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, 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!

Holistic treatments and therapies for pets are fast becoming popular and as more and more people use natural therapies for themselves, they are also seeking it for their animals.

Natural treatments and remedies work just as well with animals as they do with humans. Before conventional medicine, people and animals looked to nature to find a cure for whatever was ailing them. People learned from animals which flowers, herbs and plants were safe to eat or those which had medicinal properties. Many of the holistic therapies and remedies that are common today have been around for thousands of years and animals have been treated by these natural cures for as long as people have.

It is important to look at an animal’s lifestyle and home environment when working with them holistically. If there is stress in the household, often times the animal will become ill as a result. Their diet, exercise habits, how often and how much attention they receive, and their relationship with human family members and other pet family members, all must be taken into consideration.

I recommend the Veterinary Line of nutritional therapy from Standard Process©. They have a complete line of nutritional products that have been specifically formulated for animals and their special needs.  I recommend this line because their focus is on whole food nutrition, not fractionated vitamins and minerals like some other pet formulas. Feel free to visit their website to find a qualified Veterinarian near you that can help you in recommending the optimal nutritional program for your pet.

Of course, I am happy to help you with your furry friends, and in addition to the Standard Process veterinary line of products that I can order for you, I also frequently recommend Homepathic Remedies and the Bach Flower Remedies to help an animal return to balance. Contact Me today and let’s discuss your animal to see if I can help.