The Connection between Pets, Essential Oils, and MRSA
While more and more people are turning to natural remedies for themselves not nearly as many have considered using the same therapies on their pets. Each year, they take their dogs, cats, and other pets to vet to pick up the same chemical heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives, as well as the same commercially formulated kibble – all in the hope of giving their pets the best health.
However, this is not always true. In fact, many of our pets are continuing to get sick. Plus, the rise of drug resistant bacteria like MRSA continues to threaten our pets’ health. MRSA is a form of staph infection that is highly resistant to traditional antibiotics. It can be passed back and forth between humans and pets, with some animals developing their own strain. Antibiotics will often not solve the problem, and may in fact be the reason the disease mutated so much in the first place.
Untreated, MRSA can kill both people and their pets. This danger has caused some pet owners to try to spur the public’s attention to this health risk. The Bella Moss Foundation and Pets-MRSA work together to bring knowledge and hope to pets and their owners.
Doctors have been researching ways to stop MRSA and other resistant bacteria. The University of Manchester has found that three essential oils would actually destroy MRSA, killing off bacteria and fungus. Two of these are thought to be Melaleuca alternafolia and geranium.
Exactly why the essential oils are so effective is still under research, though some thoughts are that the essential oils are made up of complex chemical compounds that MRSA and other bacteria find difficult to resist. Plus, since essential oils are found naturally occurring in plants, no two oils are ever exactly alike, making them very beneficial as a weapon against mutating bugs. Antibiotics, the normal main line of defense against bacteria, are made up of single compounds, allowing the MRSA to become resistant more quickly.
The administration of essential oils also makes them an easy treatment for both humans and pets. Essential oils are inhaled directly or through diffusing, putting them right into the nasal cavities where MRSA likes to live, helping to protecting the patient.
The biggest roadblock to doing further research into essential oils and their effects on MRSA and other super bugs is the lack of funding. Since essential oils are found naturally in nature, drug companies cannot patent them and therefore cannot make a profit. This makes them less than eager to put any real money into the research.
If your pet should get ill, your veterinarian is still the best option for their care. However, instead of immediately reaching for the prescription pad for another bottle of antibiotics, ask your vet about using essential oils and other natural therapies to cure your pet. There are even holistic vets in practice now that will specialize in alternative medicines for animals. They can advise you on the best essential oils, vitamins, or even changes in diet that can help your pet out.
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