Floral Therapy For Your Dog

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 18 November, 2023

Just like humans, dogs also feel sad, depressed, scared, and stressed. Their moods also determine their behaviors. However, many people are using floral therapy to help dogs feel better.

This treatment is based on flower essences. These flowers, known as Bach flowers, are natural and an effective way to get rid of negative feelings.

Floral therapy has the same success in dogs as it does in humans. Some people say it’s even more successful because dogs don’t have any prejudice or rationalize the treatment. So you may be wonder: What is floral therapy? Is therapy good for dogs?

What is floral therapy?

Floral therapy is based on the infusion of essences that come from 38 natural flowers. These flowers have been diluted into different liquids.

Floral therapy also doesn’t have any side effects because it’s a natural, gentle treatment. This treatment won’t harm the animal at all. On the contrary, the benefits to the dog are usually quite noticeable in no time.

Benefits of Floral Therapy for Dogs

Dogs show their feelings through their behavior. Maybe a sudden change in routine can cause a dog to become aggressive, lethargic, or irritated.

However, if you notice any changes in your dog’s personality, then you should always go to the vet first to rule out any physical causes.

Then, once your dog is diagnosed, that same professional can indicate how to start floral therapy according to your dog’s needs. You can also bring your dog to a specialist in alternative therapies for pets.

Sometimes it is also necessary to include some behavior modification sessions in the treatment. This is especially true when it comes to aggressive or disobedient dogs.

Behaviors that Can Be Treated

Floral therapy is used to modify and balance the following canine behaviors and emotions:

• Fear: When a dog has been abandoned, mistreated, or abused, you can notice this feeling when a dog is scared of all human contact.
• Stress: This shown as an obsessive and repetitive behavior after a sudden change, or as a response to the owner’s mood.
• Disobedience: Many times dogs demonstrated nervousness through disobedience to their owners., which is a way to channel excessive amounts of energy.
• Aggression: A dog can be aggressive due to several factors. These include negative treatment that affects their behavior, such as violence, isolation, or neglect. When a dog is aggressive, they may have a hard time being around other pets and children.
• Depression and sadness: They can be caused due to the loss of a loved one or for no apparent reason at all. A dog shows self-destructive behavior or excessively licks their fur. Perhaps the dog gets upset when it’s left alone. The dog might seem apathetic or experience a loss of appetite.
• Traumas: After an operation, disease, accident, or any traumatic experience, the dog might feel insecure, fearful, or disoriented.

In general, these are the most common behaviors. However, each dog is different and can show symptoms in different ways.

Therefore, you should always be paying close attention to any changes in your dog’s behavior. If you notice any behavioral changes in your dog, then take it as a warning sign that should you schedule a vet appointment.

How to administer floral therapy to your dog

First, a specialist will make a diagnosis based on the behavior of the dog to determine what emotions are causing their behaviors and why.

The specialist will interview the owner in order to rule out any traumas the dog has, which might be considered “normal” for the owner. These could be an experience like a moving to a new home, the arrival of a baby, separation or divorce, death of a loved one, etc.

If the specialist recommends floral therapy, they will indicate what essence to use, the number of drops per day, and the duration of the treatment.

Administering the drops

The administration of floral therapy is simple. You can put the drops on the back of the animal, on their head, directly into their mouth, or diluting in their water. The usual dose is four drops four times a day.

Either way, dogs are very sensitive to this therapy due to their great sense of smell. After applying this treatment, you will see positive results quickly.

Floral therapy for dogs is just as effective as it is for humans. It has no side effects. However, this is an alternative therapy. Some negative dog behaviors should be dealt with using training or other methods that are indicated by a veterinarian.