Reiki for Animals and How It Can Help Your Furry Companion
Updated: May 8

Our pets provide so much happiness, love, retreat, and even peace in our lives. So, whenever we see our dog, cat, or any of our furry babies struggling — be it from anxiety, antique age, or infection — we’re willing to do anything to offer that comfort and relief to them. Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive alternative healing technique that can provide pets with relief from physical aches and pains, help alleviate stress and anxiety, and reduce the effects of ageing. With reiki for animals, you get to bring the calming powers of reiki to your pet!
In this article, I will be discussing:
What is Reiki?
How Does Reiki Work on Animals?
What are the Benefits of Reiki for Animals?
How Might Your Animal React to a Reiki Session?
What Are the Steps Involved in Doing a Reiki Treatment On An Animal?
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a powerful but gentle form of energy healing that stems from Japan. The practice is based on the concept that when physical, mental and emotional energies are balanced within us, we feel our best. As this energy works on restoring balance and harmony in your pet's body, its stress levels will naturally decrease and its overall well-being will improve.
How Does Reiki Work on Animals?
Reiki allows animals to reset, realign, and relax their body. It reduces stress, anxiety, behaviour issues and pain while helping increase vitality and animal healing. Reiki also helps to restore balance to your pet’s energetic system and allows them to release old negative emotions that may be preventing physical or emotional progress. With regular energy healing sessions, you will help strengthen your furry companion’s sense of well-being so they can regain their health with ease.
What are the Benefits of Reiki for Animals?
Reiki sessions can provide numerous benefits to animals due to their non-invasive nature. Regular sessions may help reduce stress and anxiety, improve behaviour, alleviate physical pain, boost overall health and well-being, strengthen the immune system, and even promote faster healing from injury or surgery! Animals are highly sensitive to energies and respond very well to the soft yet powerful healing energy of Reiki.
Are you interested in more benefits? - check out this blog post.
How Might Your Animal React to a Reiki Session?
Every animal is unique and will react differently to a Reiki session, but it is generally expected that your pet will relax, fall asleep, and enjoy the calming energy. You may notice that their breathing slows and deepens, their eyes become heavy or even close, they move slowly as they relax, and they appear more comfortable overall. The experience is usually very gentle and easy on the animals – they can stay in whatever posture or position makes them most comfortable.
If you would like to see how animals respond to reiki check out these videos.
What Are the Steps Involved in Doing a Reiki Treatment On An Animal?
The best way is to treat the animal in their home. There is no need to use any extra tools like candles or music or scents (especially because animals are very sensitive to fragrances), they will feel the energy almost straight away. Animals have no ego, they do not overthink or overcomplicate the process like us humans 🙂. Distance healing is a very good way to work with them. They are not stressed about meeting a stranger and are in a safe and familiar environment. You as a guardian are more than welcome to participate and enjoy the session too. Animals do not need long sessions, the healing and communication part of the session is around 30 minutes. After the session, I share my notes and observations with you.
If you would like to read more about my work as an animal communicator and animal healer, you can read more on my website here.
Feel free to book a free discovery call to see how we can go deeper into what your pet needs and support their physical and emotional well-being.
You can book a session online or contact me at info@therapyforlondoners.com to find out more.
Gabriella Davidovics
Psychotherapy I Hypnotherapy | Reiki | Animal Healing & Communication
+447848988121
info@therapyforlondoners.com
@therapyforlondoners
Frequently Asked Questions on Animal Reiki
What is pet reiki?
Pet Reiki, also known as animal Reiki, is a form of Reiki that is specifically tailored to the needs of animals. It's a holistic therapy that can benefit pets in many different ways, including promoting relaxation, reducing stress, supporting physical healing, and enhancing the human-animal bond.
Pet Reiki is typically performed by a qualified Reiki practitioner.
The goal of pet Reiki is to promote balance and harmony in the pet's body, mind, and spirit. By reducing stress and promoting relaxation, pet Reiki can help to boost the pet's overall health and well-being. It can also be a powerful tool for enhancing the bond between the pet and their human caregivers.
Pet Reiki can be used to support pets who are dealing with a variety of issues, such as anxiety, behavioural issues, physical pain or discomfort, or chronic illnesses. It can also be used as a preventative measure to promote overall health and wellness.
What is animal Reiki good for?
Animal Reiki is a holistic therapy that can benefit animals in a variety of ways, including:
Promoting relaxation and reducing stress: Animal Reiki can help animals relax and release tension, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.
Supporting physical healing: Animal Reiki can support the body's natural healing processes, helping to speed up recovery from injuries or illnesses.
Addressing emotional issues: Animal Reiki can help animals who are dealing with anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues by promoting relaxation and balance.
Strengthening the immune system: Animal Reiki can help boost the immune system and promote overall health and wellness.
Easing pain: Animal Reiki can help ease physical pain and discomfort, promoting comfort and relaxation.
Enhancing the human-animal bond: Animal Reiki can be a powerful tool for building trust, deepening the bond between animals and their caregivers.
Overall, animal Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that can help animals in many different ways. It's important to work with a qualified animal Reiki practitioner who can tailor the session to the individual animal's needs and ensure their comfort and well-being.
How many Reiki sessions are needed?
The number of animal Reiki sessions needed can vary depending on the individual animal and the reason for seeking Reiki. Some animals may feel immediate benefits after just one session, while others may require multiple sessions (3-6) to notice significant changes.
