The following is an extract from my diploma course case studies.

Case study 1

Figlia

(Labrador bitch with out of character temperament changes)

Pauhla Whitaker

Diploma course February 2003

Background and past history

Figlia, (pronounced Feelia) is an 18-month-old black Labrador bitch who has lived with Tina and her family since she was a puppy. She is entire and has had a couple of seasons, her last being in February 2003 but is due to be spayed as soon as possible as the family have no intention of breeding from her.

She was well socialised with both dogs and people and lives in a family with a son under 10 and a teenage daughter and is used to the general coming and goings of a busy family. She is normally happy for other dogs to come into the house and has a special friend called Jess, a collie bitch belonging to James, a family friend who has been working doing some building work on their property since Figlia was bought. As a result, she has a very close attachment to Jess and to a lesser degree to her owner. She has a tendency to wander off as the house is not fenced in and this had increased in the few months before Tina asked me to do an Essential Oils consultation.

Top

Current management

As Tina works from home Figlia is not often alone for long periods of time and is often taken in the car if Tina goes out. She will stay on her own at home if necessary with the minimum of fuss.

She has a walk each day and normally of approximately 1 hour duration and in open country on varied terrain and off the lead and Tina's son plays with her in the garden after school.

She has her own bed in the kitchen and has the run of the house at all other times.

Figlia is currently fed on Hills Science Plan Canine Maintenance.

She was not spayed as she came into season just as the appointment was made on both occasions and so this is to be carried out as soon as possible.

Top

Symptoms, details of condition and control measures

In June 2003 Tina mentioned that Figlia had started to behave aggressively towards other dogs, including those she is familiar with and had launched herself at several dogs when out walking.

She was also what Tina described as "droopy" and following her around the house and was being very clingy. I suggested that she may be coming into season but there were no physical signs although it was nearly 6 months since her last heat.

I have known Figlia since she arrived as a puppy and the difference in her outlook and the general "feel" she gave off was very obvious.

There had been a couple of changes in her life in the proceeding few weeks as their friend James who had been working on their house and their adjoining property for over two years had finished most of his work and so Jess his collie, was not spending as much time at the house and Tina felt Figlia was missing both of them.

Tina was also under a deal of stress herself due to her family commitments and changes in her husbands job which meant he was working very long hours, coupled with the illness of both her father and a close friend who has been suffering from cancer for a year and whose condition has deteriorated.

Otherwise, there had been no change in feed, handling, environment, medication or neighbours. No new dogs had moved into the area and she had not had a negative interaction with a dog while out walking. The reason for her behaviour remained a mystery except for the idea that she may be mirroring her owner's emotions to a degree and so I suggested that Tina also inhaled the oils before offering them to Figlia.

After Figlia had been checked by her vet and no physical problems had been found, I carried out a kinesiology assessment in June 2003.

Top

The oils selected

Rose Otto (Rosa damascena), Neroli (Citrus aurantium var amara) and Carrot seed (Daucus carrota L.) in Hempseed (Cannabis sativa).Below is a summary of each oil.

Rose Otto (Rosa damascena)

Principal uses: Depression , past abuse/trauma, aggression, balances hormones, stress-related skin conditions.

Actions (physical): Antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, laxative, sedative, tonic for the heart, liver and uterus

Actions (Behavioural): Comforts and soothes in stress-related situations and especially where there is past abuse and/or trauma, if there is aggression or if the animal holds anger and jealousy. A gentle but potent antidepressant, which can bring about profound emotional release (therefore often used with Yarrow to soothe and heal the emotions involved). Can balance the hormones and regulate the cycle of females and so ease hormone-related behavioural conditions.

Safety: Generally non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitising.

Reasons for selection: I chose Rose Otto for it's affinity with the reproductive system. The reproductive system energy tested weak on the left side and as Figlia had not yet come into season Rose was appropriate. It also has an action on the nerves and can soothe and comfort in stressful situations and where there is anger and her very uncharacteristic outbursts against other dogs appeared to indicate stress, and especially an insecurity and jealousy element.

Neroli (Citrus aurantium var amara )

Principal uses: Separation, loss, stress related digestive disorders (especially those such as colic which involve smooth muscle spasms) scars.

Actions (physical): Antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac caminative, digestive, nervine and tonic.

Actions (Behavioural): Loss or separation from a companion uplifts and relaxes the nerves aiding stress and anxiety. Useful for shock and for animals that have lost the will to live. Can increase strength and confidence before a trying ordeal or stressful event such as vet visits, competition or travelling.

Safety: Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitising and non-photo-toxic.

Reasons for selection: I chose Neroli for its ability to soothe both the digestion and the nerves and help with loss and separation. As both the stomach meridian (energy centre) and the central meridian (which controls anxiety and emotional distress and lack of concentration) were weak on the right side and Figlia was showing no symptoms of stomach problems but plenty of anxiety related behaviour, Tina and I both felt that these weaknesses were more emotional in origin, especially as she was obviously missing James and Jess and Tina's husband.

