Do you have a pet that is having a behavior problem? Is your dog or cat suffering with anxiety or fears or unknown stress? By their nature, animals are extremely sensitive and intuitive creatures. Our pets can experience many of the same negative emotions that we do – such as fear, despondency, loneliness and depression. Because of the close bond that humans share with their animal friends, our pets can also pick up on or absorb our negative emotions and frustrations and this can cause them emotional trauma.
If you love animals like I do, I know you’ll want to make sure that your dog and/or cat’s health is a priority. Their emotional health is every bit as important as their physical health. Pets that live in a constant state of stress can develop very real physical problems. They also can develop behavior problems that can be very troubling to you and your family. Animals will “act out” or display behavioral problems just like children do, if they are being particularly sensitive to conflict or chaos within a home.
Check this list to see if your pet has any of these symptoms:
Specific fears (thunderstorms, certain people, fireworks)
Excessive barking or meowing
Anxiety from being separated from you, another human or pet family members
Hyperactivity
Excessive grooming, licking, chewing or feather picking
Jealousy or aggression (towards people or other animals)
Stress from boarding
Stress from vet visit
Anxiety when traveling
Grief from losing either another pet family member or human family member
Training difficulties
Performance difficulties for show animals or racing animals
Heart problems
Elimination issues (spraying inappropriately, etc.)
Skin problems
The good news is, is that there is a natural and healthy alternative that can help your dog or cat deal with their problem and enhance their health at the same time. The original Bach Flower Essences were developed by a famous English physician, Dr. Edward Bach. He believed that diseases of the body occurred because of imbalances or negative emotions in the brain and by correcting the emotional imbalance, the body would be capable of healing on its own. Not only do these wonderful remedies work on people, but they also can help animals. Flower Essences are prepared extracts (like homeopathic remedies) from various flowers and help to bring about gentle healing to balance negative energies in the body. Flower Essences are a natural and safe form of complementary healing and are free from any toxins or preservatives. They can be used in conjunction with other therapies and/or prescription medicine and also in households with multiple animals.
Over the years, I have had many consultations with pet owners who wanted to help their dog or cat with anxiety and stress and at the same time, protect their health. I have recommended the Bach Flower Remedies lots of times for their animals and as a result, their pets have had positive changes in their behavior. These remedies are available in most health food stores and of course, you can search for them online. Also, here are some great books that will help you learn which remedies to give your pet. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a Pet Stress Relief appointment!
April 12th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
RE: BACH Flower Remedies
Pete is a 14 year old dog, found in an ant bed, under a trash can when he was maybe a month old by a young couple who later gave him to us. Pete has always had issues. He seemed to want to be inside, but he paced constantly, round and round and round and…. panting as if he’d just finished a marathon. Pete did not know how to accept affection – no cuddling, no petting. He’d duck his head and move just out of reach. A few weeks ago, we made an appointment for Melissa Wood to visit Pete. We talked about the survey we’d filled out on Pete’s behalf for about 30 minutes, while he paced and panted and let us know he wanted to be part of the group but wasn’t sure how it worked. She mixed some “happy drops”, gave him a dose, and we moved on to other topics. That was late afternoon and he had a second dose that night when he came inside. I was watching tv when I noticed an unfamiliar quietness. Pete was still pacing, but not frantically and he wasn’t panting. A few days later, I was up late with my own health issues. Pete came and laid down on the rug in front of the couch, totally relaxed, and went to sleep. Two weeks after his first dose, he comes inside, makes one sweep around the kitchen and is comfortable and quiet. I even get to scratch behind his ears!