Symptom Chart

Poop Chart

Shedding

Medicaments

Caring about a Sick Ferret

Holistic Treatment

Other Diseases

Raja's Disease

Bach Flowers

Source: Special Needs Pets

Bach Flower Remedies: Some Suggestions for Special-Needs Pets

• Rescue Remedy: A combination of five different flower remedies, this is an excellent remedy to keep on hand for stressful situations such as vet visits and for animals that are are physically or emotionally traumatized for any reason. Good for caregivers, too.

• Crab Apple: The cleansing remedy: for illnesses such as chronic renal failure or liver disease where toxins are present in the animal’s body; lymphoma or other cancers. Can also help with compulsive over-grooming.

• Gorse: To help lift the spirits of a sick and depressed animal. Can help when you feel that the animal might be losing hope or starting to give up the fight.

• Olive: For animals who are physically exhausted as a result of illness, or are recovering from surgery or serious injuries.

• Walnut: To help animals cope with the physical and non-physical changes involved when they are sick, injured, or aging.

• Water Violet: For animals who are withdrawn and who tend to hide and/or keep to themselves during an illness.

Bach Flower Remedies - Some Suggestions for Behavioral Problems in Pets

When dealing with a pet with behavioral problems, the first step is always to have the animal thoroughly checked out by a vet to rule out any possible physical causes for the behavior.

In cases where the behavioral problem is rooted in an emotional rather than physical problem, it's important to know exactly what is causing the problem. For example, aggressive behavior in a dog could be caused by overprotectiveness toward their human, or it could be caused by fear. The caregiver must often play detective and figure out the underlying cause for the behavior in order to select the correct flower essence(s).

• Aspen: For fears of unknown origin.

• Centaury: For animals that are overly submissive.

• Heather: For animals that need constant attention and reassurance.

• Holly: For hatred, jealousy, and 'sibling rivalry' among animals living in the same household.

• Larch: For lack of self-esteem.

• Mimulus: For fears of known origin such as the fear of loud noises.

• Rock Rose: For terror.

• Vine: For animals that are overly dominant or dictatorial.

• White Chestnut: For obsessive thoughts or behaviors.

• Willow: For resentment (of other animals or of people).

Bach Flower Remedies - Some Suggestions for Caregivers

I have selected these particular remedies because I feel they address the emotional challenges of many caregivers: stress, anxiety, guilt, and exhaustion.

• Agrimony: For those who hide their suffering behind a mask of cheerfulness.

• Elm: For those who feel overwhelmed with responsibility, and who begin to doubt their ability to cope.

• Hornbeam: For those who feel unaccountable mental weariness; when we feel we have no strength to face the day or task ahead, which makes us procrastinate or give up the task altogether.

• Olive: For mental or physical exhaustion.

• Pine: For guilt or self-reproach; blaming ourselves even for things that we are not responsible for or that are beyond our control.

• Red Chestnut: For over-anxiety for the well-being of others. Good for those who are communicating their anxiety to their animals.

•  Scleranthus: For those who have difficulties achieving a balance in their life. For times when we feel we can’t find a balance between caring for others’ needs and caring for our own.

• Walnut: For those who find it difficult to adjust before, during, or after a period of change. Eases the transition between the past and the present.

Preparing Flower Essences

Remedies can be combined when the animal’s behavior suggests the need for more than one flower essence. To prepare your remedies:

• take a one-ounce medicine dropper (stock) bottle

• fill ¾ full with distilled water

• add a half-dozen drops of each of the remedies you wish to use

• shake well

This formula works for anywhere from one to six remedies (Rescue Remedy counts as one remedy when creating a mixture) and is equally effective for humans and animals. Dosage is 3-4 drops given directly, several times per day; or put a dropperful into your pet's drinking water every time you change the water; or, you can add a dropperful of the formula to your pet's food every day. The mixture will keep, refrigerated, for two to three weeks. I recommend preparing flower essences in this manner even when only using one essence, rather than giving them undiluted, because the essences are suspended in alcohol. Diluting the remedies in distilled water does not decrease their effectiveness.