water will separate and make a fresh batch every time you want to use it. Best of luck
  19. It is not the nature of the product, nor what volume it is made in that makes it commercial, it is the act of selling a product that makes it commercial. Just because a product is commercial or produced in larger quantities doesn't automatically mean it is not herbal or alternative and just another chemically laden product people are trying to avoid. Commercially produced simply means producing to sell whether it is a small batch or a large quantity such as an acreage of lavender and the same rules apply to both if the product is being sold. These rules don't apply if you're making products for personal use only. The fact is selling a product whether commercially prepared, home made, sulphate based, organic, sold out of the back of a truck or at pet barn, must comply with APVMA regulations and one of those regulations is <1% essential oils unless a product is a registered veterinarian medicine and it takes a lot of time and scientific analysis and research before the product is approved. The APVMA are there to protect consumers by monitoring products on the market to ensure they are safe and they have a wealth of information available to consumers. If it is policy to use <1% I personally would not being using any more than that on my dog as natural ingredients are very powerful and if not used properly, can be very dangerous. I am not inclined to say The European Cosmetics Directive (5th Amendment)is a load of baloney. Although I do believe both parties would be very conservative in their recommendations, however it is my opinion these recommendations apply to any eo, whethere it be TPG or otherwise. My supplier is a recommended provider of TPG eo's and used by many alternative therpists and they provide us with documentation on the TPG oils. They also charge through the nose for it (especially the rose otto)so I am a little taken aback by the assumption we don't use TPG eo, although I do agree the odds are against most people sourcing eo's as there are less than 10% of eo's that are genuinely TPG. Alot of people simply don't have the time or resources to do their own research and although forums and google are okay, are certainly not a reliable source of information. I think as a pet owner, it is great to think outside the box and do your own research, however there is a plethora of misinformation on the net. Scientific studies are a reliable resource if one is able to interpret the data, but simply reading an abstract of a study does not provide data and is akin to reading the backcover of a book as opposed to reading the entire book so people need to get a copy of the full study, not just the abstract. I'm a bit tired of feeling like I have to defend myself and my business and it's not why I joined this forum. I'm not here to answer a question, followed by 'buy my product' in every post. If I wanted to promote my business, as per the forum rules would advertise in the advertising section. I enjoy and get alot out of reading the posts and sharing ideas with other dolforum members as a dog owner. Additionally if I can be of help, i'm very happy to share some of my expertise to those asking questions pertaining to green chemistry and natural alternatives for dogs.
  20. Agreed. Whilst rose geranium eo is a good at repelling ticks, I would not use it solely as a tick preventative and also use advantix on my dog - wouldn't risk it.
  21. Hey All, For those of you in Melbourne, planning on attending the Dog Lovers Show in May, I have a couple of 3 day passes to give away as i'm exhibiting. PM me or email if you're interested.
  22. I completely disagree that it is safe to put neat essential oils on your dogs coat. It is very dangerous and there is a good reason why the APVMA will not allow more than 1% of essential oils in any product for dogs. Products that use more than 1% dilution of essential oils have to register their products with the APVMA as a pet medicine and go through rigorous empirical testing for safety and it can take years for such a product to be approved. I was speaking to one of the owners of rosehip vital and they had to go through 4 years of testing before they could convince the APVMA to finally approved it as safe. Those that fail to do so face heavy fines. There are some citrus oils such as lemon verbena and grapefruit that contain extraordinarily high levels of d-limonene and linalool (a naturally occuring chemical in eo's) and the amount of natural chemicals present in the oils can only be used at less than 0.01% as they cause photosensitivity and can potentially cause severe allergic reactions. Check out the state of this dog here (click for link) that used a product with higher than the recommended dose of d-limonene (5%) and then you may think twice. The equivalent of 5% d-limonene is probabaly like putting a 30% dilution of a citrus oil on your dog. Essential oils are very complex to formulate safely and require calculating the chemicals present in the eo blend and ensuring these naturally occuring chemicals fall under the recommended safety limits so no allergic reaction occurs. I spent an entire year analysing our blends and the natural chemicals present in our essential oil blends for our products and also took them to another lab to double check. The lab issued a certificate of analysis of the chemicals in the blends and we had to calculate to make sure there was less than 0.01% of d-limonene and linalool in the rinse off products and 0.001% in the leave-in. For those of you who are interested I've linked a copy of one of the certificate of analysis below - this will give you a better idea of how complex eo's are to formulate safely and hopefully make you think twice before throwing a few drops of neat essential oils on your dogs. Lastly, although essential oils have some preservative qualities they are certainly not adequate as a preservative alone if adding water, however studies have shown that less synthetic preservatives can be used when using oils such as tea tree and lavender. If you dilute the eo's with a carrier oil instead of water and add an antioxidant such as mixed tocopherols then that should increase the shelf life and stop the oils from going rancid. There is a fair amount of journal articles, literature and articles on the net on what is or isn't a preservative. CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS
  23. Rosewood 100% pure essential oil is good for warding off ticks. I use rosewood essential oil on my dog in a shampoo and spray, however I wouldn't use it solely as a tick preventative. Undiluted essential oils should never be applied to a dogs skin - you have to use 1 part essential oil to 100 parts water maximum but then the oil and water would separate so you need to add a solubiliser and unfortunately a preservative unless you're making up a fresh batch each time you use it. I think it's great that you're trying to find a more natural alternative.
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