Homeopathy for Dog and Cat Emergencies: Sadness, Loss & Grief

Although they may not express their emotions quite like humans, pets can feel it all!

No one can escape loss, sadness and grief. Every one of us has tasted that bitter pill sometime in our lives. Although they may not express their emotions quite like humans, any sentient being can be just as affected by stressful situations. The most tragic instance is when they absorb the emotions, especially grief, of their pet parents.

As you know, our companion animals not only live with us, but in many cases are with us when we eat, work, travel, shop, and sleep. Inevitably they can pick up on our emotions.

Helping them through these stressful times first begins as a responsibility we must accept as part of the privilege of bringing an animal into our homes. Secondly, if we help balance our own emotional roller coasters, the animals will then benefit both emotionally and physically.

Here are some situations which may cause grief in our pets:

• surrender to a shelter or rescue organization

• adoption by a new family

• sustained abuse, physical or emotional

• sustained neglect

• overwhelming stress from disaster situations

• separation too early from mama and siblings, at or before weaning

• isolation from the family or pack as punishment

• loss of any family members, temporarily or permanently

• spending days or nights at a veterinary clinic due to illness

• loss of home or being lost

• grief and losses felt by the pet parent

Grief is a natural mechanism for handling loss of any sort. Homeopathic remedies can help move the grief, allowing the natural feelings to mature and be released.

Whether it be a human or non-human animal, the homeopathic remedy Ignatia amara will alleviate grief, help to restore engagement with life, soothe the emotional pain, and return the physical body to health. It is well documented in Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy that grief and extended mourning can energetically lodge in the lungs, causing both acute or chronic illness. In the past, chest colds and bronchitis have occurred three days after I have experienced grief. Think about how many times you experienced a substantial loss which was followed by a respiratory illness.

Animals respond so beautifully to dosing with Ignatia amara that it’s at the top of my list of homeopathic remedies for treating animals and humans under stress and grief.

Bella’s loss and grief

Bella and Harley were inseparable for over ten years until Harley’s sudden death. Of all the family members, Harley’s loss was the most difficult for Bella - and rightly so. She moped around the house for days looking for Harley, barely eating or wanting attention. After a week her mom reached out to a homeopathic vet (that would be me!). I prescribed one of my dearest friends in the world of homeopathic remedies - Ignatia amara.

My favorite potency of Ignatia amara is 200C, which Bella’s mom purchased and dosed once according to my directions. Within a few hours the heavy cloud of sadness started to lift and she was eager to go for a walk, something Bella hadn’t wanted for a week. By the next day she was back to herself and engaged with the world again.

Though almost impossible to believe, this is a miracle we can witness every day: the ability of the body to heal quickly and completely with the gentle nudge of an energetic medicine.

Long term grief can be more difficult to dissolve and may require the help of a trained homeopath, but Ignatia amara is often a good starting point.

Dosing Ignatia amara

If using a 30C potency, give it 2 times a day for 1-2 days, especially if acute grief, loss, or anger has just occurred. You can repeat a dose from time to time, as needed, if the waves of grief return.

Or if you have a 200C or higher potency, give once only and see how they feel. An improvement might appear as a bounce in energy, engaging with the family (not hiding), better appetite, being more playful and engaged, etc. In other words, they will return to a more whole and happier self.

Try this amazing remedy on yourself when these situations arise and you'll experience the magnificence of homeopathy and your body’s innate ability to heal.

If you'd like to learn more about using these amazing homeopathic medicines for many pet emergencies, see my 3-part course Homeopathy for Pet Emergencies. To support your practice of using homeopathic remedies, see our convenient and economical Homeopathic Kits for sale. 

Thank you again …

I hope this short exploration into a practical application of homeopathic remedies has given you some inspiration to try it! Whether you are new to homeopathy or are experienced for years, let me know how Ignatia amara has helped you or a family member in the comments below. If you are as excited as I am about natural care for your animals, please consider subscribing to my SubStack! And if you really want to support this kind of thing, please consider making my accountant happy with a monthly or yearly subscription!