Have you ever considered that your animal may be stressed? Well, let me tell you a little more about this…

Stress is a completely natural response in our body, a feeling of emotional or physical tension. While some stress can be helpful, for example in keeping you safe, too much stress or prolonged stress can negatively impact physical and mental health. This could be an external stress such as the environment, or an internal stress such as discomfort within the body or anxiety.

In any domestic situation there is certain level of stress as our beloved animals are not living in a completely natural way, that suits their own species-specific needs. Cats are not meant to eat kibble as they are obligate carnivores and need real meat to thrive 🥩. Horses shouldn’t be stood around in stables with restricted food and no movement, they are meant to be roaming over vast areas of land with access to food 24/7 🌳. Dogs are pack animals, meaning they were not designed to be left alone for hours, with no company 🐾.

 

Stress is a leading major cause of dis-ease and the key to keeping it under control is balance.

 

There are many subtle or small signs you can see that your animal may be stressed, such as:

  • Excessive licking, rubbing or scratching
  • Increased sensitivity to flies
  • Overgrooming or pulling fur/feathers out
  • Excessive barking
  • Marking territory excessively
  • Lack of eye contact
  • Seems withdrawn within themselves
  • Lack of engagement in play time
  • Aggression or resource guarding
  • Controlling the movement of others

 

But if the small signs of stress are overlooked or stress becomes prolonged, it can start to working its way deeper into the body, weakening organs like the digestive system leading to issues such as loose stools and bloating. Other problems, like allergies, skin conditions or muscle and joint pain may also arise.

 

One of the best ways to help deal with stress is to understand how to reduce it.

 

Here are some helpful tips you can use to reduce stress in your animal’s life:

One of the best ways to reduce stress in animals is by offering natural botanicals and letting them choose the plant medicine they need. This approach supports healing on all levels and respects their individual needs, giving them the power of choice. The easiest way to start is with hydrosols, but for deep-rooted physical, emotional, or behavioral issues, it’s best to consult a qualified professional like myself for proper guidance and support.

 

 

Some wonderful hydrosol options you can offer to help reduce stress include:


Lavender (lavandula angustifolia/officinalis) – It’s great for shy or timid animals, has a very soothing aroma, helps with high anxiety, and supports stress-related skin conditions.

Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis, Chamamaelum nobile) – It’s helpful for nervous digestive issues, has a very grounding aroma, and is beneficial for restless animals.

Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) – Very effective for calming chronic fear, fear of known things, panic, and when the adrenal system has been overloaded.

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) – It works deeply with the hormonal system, is helpful for moody animals who are defensive of their personal space, and provides deep relaxation for both muscles and mind.

Neroli (Citrus aurantium) – It is deeply calming for the heart and body, helps steady the nerves before an event, and is great for any shock. It also supports animals experiencing separation anxiety, depression, or deep sadness.

 

 

Choosing the right hydrosol is easy—just let your animal decide! Invest in a couple of high-quality, organic, pure hydrosols (contact me if you need suggestions on where to buy) and offer the bottles to your animal so they can sniff each one. If they nudge, sniff, lick, or rub against a bottle, that’s a “yes”; if they avoid or turn away from one, it’s best to skip it. Once your animal has chosen their hydrosol, you can:

Add a few drops to a separate bowl of water for cats and dogs, or a few squirts in a separate bucket for larger animals like horses. Leave it out so they can choose it as needed throughout the day, making sure to refresh it daily and always provide plain fresh water as well.

This allows them to experience the therapeutic and energetic benefits of these gentle hydrosols, while also giving them choice and helping to reduce stress.

 

Some simple additional ways to reduce stress that you can incorporate into your companions’ lifestyle:

 

Dogs:

🐕 Feed a species-appropriate, fresh, whole food diet instead of processed kibble or canned food.

🐕 Allow free time with their own species.

🐕 Offer choices, like letting them decide which direction to walk.

🐕 Replace outdated, negative training methods with positive, reward-based training that builds a partnership.

 

Cats:

🐈‍⬛️ Feed a species-appropriate, fresh meat-based diet instead of processed kibble or low-quality packaged food.

🐈‍⬛️ In multi-cat households, ensure each cat has their own space and a separate litter box.

🐈‍⬛️ Offer choices, like asking if they want to go outside or stay inside.

 

Horses:

🐴 Feed a species-appropriate, forage-based diet with 24/7 access to food, avoiding the ultra-processed feeds.

🐴 Allow free movement at all times instead of confined stable time.

🐴 Ensure your horse has companionship, as having friends is vital for their mental and physical health.

 

 

Need help reducing your animals stress levels?

Struggling to get to the bottom of their health, behavioural or emotional challenges?

I am here to help!

 

Feel free to get in touch so we can explore what the best option would be for you both.

 

By Felicity Stenson | Earthly Animal Healing