Reiki for pets

So How Can Reiki Help My Pet?

This article has been taken from the American Kennel club website.

Reiki is steadily gaining popularity in the animal world as a complementary health therapy. In fact the NCBI has even found through studies that, “Reiki is a safe and gentle “complementary” therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal body and mind. It has potential for broader use in management of chronic health conditions, and possibly in postoperative recovery.” Specifically, Reiki is being used as a treatment and connection method in a number of ways for pets including:

Anxious or Stressed Pets

“The number one primary benefit and response to Reiki with animals is stress relief and deep relaxation,” says Prasad”. The calm space created by a Reiki practitioner’s meditation invites the animal to join that relaxed environment. This can make Reiki an effective stress reliever for pets in high anxiety environments, be that a shelter setting or even at home with a new baby in the house.

Coping With Illness and Surgery Recovery

When we are deeply relaxed, all of our systems relax and can function optimally and our immune system can operate more optimally. “Our bodies can heal themselves when we can allow ourselves to relax,” explains Prasad. Reiki works by inducing that state or creating that relaxation that we need to heal ourselves. “I have seen animals who are sick for a long time and they get better more quickly or heal after surgery quickly with the help of Reiki.”

Reiki can also be helpful throughout the medical process. If you have a pet who is anxious at the vet, but requires many visits because of their sickness or needs surgery, Reiki can help prepare them. Clune shares how Reiki can help put a pet more at ease prior to walking into those situations.

End of Life Care

Reiki is offered in many hospitals and hospices for both family members and patients. When Reiki is used to help an animal pass, we find similar benefits. “Animals handle death better than we do,” says Clune. “They know they are dying, they need time to process this and to know they are leaving.” Reiki can help provide that time so that a pet is not in severe pain as they cope with this impending change. It can also bring pet owners some peace as well, especially knowing that their pet is at peace — maybe eating more and being more playful in their final days — and ready to say goodbye.

“Reiki can create this beautiful peacefulness in the dying process, sometimes it’s not about getting better, but it’s about finding peace,” says Prasad. It can be an incredible gift to have in a difficult moment.

Are Virtual Reiki Sessions Worthwhile?

In today’s virtual world, it’s a natural question to ask. Can Reiki work in virtual settings? Given Reiki is based on the transfer and sharing of energy, the simple answer is: Yes. “We are all made of energy and while perception tells us we are separate, the philosophy of energy is that we are all connected,” says Prasad. In fact virtual reiki sessions may even be preferred in some circumstances. For instance, if a pet is fearful of new people or places, a virtual Reiki session may be the way to go. And Clune notes that cats, in particular, seem to respond better virtually to Reiki.

How Do You Know If Reiki Is Working?

Essentially any signs of relaxation or connection can signal that Reiki is positively impacting an animal. An animal may lay down or fall asleep and dream. “Some high-strung animals that are busy, won’t entirely relax. They’ll still do their thing, but come back and check in on you,” notes Prasad.