Carrot Seed (Daucus carrota L.)

Principal uses: Coat and hoof conditioner, stimulates appetite, stems internal bleeding, liver/kidney disorders, cell repair.

Actions (physical): Anthelmintic, antiseptic, carminative, depuritive, diuretic, hepatic, stimulant, tonic, vasodilator and smooth muscle relaxant.

Actions (Behavioural): Abuse, feelings of neglect and the aftermath of neglect itself, loss of will to live.

Safety: Generally non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitising but can be dermal irritant and so needs to be well diluted for topical use.

Reasons for selection: I chose Carrot seed due to its affinity with the stomach and liver, especially in the light of Figlias "liverish" and short-tempered behaviour and because it may help with any perceived feelings of neglect. These may be manifesting in the form of Figlias clingy behaviour due to James and Jess not being around as much and she may also have been picking up on the fact that Tina's workload had increased since her husbands own work responsibilities had increased and that she occasionally felt a little snowed under.

Hempseed (Cannabis sativa)

Principal uses: Arthritis, anxiety, loneliness.

Actions (physical): Rubifacient, analgesic, relaxant, possibly anti-nausea.

Actions (Behavioural): Appears to have an affinity with dogs. Comforting.

Safety: None indicated. Does not contain the psychoactive substances present in the fresh seed or leaf.

Reasons for selection: I chose Hempseed because it is an oil that is well liked by dogs and this was borne out when it tested very strongly with kinesiology.

Neither Figlia nor Tina who was to apply the treatment, have any known sensitivities to any of the oils, are on any form of medical treatment or are pregnant and so there were no relevant safety issues or contra-indications that I was aware of with these oils.

The interesting thing about Figlias assessment is that most of the meridians that appeared to have weak energy were identical to those, which generally require rebalancing when Tina has regular acupuncture!

I suggested to her that she may also like to sniff the oils before offering them to Figlia, especially as Rose is an oil that Tina loves with a passion and finds very balancing and so it turned out, does Figlia.

After diluting the oils at the appropriate dosage I delivered the oils to Tina on Sunday 15 th June 2003 and showed her how to offer the oils safely to Figlia and record the results and she started treating Figlia immediately.

I suggested that Tina offer the oils to Figlia twice daily for the first week and I would then contact her to see how things were progressing.

Top

Summary of treatment

I found this a really interesting case study to work on, as it was such a good example of how the owner and animal can mirror each other's emotions right down to the choice of oil.

It also shows how effective the oils can be at lifting emotions and that treatment doesn't always have to last a long time to work.

Figlia showed intense interest in the oils until Tally, her friend (another black Labrador) came to stay followed by spending the following night in kennels. This could in itself be a distressing event for a dog who has never been kennelled before but apparently Figlia was perfectly settled and clam and she started to gradually wean off the oils after coming home. After a further 7 days, Figlia was no longer responding to the oils.

Her behaviour towards other dogs gradually went from aggressive to detached over the first week and by the time Tally came to stay she was already much more inclined to interact and play and she was much less clingy and restless within a few days of beginning the treatment.

By the end of the second week, Figlia was back to normal but still showing a reduced interest in the oils and in all, the treatment lasted for a little over 2 weeks.

Figlia did not come into season and so we discounted that as the reason for her whiney and clingy behaviour but could not find any explanation other than that she was picking up on Tina's general mood.

I am sure that the fact that Tina was both aware of this and open to working with the situation by consciously trying to be positive around her made a huge difference to the success of the treatment.

Shortly afterwards, Figlia started to spend more time with Tina's friend James and his dog Jess while we was working on site in the area, and often stays overnight with him so that she has the company of another dog again and this has made a huge difference. Tina is not in a position to take on another dog as this was a possible solution if the behaviour did not change but the current solution seems to be working well and Figlia is back to her usual cheerful, gregarious and energetic self.

Top

Post script..November 2003

Since writing this case study Tina has returned to work as a property assistant for the National Trust at the offices I am also based at and she is feeling that life is moving on again.

Tina brings Figlia into work with her on most days where there are also other dogs. She often goes out on site with the wardens when they are working with the cattle or in the woodland etc. where she is well-behaved and friendly to anyone she may meet. If Tina has to leave her at home, she is able to return home for lunch and to walk Figlia who is only alone for a couple of hours at a time before the children are home from school in the afternoon.

Figlia seems very happy with the situation and is back to her usual self with no reoccurrence of her previous behaviour.

*** Keep looking as more case studies will be added ***

Return to Essential Oil Therapy Page

Top

	Home \| Reiki Therapy \| AnimOILS(Animal Aromatherapy) \| AnimOILS(Products & Orders) Safety Info. \| News & Updates \| Contact \| Links \| Guestbook
	Designed By FutureNet Web Design www.fnwd.co.uk Copyright © 2002 Pauhla Whitaker - All rights reserved.