AnimalEO LiverBoost

Basically, you can just drip the oils up the back and massage in, or you may apply the drops to your hands and then apply them to your dog in a Petting manner.  For larger dogs – you can usually apply more drops.  For medium dogs between 25-50 pounds applying 5-8 drops is average.  And for large dogs over 50 pounds – a range of 6-12 drops can be used.  For dogs new to essential oils – starting with even less than the recommended amounts, or with further diluted oils can be a good way to ensure you do not create an oil aversion.  You may not see results with lesser amounts, or with further diluted oils sometimes, but since we are also wanting to create a “happy” situation with oil use for your dog, and not overwhelm them – the added time to slowly build up concentrations of essential oil use can be worth it.

For dogs who have been diagnosed with liver disease – it is important that you work with your veterinarian, and monitor your dog closely with their aid.  Never neglect the use of veterinary diagnostics and traditional treatments when they are indicated, and make sure to tell your vet that you are using natural substances that help support liver health and function.

For my own dogs – I often rotate through several of the body specific support blends, each time I perform their “routine maintenance”.  So, if my dogs get a monthly AromaBoost RTU applied – I might insert LiverBoost one month, then CardioBoost another month, and so on.  However, for my patients who do have existing liver stress or disease, I will strive to support their liver much more often, and regularly.  In some cases, daily applications of LiverBoost can be considered – but I find that every 3-7 days is average for most dogs needing additional liver support.

Description

The Liver is AMAZING!

We often forget just how important our liver is.  Every single day, in every single way – your liver is involved in your daily life.  When the liver is stressed, all sorts of things can go wrong.  The liver is responsible for so many actions – including production of clotting factors, storage of vitamins, detoxification of wastes, metabolism and elimination of drugs, and so much more.  For as important as the liver is, there seems to be a huge conflict in diagnosing liver disease versus failure.  I often hear of veterinarians and owners alike, describing an animal as having “liver failure.”  There is a considerable difference between the two – as you can have a stressed liver, that is still quite functional and able to perform all of its tasks.  While a liver in failure, is truly failing to operate and severe symptoms are likely with this case.  I would say that the majority of animals for which I have reviewed or been involved with their case – would fall more accurately into having liver stress or liver disease, than actual failure.  It may be semantics, but I do think it is vital in understanding the resulting symptoms, or ability to heal.

With all of the important functions of the liver, it is a wonderful thing that it is also one of the organs that is most able to repair itself within the body.  The liver has an incredible ability to regenerate; a lobe can actually be removed and regrow!  With support and time, many liver conditions can repair themselves, as long as the body is equipped with the proper nutrition and tools that it needs to complete the regeneration tasks.  That is where our jobs come in.  To stop damaging the liver while it tries to repair, and to supplement and provide the tools required.  What damages, stresses, or causes the liver to work harder?  Well, just about everything.  Illness, vaccinations, environmental chemicals (household cleaners, air fresheners, fabric softeners, etc…), pollution, treated water, medications, topical flea and tick chemicals… the list goes on and on.

But What About Cats?

With cats the liver is an even bigger point of contention – however I feel often over-played, especially in the world of essential oils.  It is true that cats do “special things” with their liver – being overly prone to Fatty Liver Disease (read a reliable veterinary article HERE) or being less able to metabolize certain medications and chemicals needing the Cytochrome P450 Pathway for example.  However, all of this truth of cats – mainly comes from what we know about pharmaceuticals and individual chemical components.  We certainly cannot give cats the same NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory) that we would give to a dog.  Not only do they not metabolize it well, but it can be fatal.  This we know in the veterinary industry from theory, science, and unfortunately from experience.  With essential oils, there is often so much concern about how the liver (cat or otherwise) might not be able to deal with the metabolism of essential oil components – that many people ignore the real life data.  True, not many are privy to veterinary blood work and monitoring of cases that have yet to be written up and published as I do…but nor do they have all of the details of “toxicity” to the liver.  Reporting that “for sure, cat’s can NEVER be exposed to” this essential oil or that, due to their liver…is just inaccurate information most times.

What I find in practice is that whole essential oils seem to be metabolized and handled quite differently than an individual component or chemical of an essential oil.  This fact holds true for all animals.  It may help to consider the difference between eating a steak, versus taking iron supplements.  When eating a natural source of meat with iron in it, you are unlikely to create a toxicity.  However, when we create an iron supplement, it is now an artificial and man-made item that the body has less ability to properly handle.  So, take too much of it – (like kids eating a ton of chewable vitamins) – and “we have a problem Houston”…  You would be hard pressed to consume enough steak to ever create a toxic level of iron – and so is the case with the proper use of essential oils.  When the proper essential oil is used, the constituents are present in proper and natural ratios, and the essential oil is used correctly in the proper dilutions – we can see great support and benefits to the body without the concern of the “one evil constituent”.

