Bugs Be Gone

Making your own products at home is not only a great way to save money, but it gives you control over what you put in it!

Even our four-legged friends can be sensitive to chemicals and that is why Dr. Susan Mooney, co-owner of Safari Veterinarian Care Center decided to make her own line of pet products. The really cool thing - people can use the products too!

If you're looking for low-cost options for essential oils Dr. Mooney suggests you look online. She says you can often-times find them much cheaper.

Caution: Some of the products are not recommended for cats.

RECIPES

Soothing Oatmeal Bath

You will need:

• Cheesecloth 12" square plus string to tie or you can recycle panty hose knee high stocking
• 2 cups of old fashioned oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon lavender or chamomile flowers (optional)
• Blender, coffee grinder or smoothie maker

Grind the oatmeal into a fine powder - this will take about 1 minute. Place the ground oatmeal onto the cheesecloth and add the herbs if using them. Tie the cloth tightly.

Place the bag of oatmeal under running water and soak the pet for at least 10 minutes.

Flea Repelling Spray

This contains essential oils with insect repelling properties.

You will need:

• 8 oz spray bottle, the bottle must be dark glass or plastic.
• Small funnel
• 7 oz distilled water
• 5 ml (1 teaspoon) vegetable glycerin
• 5 ml (1 teaspoon) sulfated castor oil
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) ethyl alcohol or vodka
• 4 drops lavender oil
• 4 drops clary sage
• 4 drops citronella
• 8 drops peppermint
• 4 drops lemon oil

Mix all the ingredients together in the spray bottle.

If you do not have all the oils listed you can substitute more of the ones you do have. There should be 20 to 25 drops in total.

To use: shake the bottle well and spray bedding and spray for 5 to 10 seconds over the dog avoiding the eyes.

Hot Spot Ointment

This contains a mixture of vegetable and essential oils with potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal and healing properties. It can be used for hot spots, acute moist dermatitis, insect bites, scratches and works very well on mosquito bites for people.

You will need:

• Hot water
• Small mixing bowl
• Small dark colored glass jars or recycled cosmetic containers
• 6 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon neem oil
• 1 tablespoon rosehip oil
• 1ml Vitamin E
• 3 drops chamomile (roman) essential oil
• 12 drops geranium oil
• 3 drops labdanum oil
• 6 drops lavender oil
• 6 drops ravensare oil
• 6 drops rosewood oil
• 6 drops white thyme oil

Place the jar of coconut oil in the hot water until it becomes liquid.

Place the mixing bowl over a slightly larger bowl containing hot water to keep the oils liquid during the mixing phase.

Again, if you do not have all the oils just mix what you have.

Add all the ingredients and stir thoroughly. Pour the mixture into small dark glass jars and refrigerate. This will extend the shelf-life and make the ointment more soothing. It will be a very soft ointment at room temperature. If a firmer ointment is preferred add a small amount of beeswax at the mixing stage.

For More information: http://safarivet.com/ or email Dr. Mooney: smooney@safarivet.com

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