Bach Flower Remedies are plant remedies that were discovered by Dr. Edward Bach of England in the 1930s.  Dr. Bach was a university-educated physician but he became dissatisfied with orthodox medicine and pursued his interest in alternative therapies and homeopathy.  According to Dr. Bach, illness comes about because of disharmony between the mind and body.  The symptoms of illness are an external expression of someone’s negative emotional states.

Dr. Bach pioneered work on plant remedies which would come to be called Bach Flower Remedies.  By the time Dr. Bach died in 1936 there were 38 original Bach Flower Remedies for many different kinds of anxiety, fear, strain, unhappiness, depression, despair, loneliness, and many other kinds of suffering.

Following Dr. Bach’s death other practitioners discovered other plants which could be used as flower essences.

There are seven categories of Bach Flower Remedies:

1. Fear.

2. Uncertainty.

3. Insufficient interest in present circumstances.

4. Loneliness.

5. Over-sensitivity to influences and ideas.

6. Despondency or Despair.

7. Over-care for welfare of others.

Dr. Bach was primarily interested in treating humans but since his time pet owners have used some of his remedies for pets who were in distress.  The most popular Bach Flower Remedy for dogs is Rescue Remedy.  It is made up of impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, cherry plum, rock rose, and clematis.  The essences of these plants are combined.  Rescue Remedy is used in traumatic situations, such as for dogs who are upset by fireworks or loud noises, or by other stress or emergencies when a dog might lose his mental balance.  According to the Bach web site, “The Remedies quickly get us back in our normal balance so that we calmly can deal with any situation.”  Bach Rescue Remedy provides an immediate calming effect on pets.

Rescue Remedy comes in drops and a spray.

Bach Flower Remedies say that they are 100 percent safe for animals, however, you should not give your dog Back Flower Remedies Pastilles as they contain xylitol which is harmful to dogs and cats.

Bach has a page dedicated to pets and animal lovers which explains how each Bach Flower Remedy will act on a pet:  www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm. Most people give the drops orally, placing them in the dog’s mouth, in the dog’s water, or on the dog’s food, but you can also put them on your dog’s gums, on your dog’s paws, or even on your dog’s ear flaps where they will be absorbed through the skin.  Most dogs don’t object to the taste of the drops so you can simply use the dropper to place a few drops on your dog’s tongue.

For more information about Bach Flower Remedies and pets you can read “Treating Animals with Bach Flower Essences”.

If you are using Rescue Remedy in order to keep your dog from getting upset about fireworks, for example, you should start giving your dog a few drops of the remedy about 45 minutes to an hour before you expect the noise.  Give the drops every 15 minutes so they will have time to take effect.  You should notice that your dog is much more relaxed and calmer than usual.

Many dog owners swear by Bach’s Flower Essences.  If you have a dog who becomes upset or worried for some reason you may want to try one of the remedies and see how your dog responds.