In research there are actually very few constituents or essential oils scientifically reported to have hepatotoxic properties.  This information is often based on individual constituent actions – such as Pulegone, Cinnamaldehyde, or Salicyladehyde – and is also based on experimental models demonstrating use of essential oils in insanely abnormal ways.  For example – Cinnamaldehyde was injected IP (intraperitoneally – into the abdominal cavity) of rats.  (I really hate animal research like this…)  And guess what!?  Injecting essential oils into the abdomen, at quite a significant dose, WAS A BAD THING!  I guess I rack this up to a “duh statement”.  To me, this sort of data is just not accurate to how essential oils should be used, or as to what the results will be with proper use.

But Over Time…

Another popular statement about liver damage with essential oils, or the inability of cats to properly metabolize the essential oil – is that the damage will occur over time, or be additive in nature.  Well, I just don’t see it this way either.  While I will always keep an open mind to this possibility, we have actually followed out many cases of liver disease and especially the blood values of cats exposed to essential oils on a daily basis – and we cannot find any evidence of long term damage occurring WITH THE PROPER USE of the essential oils.  This is not to say that a massive over-dose or misuse of essential oils could not damage an animal – certainly it could.  But repeatedly we see improvement in the animal’s quality of life, as well as the support of blood enzymes and values returning to normal ranges – when we use essential oils as part of a natural health care regimen.  There are many animals we have been following for 4 years or more while they use essential oils in their health care – and I have yet to see even a glimpse of medical concern when compared to what I would see with same chronic use of a traditional medication such as an NSAID or steroid drug.  There is good reason why veterinarians recommend checking blood work prior to prescribing your animal a certain prescription drug, and also continue routine monitoring while your animal is taking the medication.  We know from experience, that these medications can and do cause problems – even at regularly prescribed doses.  It would not be shocking or unbelievable at all, for a vet to hear of a dog dying of liver failure if they ate an entire bottle of these sorts of medications.  However, the data that suggests that essential oil use might be hard on a liver, or even damaging – would be akin to that very thing.  And, unfortunately, the aromatherapy industry has acquired a strong tendency for over-use and over-recommendations of essential oils with humans and animals.

When researching actual scientific data instead of industry hearsay, there are far more essential oils which show hepatoprotective properties rather than potential damage.  With the huge numbers of animals actually using essential oils, I feel we should be rather impressed at how few reports of problems there actually are.

LiverBoost – Supporting normal liver function and return to health

LiverBoost was created specifically for animals needing additional liver support.  Who might be in need of additional liver support?  To me, just about anyone.  A liver works hard everyday, and could use a little tender loving care on occasion (think of getting a nice massage!).  But, there are animals who definitely “stick out” as being in need of a bit of a LiverBoost.  Holistically, liver stress is recognized as a contributing factor to chronic skin issues, especially that are not resolving.  Any animal with chronic skin issues of any sort, can use additional liver support in my opinion.  Puppies who have gone through their vaccination series (or insult) – will also be experiencing additional liver stress, as is an adult dog getting booster vaccinations.  An animal on medications, will also be utilizing their liver system a bit more – and if the administration is chronic, there is daily added stress.  Chronic exposure to steroids – whether in pill, injection, or bodily form (as with Cushing’s Disease and the body producing high levels of steroids) – is very stressful to the liver and we often see liver enzymes become elevated in response.  There is also a myriad of primary liver diseases.

Veterinary Monitoring

Of course, you should always be working with your veterinarian to monitor any animal who is diagnosed with or suspected to have liver compromise.  In our veterinary clinic, I would obtain a starting “minimum data base” often including a blood chemistry panel, CBC, and urinalysis – prior to starting the use of essential oils.  This would give me a baseline indication of health, BEFORE introducing essential oils or natural care.  Then, based on veterinary evaluation, I would recheck blood values every 2-4 weeks or as indicated for the individual case.  I was often pleased to hear reports that the animal appeared happier and more comfortable, while the following blood test results backed up our evidence that we were supporting liver health and healing.  

The LiverBoost formulation has been used clinically with all sorts of patients, with varying levels of liver compromise.  We also used essential oils alongside many prescription medications and over-the-counter natural remedies – with no apparent ill effects.  These animals certainly benefited from essential oils that are traditionally known for support of the liver – and in many occasions we would see liver enzymes values returning to more normal ranges.  

LiverBoost is a Ready To Use (RTU) product – which is already diluted to a rate that most animals can tolerate easily.  LiverBoost builds upon our KittyBoost formula – adding liver supporting essential oils to the already amazing and supportive blend.  KittyBoost (as well as LiverBoost) is not “just for cats” – and we’ll list the oil additions in the appropriate tab.

Ingredients:  Fractionated Coconut Oil, Essential Oils of Helichrysum (H. italicum), Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis),  Oregano (Oreganum vulgare), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Marjoram (Origanum majorana),  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Melissa (Melissa officinalis), Rosemary Verbenone CT (Rosmarinus officinalis), Coriander Seed (Coriandrum sativum), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Juniper (Juniperus communis), Ledum (L. groenlandicum), Rosemary Cineole CT (Rosmarinus officinalis), Dill Weed (Anethum graveolens), Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), Basil Linalool CT (Ocimum basilicum).