By Valerie Marshall Animal Land Pet Movers' Director of Marketing
Many dogs and cats become fearful and anxious during thunderstorms, car rides, trips to the vet or when relocating, and could use a little help calming down. There are many remedies available, and choosing the proper one for your companion may take some trial and error. Each animal's problem and personality are very individual, so it is difficult to know which remedy will be best without experimenting. Here I will discuss Flower Essences as an option in relieving their fear and apprehension.
There are a variety of formulations available and some are more effective than others. It is important to buy Flower Essences from a reliable source to insure the "stock" essences (the original bottles of essences from which blends are created) are of good quality and the formulations are well thought out. Cats seem to be especially responsive to Flower Essences, and their ease of administration makes them simple to use. Flower Essences are quite safe as there is truly no possibility of giving too much or even a problem in choosing the wrong remedy. If the remedy is incorrect there will be no reaction, either positive or negative, but there is truly no possibility of side effects. Here is a link to some at the Only Natural Pet Store, which some of our clients have found effective.
Flower Essences can be given orally, dropped in the drinking water or rubbed into the skin at the ears and paws. For chronic issues such as a cat or dog having difficulty adjusting to a new member of the household, they can be given 4 times per day. For acute situations such as a trip to the vet, thunderstorms, or fireworks, they can be given every 10 - 15 minutes until some relief is noticed, then give every 30 minutes until the upset has passed. There are a variety of formulations available for a multitude of emotional difficulties, so it is best to read through the descriptions of each essence to get a sense of which seems to match your companion's issues best.