Farm Horizons • April 3 , 2017 • Page 15
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Dr . Melissa Shelton of rural Howard Lake creates and sells high-quality essential oil blends to help animals .
“ Of course , you can use anything the wrong way ,” she said .
Shelton , who opened Crow River Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic in Howard Lake in 2001 , said her practice has always been “ holistically minded ,” incorporating many methods of treatment .
At first , essential oils served as simply another veterinary tool . As her passion grew , Shelton started doing essential oil consultations for clients in various countries throughout the world .
Today , Shelton is focused on teaching , writing , and researching , instead of consulting and traditional veterinary work .
“ I had to limit my practice , in order to do one thing well ,” she explained .
Oils online
In April 2014 , Shelton released her own line of essential oil products for animals , called animalEO , which is available online . Shelton personally tests each blend , and has used oils on parrots , dogs , cats , fish , and an assortment of other animals . “ We ’ ve even had hermit crabs ,” she said . Many commercial products now contain essential oils , but Shelton said they are often synthetic or “ perfume quality ,” rather than medical-grade . Shelton has tested thousands of oils , and said they can
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Dr . Melissa Shelton moved her essential oils business into a newly constructed building on her property north of Howard Lake this past fall .
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