When giving Bach Flower Remedy doses for osteosarcoma (K9 OSA) in dogs, or for any other issues, it is important to know how to give the essences, how often to give them, and the length of time they should be given. One of the most used remedies is Rescue Remedy®, a remedy for panic and trauma. Doses are just a few drops. Some situation and dosage suggestions are listed below.
Dosing in Anticipation of a Stressful Situation
If you’re going to be taking your dog to the vet or anticipating a stressful situation, Rescue Remedy® should be given two or three times, 15 minutes apart, beginning at least 45 minutes before encountering the stressful event. This gives the essence sufficient time to work. Oral dosing, with either the pet version in glycerin or the regular alcohol extract, gives the best results.
If using the alcohol extract, mixing a few drops into a teaspoon of purified water can dilute the taste. You can also rub the alcohol extract on the gums, into the ear flaps, or on the paw pads for good results if your pet is very sensitive.
Dosing for an Acute Situation
When confronted with an acute trauma, as a pet in the full throes of a seizure or asthma attack, often one dose of Rescue Remedy® will stop the panic associated with the event immediately. Just dropping a few drops of Rescue Remedy® onto the tongue can astonishingly pull a pet out of a seizure, stop or greatly ease the severity of the seizure.
Rescue Remedy’s® anti-panic factor can diffuse the fear and stress of not being able to breathe when a dog is having an asthma attack. More than one dose may be needed in this case. Again, a few drops on the tongue is best. Be sure to keep your fingers away from your dog’s mouth, dropping the essence from above.
Dosing in Chronic Situations
Bach Flower Remedies can be extremely helpful in resolving chronic behavioral situations. But it is important to understand that chronic behavioral patterns are usually embedded habits. Having begun years ago, they will not be remedied overnight. It can sometimes take months and months to correct the situation. So you must be persistent and consistent in dosing.
If you were dosing a person, you’d have them place a few drops on their tongue four times daily, or place drops in water to be sipped throughout the day. It’s the same with your dog. Oral dosing is best. A few drops on the tongue or in his or her daily water supply is an excellent way to go. Drops can alternatively be placed on a tiny snack or rubbed into the ear flaps.
Dosing should be four times daily minimum for the first few days. After a week or more, you may be able to cut back on dosing to three times daily to achieve the same effect. And when you have a good schedule in place, it’s important to stick with it until maximum results are gotten. Sometimes it takes an entire bottle of essences, as you see more and more improvement every day.
On the other hand, a rare miracle can occur and you’ll see a complete behavioral turnaround in a few days.
Here are several common dog behavioral issues.
Hyperactivity.
Impatiens or Vervain essences can help. Vervain is for very hyper dogs that go on and on and on They chase cars or bark incessantly.
Vervain combined with White Chestnut may be what you need since White Chestnut is for compulsive, obsessive activity. Dogs who need this combo are high energy with repetitive fixative behavior problems, such as focusing on and/or trying to play/chase a ball constantly.
Dogs that are helped with Impatiens are more high strung, nervous energy, types, dogs that tremble and nervously shake. Impatiens is good for dogs with neurological problems as well as gastrointestinal problems as a result of a nervous constitution, as well as skin afflictions.
For instance, if you have a dog who bites or chews him or herself because of nervousness, trembles, and has a sensitive stomach, easily vomiting when upset, a long term treatment of Impatiens may be of great benefit.
Beech, Crab Apple, and/or White Chestnut should also be considered part of the treatment.
Separation Anxiety.
Another very common condition for which essences are helpful is separation anxiety. Dogs can manifest this in many ways: boredom, depression, stopping eating, barking, destroying house or yard.
Red Chestnut can help the dog who is protective of his or her owner, becoming anxious for their well being. They will, many times, sit by the window or door, waiting to see if their person or even another animal companion comes home safely.
Chicory helps a clinging dog who will actively seek attention if their person leaves them alone or doesn’t pay as much attention to them as they would want. In protest, many times, this type of dog will destroy the house or yard.
Heather helps a very chatty, clingy dog who is reluctant to obey his person or handler and just wants his or her own way.
Walnut may be also added into the above essences, since Walnut helps for any kind of change.
Honeysuckle may be used with the above mentioned essences in addition to Walnut as a situational remedy. A dog needing Honeysuckle who be one disturbed by the situation of being separated from a home or person without the deeper pathological neediness of the other remedies.
Beech instills tolerance and flexibility to new situations. It is for dogs who have trouble getting along with others. Dogs who respond well to Beech often have lots of allergies since they are intolerant of many things. They can also be sensitive to noise or changes in the weather or environment.
Holly is an essence that can help more aggressive, jealous dogs who are angry, suspicious, and vengeful regarding new people or other pets in the household. When introducing a new pet or person to a nervous dog, always consider Beech, Walnut and Holly.
Consider Vine for a very dominant , pushy, territorial and aggressive dog.
Grief
Honeysuckle is most helpful with grief, along with Walnut and Gentian. Heather or one of the separation essences listed above may be of aid. But grief is situational, so the deeper, more pathological remedies may not be needed.
For hopeless depression, if your dog is no longer eating, or socializing, Gorse along with the following remedies should be evaluated. Chestnut Bud helps break a bad habit and instill a new behavior pattern and Walnut.
Most importantly, when selecting an essence(s) ask why your dog is acting the way he or she is acting. Try to put yourself in your dog’s position and understand the emotions behind his or her actions. The more you can understand your dog’s behavior, the better you will be able to choose the correct essences to correct the situation.
As you work through your dog’s behavioral issues, you’ll find that usually a combination of essences is needed for a complete cure. If your dog’s emotional progress has peaked and you’ve reached a plateau for several days, it’s time to stop your current remedies and, if needed, go on to another essence or combination of essences.
Flower essence therapy is a highly individualized healing art. Several attempts to find the right essence(s) might be needed, but the time and effort you put into finding the correct Bach Flower Remedy doses for dogs can achieve amazing success. The essences will dissolve negative emotions, such as fear, anger, and grief to emotionally balance your dog and maintain or develop a positive and proactive spirit for healing.
The system is incredibly simple, the essences are totally safe (they can even be used with allopathic drugs without fear of interaction) and even using it with osteosarcoma in dogs, if you choose the wrong essences, you will not harm your dog.
Information is from Kim Rockshaw, MM, DIHom, BFRP, is a homeopath, Bach Flower Essence Practitioner, and author of Prozac Free Pet: Simple, Safe Holistic Treatments for Your Pets Little (and not so Little) Behavioral and Emotional Problems.
