First, let's talk about what hydrosols are...

When plant matter is steam distilled, both essential oils and hydrosols are produced. Hydrosols contain all the water-soluble constituents, and essential oils contain the oil-soluble constituents. 

How hydrosols differ from essential oils is that they're much gentler, although still therapeutic, and are safe for all sorts of pets, including dogs and cats, and can be used with bunnies and other small pets when diluted.

Hydrosols also don't have the safety considerations essential oils do. No need to worry about minumum ages, pregnancy, drug interactions, phototoxicity, sensitization, and other concerns essential oils have. 

You can even use hydrosols internally - not just for yourself as a human but you can give them to your pets as long as they don't have one certain additive that I will share with you in a few minutes.

So when should hydrosols be used, and when should essential oils be used?

For pets, hydrosols should always be the first go-to. Hydrosols are therapeutic, yet gentle for dogs, cats, and other small pets - and there's not a lot of safety rules to think about like with essential oils. The only thing to keep in mind is small pets other than cats need to have the hydrosol diluted with water at a 1:1 ratio.

Hydrosols can be applied directly to the skin or fur of pets for topical issues, or can be used internally via a spritz in the mouth as long as the hydrosol does not have that additive I will share with you shortly.

So when should you use essential oils?

If your cat or other small pet is not responding to hydrosols, you can increase the frequency of application, but essential oils aren't an option.

However, if you're using with your dog, you have the option to use essential oils. This may be a better choice for dogs who don't respond well to hydrosols, or if the hydrosol remedy is not responding quickly enough like for anxiety.

Next I'm going to share three ways you can use hydrosols as a remedy for your pets.

Keep in mind some hydrosols are sold with an additive that is not safe for pets, and I'll share what that is next.

Before I share the remedies, this information is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Your pet may have a serious health issue that requires medical attention such as bleeding issues or seizures These remedies are not intended to be used instead of getting professional help or to replace medicine your pet is already taking. Never hesitate to seek medical attention! Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking care because of something you hear, watch or read me say.

The first of three ways you can use hydrosols as a remedy with your pets: Digestive Issues.

Digestive pain, cramps, and spasms can be remedied with anti-spasmodic and digestive calming remedies that specifically help ease digestive system issues like upset stomach, bad food, or constipation.

Select a hydrosol with anti-spasmodic properties and properties calming to the digestive system such as Basil, German Chamomile, or Ginger hydrosols.

For dogs you can spritz once in the mouth or 1-3X on the belly, as close to the skin as possible. For other pets, dilute with water at a 1:1 ratio. How often you give this remedy will vary depending on how quickly they respond and how serious the issue is.

The second of three ways you can use hydrosols as a remedy for pets: General Itching.

Anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory remedies can help relieve general itching, but first ensure the itching isn't from something simple like dry or dirty skin. The remedy for fleas and mosquitoes is different, but for general itching grab German Chamomile, Frankincense, or Lavender hydrosols.

For dogs you can spritz once in the mouth (I know it sounds weird, but it has a sublingual effect), or 1-3X directly on the itch. For other pets, dilute with water at a 1:1 ratio. How often you give this remedy will vary depending on how quickly they respond and how serious the issue is.

The third of three ways you can use hydrosols as a remedy for pets: Nausea.

Nausea can come on rather suddenly, so it's a good idea to keep anti-emetic remedies handy such as Basil, Cardamom, and Spearmint.

For dogs you can spritz once in the mouth. For other pets, dilute with water at a 1:1 ratio. How often you give this remedy will vary depending on how quickly they respond and how serious the issue is.

The full list of options for both hydrosols and essential oils can be found in my book, Using Essential Oils Safely with DOGS.

So what are the additives used in hydrosols? And which is safe and which is not?

Well there can be a number of things that companies choose to add to their hydrosols - so always check the label. But I want to focus on these two:  Optiphen and alcohol.

Optiphen is the safe one - it's a liquid preservative that can help extend the shelf life of hydrosols. Since hydrosols are water based, this is smart, and I have no problem using hydrosols with this additive - in fact my favorite place to purchase hydrosols uses a very tiny (less than 1%) amount - just enough to keep hydrosols fresher longer.

Alcohol on the other hand, when added to hydrosols makes it unsafe to use internally. It also eliminates the option to use as an eyewash, or on cuts, or broken skin, or in the ears, or spritzing in your dog's mouth.

So YES to Optiphen, and NO to alcohol when it comes to additives in your hydrosols.