It is very common for animals -just like people- to become stressed in certain situations: from travel and housework, to the birth of a baby and visits to the vet. But one of the situations that most affects animals are the events with pyrotechnicsespecially during the year-end festivities.
Despite knowing its negative consequences for the environment, as well as for animals and people, there are many who still use fireworks. Veterinarian Clara Fontana (@veterinariaholistica) recommends some natural alternatives to help dogs and cats.
The Bach flowers They are essences obtained from the flowers of certain plants and trees. They are used to treat emotional states and their consequences in the body. “Its therapeutic activity comes from the impregnation of water, by special methods, with the information of different flowers”, explains Fontana. Generally, they are used singly or in combinations of up to seven essences, chosen according to the emotional picture of the person or animal.
You can get them in homeopathic pharmacies or with people trained in the floral system. “Although humans use essences with approximately 20% alcohol, for dogs we indicate with 4% alcohol and for cats with 2% “explains the specialist.
Which Bach Flowers to choose
Fontana recommends three types of Bach flower remedies for non-human animals with a fear of fireworks:
1.Mimulus
In the case of scary situations, such as the one caused by fireworks, the specialist recommends Mimulus, one of the flowers used to work on fear of known things or circumstances.
“In the case of non-human animals, it could be unknown people, storms or noises and fireworks. Mimulus grants confidence in these circumstances”, says Fontana.
2.Rock Rose
This is a flower for “terror or panic” that is experienced as “life or death.” Faced with these sensations, “it gives security and calm,” explains the veterinarian.
3.Rescue Remedy
This is a combination of five flowers and is applicable to emergency situations, intense, sudden, shocking emotional states that imply shock, collapse, panic, or loss of control. “In general, it acts quickly, allowing to recover calm, harmony and to think and act clearly and relaxed”, indicates Fontana.
The veterinarian points out that it can also be used in advance, when you know that you are going to face a situation that arouses this type of emotion.
How to manage them
Flower essences are readily accepted by cats and dogs and They can be administered by mouth, in water or in food.
“The ideal is to start give them well in advance, with a minimum of 15 days”says the vet. He adds that, for maintenance, four doses of four drops each should be given spread throughout the day, although on days of stressful events or those that generate fear, they can be repeated as many times as necessary.
However, it is important to highlight that if the animal manifests an excessive fear of fireworks, individualized and long-term work is essential. In addition, in dogs or cats with a history of intense fear reactions to these events, Fontana often recommends complementing the Bach flower treatment with herbal medicine.
“In general, I use mother tinctures of valerian, passiflora, linden, among others, from the previous two days. Always diluted in water and mixed with food because the tinctures are prepared with very high concentrations of alcohol,” concludes the specialist.