Teach Soap

My first question is about getting some information for another person.

I recently met a woman who has dogs (and cats, too, I think), and likes to keep the products she uses on her pets organic. She was telling me about some kind of pest-killing spray that she had recently purchased, and she told me it contained 10% cedarwood oil.

My eyes popped a bit, and I told her I thought that was a pretty high amount to be using in a leave-on product. (She told me they hide when she gets the bottle out. I shouldn't wonder!)

I'd like to know if anyone can recommend any books or websites that I could refer her to on the issue of "organic" pest protection for her pets. I don't think she wants to be able to make something herself, but I was a little horrified at how much cedarwood oil that spray she'd bought contains. (I also realize that as she was doing this from memory, she may have been way off on the amount.)

Is there any information out there that would tell her not only what she could use, but also safe amounts?

My other question is about something I want to make. One of my dog friends showed me something called "Nose Butter" (for a dog's dry, cracked nose), which has avocado, unrefined shea, Vitamin E oil, and some kind of essential oil. I was told that some of the dogs don't like it, and I'm thinking that's either from the unrefined shea (which I know has a strong scent) or the essential oil (the kind of EO wasn't specified).

Are there base oils which are not safe to be used on dogs? I have a friend who worked in the cosmetic industry for 20 years, and she suggested I steer clear of avocado oil. I have fractionated CO, and I was thinking that with maybe refined shea? Or would sunflower or sweet almond be better? I also have mango and kokum. Maybe even a touch of beeswax, or a vegetable wax? How about kuikui nut oil? And I'm staying clear of the EOs as well. I can't imagine that a dog, with its ultra-sensitive nose, would be happy with even the lightest fragrance.

Dogs lick their noses, so the ingredients need to be safe to be ingested, as well as absorbed.

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Thanks!

Anita

The pH of dog's or cat's skin is VERY different from humans. I would never use a 10% strength of Cedarwood on my dog. it could seriously irritate the skin. Dog's sense of smell is 100 times more powerful then humans. Would you want someone to smear your nose with an undiluted essential oil? Especially one that you don't like? That's what you would be doing to your dog if you put a salve with essential oil(s) on his nose. It would also not stay on long enough as the dog would lick it right off, negating any skin care benefits. With that said, you can try plain, food safe base oil like coconut oil.

I would never use any essential oils on cats under any circumstances. This includes diffusing straight essential oils into the air. There have been reported animal deaths from this practice. People wrongly presume that if it's safe for humans, it must be safe for their animals too. After all, it's natural, right?

http://aromaticsage.com/dogsafety1.htm

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

There are a LOT of dog products with strong EOs in them, I don't understand why people think dogs need (or want) so much EO that its even too strong for the humans. Its ridiculous! There are some natural products that I don't mind; neem oil can be used to soothe hot spots and clean up fungus issues on paws and its also great for that cracked nose (that's generally a fungus, like athletes foot!). It's also edible and not dangerous at all for the dogs! But the "doggy" brands usually have EOs in them, which I don't like! You can buy straight neem and use it lightly.

As for flies, I'm not sure, but I think there are some natural oils that are not dangerous for dogs that have anti-fly properties. Think they only work if the dog is bitten though. Something to spend some time on google with I guess!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I think I would probably make a cream with edible oils such as avocado and shea, plus neem oil, panthenol and quite a lot of aloe vera extract, which seems great for pretty much anything.

Neem also has anti-fungal properties. I've been told you can even use it to cure athletes foot!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Yes, panthenol is a really safe product.
"an alcohol oxidized in the body to pantothenic acid; administered as a source of this vitamin."
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictio ... /panthenol
http://www.witton.com/chemical19.html for more information.
I'm going to start using it in my most upmarket skin creams because of its benefits.

Got the dog butter made. I just made a tiny batch - an ounce - to start.

I used 25% coconut oil, 5% kuikui nut oil, and 70% refined shea. No scent of any kind!

(Keep in mind that I've been making lip balms for the past couple of weeks.) I was a little surprised at how long it took to set up, until the little voice in the back of my head goes "Um, maybe because there's not any waxes in it?????"

(I kept going over the the dog butter in its little pots, kind of poking it going, "Why is it still moving????")

I've used it on her a couple of times - seems to absorb really well.

So far, so good.

Anita

Anita,
I'm glad you didn't use any scent. Did the dog lick it?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

She licked it a little, but what surprised me was how quickly it seemed to absorb. I was pleased, but surprised.

I'll use it for a week and report back.

Anita

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.