Pets— cats, dogs, guinea pigs— Our little animals are real companions, and they deserve to feel 100% comfy in their fur! Bach Flower Remedies and other flower essences are enjoying ever-growing popularity for addressing the emotions of young children, teens, and adults, and provide an effective and gentle response to a wide range of situations. So, why would humans be the only ones to benefit? Moreover, it seems that animals respond even more quickly than we do. The explanation, according to some, is that because their minds don’t interfere, the remedy acts much faster….
Using Bach Flower Remedies for Animals
Emotional, our furry companions? One thing is certain, and every cat, dog, or other furry friend has probably already experienced, is the effectiveness of Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy: a big fear of going to the vet after a previous unpleasant visit, a shock or an injury after a bad encounter with an aggressive fellow, an acute ailment, or the deafening racket of a major holiday… A few drops of the emergency remedy often help calm things down.
If this use is now well known, there’s no need to be in an emergency to let Pollux or Zara benefit from the other Bach Flower Remedies.
When certain strange or unusual behaviors in the animal seem tied to a difficult context, the wise guidance of someone trained in the use of flower essences can prove necessary. Because, as with us, the right choice of remedy(s) determines the return to balance!
Your little or large four-legged companion can, however, be subject to a wide range of so-called negative emotions, most of which are extremely easy to identify. In the face of these, Bach Flower Remedies and other flower essences can yield surprisingly effective results.
Pride, Hyperactivity, Moving? Bach Flower Remedies for Animals
Aside from Rescue for emergencies and Star of Bethlehem (which is also one of the components of Rescue) in case of shock or trauma, recent or past, which should you choose? It’s essentially a matter of recognizing the emotion that unsettles your little one, or the trait that needs tempering…
Which Essences in Which Situation?
If you know Bach flower remedies a bit and know your pet very well, you won’t have any trouble finding the right one: you simply look by analogy with the general indications of the essences.
My dog hates being left alone
Thus, a dog who constantly seeks attention, who has a perpetual need to be at the center of what’s happening and cannot stand being left alone for a moment, would benefit from Heather.
My cat is hyperactive
A young cat who blow off steam and goes wild in every direction is normal… Provided he also alternates with rest periods! If that isn’t the case, and he still seems a bit hyperactive, or even very excited, try Vervain.
My animal is not very sociable
Your pet seems shy, a bit proud, and tends to stay in its corner? Water Violet should smooth the way for its social life.
Moving soon?
Walnut is a classic remedy for animals, for both cats and dogs: it helps during a move or any other major change in the animal’s environment. For a cat who tends to keep returning to “its” old home (nostalgia), think instead of Honeysuckle.
Between dogs… and cats
As for fostering the brand-new relationship between an adult dog and a kitten… Holly for the dog—slightly possessive and jealous—and Mimulus for the young cat who arrives almost scared, and in less than 3 days it’ll be sorted!
How to Administer Bach Flower Remedies to an Animal?
Fill a 30 ml bottle with spring water and equip it with a dropper cap. Add 4 drops of the chosen elixir to the bottle, then shake well to mix thoroughly.
Administer at least 4 drops, 4 times a day to your animal. And that’s where it can get tricky. If you can’t put them directly into its mouth, and you only have one pet at home, you can drop these 4 drops into a little water in its bowl. But if you have several furry friends, there’s no guarantee the intended pet will drink it!
A method that works very well is to place, again with the dropper, the drops on the dog’s or cat’s nose, which will inevitably lick it off and absorb the elixir.
Ah, one more note: some specialists recommend that the “master-pet” pair often needs identical treatment, at the same time. You can decide for yourself…
