When our pets are injured, our first instinct is to focus on the physical pain relief, rest, and proper care. But just like us, our animals experience emotional imbalances alongside physical discomfort, and sometimes the best healing approach addresses both.
Recently, Arya, my independent and active, working dog, strained her carpus (wrist). While the vet didn’t find anything serious, Arya was hesitant to put weight on it and had a noticeable limp. We’ve been managing her pain with a combination of CBD and Inflapotion, with a backup medication from the vet in case she needed more support. Pain management is always a priority. We never want our animals to suffer. While long-term use of pharmaceutical pain management can pose risks such as kidney and liver damage, short-term use generally has minimal side effects.
But beyond pain relief, I also wanted to help Arya process the emotional aspect of her injury. For a dog like Arya, who loves to run, jump, and explore, being forced to slow down is a loss. She’s experiencing a form of grief. The grief of restricted movement, lost independence, and the frustration of not being able to do what she loves.
This is where the energetics of plants come into play. In this session, I let Arya self-select a botanical to work with. Self-selection, or zoopharmacognosy, refers to an animal’s ability to instinctively seek out and select plant compounds, minerals, or other natural substances to support their own health and well-being. It
is a powerful way to allow our animals to guide their own healing. I presented her with a few options, including frankincense and copaiba essential oils, which are excellent for pain support. But she rejected both. Instead, she gravitated toward Waratah flower essence.
Why Waratah?
I was a bit surprised by her choice. Waratah is a flower essence I typically use in cases where the person or animal is going through a dark night of the soul, grief or end-of-life support. But when I took a step back, it made perfect sense. This was grief for Arya. She wasn’t just dealing with the physical discomfort of her injury, but the emotional distress of her limited mobility. Waratah is known to help in times of deep challenge, encouraging courage, adaptability, and resilience, which is exactly what Arya needed.
After she smelled the Waratah essence, she let out a big yawn, a sign of a huge energetic release. It was a clear sign that this was the right remedy for her.
How to Offer Flower Essences to Your Pet
If you’d like to work with flower essences for your own animals, here’s how to safely introduce them:
Let them smell the essence first – Hold the bottle with your hand wrapped around the top to protect it from accidental bumps. This keeps the bottle clean and allows your pet to safely interact with it.
Observe their response – Look for subtle cues like sniffing, licking, leaning in, or, like Arya, releasing a deep breath or yawn. If they turn away, that’s okay – it just means that particular essence isn’t what they need at that moment.
Dilute the essence before use – You don’t apply flower essences directly from the stock bottle. Instead, prepare a dosage bottle by adding 7 drops of stock essence to a 15-30ml dropper bottle filled with 1/3 brandy and 2/3 purified water.
Administering the essence – Once diluted, you can add a few drops to your pet’s water, food, or gently rub it onto their ears or paws. Waratah, in particular, is often only needed for a few days before its effects take hold.
The Beauty of Plant Energy
The most incredible part of this process was that Arya chose exactly what she needed. Even though I had prepared remedies for pain relief, she gravitated toward emotional support instead. This is why I love working with botanicals and plant energetics – they help our animals in ways we might not expect, but that they inherently understand.
If your pet is going through an emotional shift, whether from an injury, a move, a loss, or even just big life changes, consider exploring flower essences. The energy of plants is truly remarkable, and when we allow our animals to guide us, the results can be profound.
🌿💖 Have you ever let your pet choose their own remedy? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
If you are interested in CBD for your dogs, cats, or horses, this is the I use: CBD Dog Health
Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. I am not a veterinarian, and my services are intended as a complementary practice to support your pet’s overall well-being. They are not a substitute for professional veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian regarding any medical concerns, conditions, or treatments your pet may require.