February is National Pet Dental Health Month intended to raise awareness about dental health in pets. "It's estimated that by the age of two, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal disease,” explains Dr. Niemiec, a board certified veterinary dental specialist. “The best way to prevent periodontal disease is by regularly brushing your pet's teeth and by regularly visiting your veterinarian."¹ Easier said than done! Some pets are more cooperative than others but in general home pet dental care, as well as traveling to the vet for cleanings, can be a stressful situation for both the pet and its human caregiver. Calming products, such as flower essences, can help make this routine care easier on pets.
Flower Essences are Liquid Infusions with Long History
Flower essences are infusions of fresh flower blossoms to create an extract. Each flower essence contains the sun-infused, liquid energy of healthy flowers picked at the peak of bloom and captured in pure water. This 'potentized' liquid from various plants is used to create each unique blend, tailored to address a specific emotional issue. The different blends are issue-specific, to address the various emotional conditions that are creating the behavior problems.
Flower essences are not new, but were discovered more than 70 years ago by British bacteriologist, Dr. Edward Bach. Dr. Bach saw that stresses arising from emotions such as fear, anxiety, panic, anger, and impatience would put a strain on the individual, depleting general vitality and resistance to disease. He spent the rest of his life traveling through Wales and Southern England in search of remedies to restore peace and harmony to the being.
How to Use Flower Essences Before Pet Dental Care
Flower essences are most often delivered via dropper directly to the pet’s mouth and are absorbed into the system through the tissue. Sometimes they are added to a pet’s drinking water or food. They begin working in 30-60 minutes and last for 4 to 6 hours.
As you begin introducing your pet to regular, home dental brushings, flower essences can help calm your dog or cat, making him more receptive to the new routine. Flower essences may be used for a week to 10 days to ease transitions that may create stress for pets. After the pet has adjusted to having hands and toothbrushes in and around his mouth, the cleanings will become more comfortable for both and continued use may not be needed. Flower essences can also be given intermittently, to help with the anxiety of taking your pet to the vet for his once- or twice-a-year dental exam or professional cleaning.
Specialized Blends of Flower Essences Support Specific Issues in Pets
The different blends of flower essences are issue-specific to address the various emotional conditions that affect all pets at one time or another throughout their lives: Trauma, stress, fear, aggression, insecurity and others. They work best when the blend is selected to match the emotional state underlying you dog or cat’s behavior. For example, for a pet that become anxious or nervous when he sees you approach with the toothbrush, giving Mellow Out before dental care can help address feelings of agitation and nervousness. For pets that do not travel well and are afraid of the car or trip to the vet, the Safe Journey blend can address fear of motion or small places and release attachment to places like home.
Botanical Animal® Flower Essences is a specialized line of 14 liquid flower extracts that work synergistically to specifically address different emotional situations many pets encounter. For more information and a complete description of each blend, visit http://shop.arenus.com/c-17-flower-essences.aspx.
1. http://www.avma.org/press/releases/100125_npdhm.asp