The number of sessions needed can depend on various factors, such as the animal's condition, temperament, and response to Reiki.
It's important to note that animal Reiki sessions should be administered by a qualified and experienced animal Reiki practitioner who will be able to customize the sessions to the individual animal's needs, work with the animal's body language and communication cues, and adapt the session as necessary to ensure the animal's comfort and well-being.
Ultimately, the number of animal Reiki sessions needed depends on the animal's unique circumstances and the goals of the session.
What are the side effects of animal Reiki?
Animal Reiki is generally a gentle and non-invasive therapy with no harmful side effects. In most cases, animals feel more relaxed and at ease after a Reiki session. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Increased energy, thirst, or appetite after the session. Please make sure that they have access to plenty of water.
Emotional release: Animals may also experience an emotional release during or after a Reiki session. This can manifest as crying or shaking a little bit. This is a natural part of the healing process and is generally a sign that the animal is releasing pent-up emotions.
Animals may occasionally experience restlessness during a Reiki session. They still receive energy but prefer to move around at the beginning. Please make sure that you let them express themselves.
How is animal therapy done?
Animal therapy in the medical setting, also known as animal-assisted therapy or pet therapy, involves the use of animals to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.
When I use the term animal therapy I refer to animal healing and communication to help animals themselves on many levels. Main benefits of animal healing and communication:
Promoting relaxation and reducing stress: Animal Reiki can help animals relax and release tension, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.
Supporting physical healing: Animal Reiki can support the body's natural healing processes, helping to speed up recovery from injuries or illnesses.
Addressing emotional issues: Animal Reiki can help animals who are dealing with anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues by promoting relaxation and balance.
Strengthening the immune system: Animal Reiki can help boost the immune system and promote overall health and wellness.
Easing pain: Animal Reiki can help ease physical pain and discomfort, promoting comfort and relaxation.
Is there Reiki for dogs?
Yes, there is Reiki for dogs! Animal Reiki can be performed on a wide range of animals, including dogs. Reiki is a holistic therapy that can benefit dogs in many different ways, including promoting relaxation, reducing stress, supporting physical healing, and enhancing the human-dog bond.
A qualified animal Reiki practitioner like me can work with dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments. The practitioner will typically perform Reiki at the animals’ home or via distant healing allowing the dog to relax and receive the healing energy.
It's important to note that animal Reiki should always be performed by a qualified and experienced Reiki practitioner. I am a Reiki master and teacher. Animal Reiki practitioners should also be sensitive to the dog's body language and communication cues, and ensure that the session is tailored to the dog's individual needs and comfort.
Please note that Animal Healers and Animal Communicators do not diagnose or advise on veterinary treatments. Sessions are not an alternative to conventional medicine but can work wonderfully alongside it.
How do you do Reiki on a dog?
Reiki should always be performed by a qualified Reiki practitioner. Animal Reiki practitioners should also be sensitive to the dog's body language and communication cues, and ensure that the session is tailored to the dog's individual needs and comfort.
A qualified animal Reiki practitioner like me can work with dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments. The practitioner will typically perform Reiki at the animals’ home or via distant healing allowing the dog to relax and receive the healing energy.
Up to 30 minutes is enough as animals do not need long sessions. They are very open to energy and can even show the body part where they need healing. During the session, most of the time communications happen and they relay messages to their guardians through the healer.
I offer 3 ways of doing a Reiki session on animals. You can learn more about it here.
What does reiki do for dogs?
Reiki can provide a variety of benefits for dogs, including:
Promoting relaxation and reducing stress: Dogs can often feel anxious or stressed, especially in new or unfamiliar environments. Reiki can help to promote relaxation and reduce stress, helping dogs feel calmer and at ease.
Supporting physical healing: Reiki can help to support the body's natural healing processes, making it a useful therapy for dogs recovering from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses.
Addressing emotional issues: Dogs, like humans, can experience emotional issues such as anxiety or depression. Reiki can help to promote emotional balance and well-being, helping dogs feel more grounded and centred.
Boosting the immune system: Reiki can help to boost the immune system, which can help dogs to resist illnesses and infections.
Easing pain: Reiki can help to ease physical pain and discomfort in dogs, promoting comfort and relaxation.
Enhancing the human-dog bond: Reiki can be a powerful tool for enhancing the bond between dogs and their human caregivers, deepening trust and strengthening the relationship.
What emotions Can dogs detect?
Dogs are very good at detecting and interpreting a wide range of human emotions, including:
Fear and anxiety: Dogs are very attuned to human body language and can often detect when someone is feeling fearful or anxious. They may respond by trying to comfort the person or by becoming anxious themselves.
Happiness and joy: Dogs are also very good at detecting positive emotions, such as happiness and joy. They may respond by wagging their tail, jumping up and down, or trying to play.
Sadness and grief: Dogs are able to pick up on changes in a person's behavior and demeanor when they are feeling sad or grieving. They may respond by offering comfort or by staying close to the person.
Stress and tension: Dogs are able to detect when a person is feeling stressed or tense, and may respond by trying to calm the person down or by offering comfort.
Anger and frustration: Dogs can detect when someone is feeling angry or frustrated, and may respond by becoming defensive or by trying to deescalate the situation.