The answer is yes. And this is where Reiki healing for animals can be very beneficial, in a very quiet and calm manner.
What is Reiki (in animal terms)?
Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive energy healing practice that helps support balance, relaxation, and well-being. For animals, Reiki is usually done hands-on (with consent, yes, animals give consent) or hands-off, allowing them to receive energy in a way that feels safe and natural.
Unlike humans, animals don’t overthink Reiki. They don’t ask, “But how does it work?” or “Is there scientific proof?” They simply go, Oh. This feels nice. I shall now melt into this pillow.
The benefits: more chilled out and with less zoomies
Animals can benefit from Reiki in many ways, including:
- Reduced stress and anxiety (fireworks, vet visits, moving house, that vacuum cleaner)
- Support during illness or recovery from injury or surgery
- Emotional healing, especially for rescue animals or those with past trauma
- Improved relaxation and sleep (yes, even more sleep – it’s a natural remedy for our beloved pets)
- Enhanced overall well-being, mood, and comfort
Reiki doesn’t replace veterinary care, but it works successfully alongside it — think of it as an emotional and energy boost.
How do animals react to Reiki healing?
Dogs: “I didn’t know I needed this, but I love it.”
Dogs often respond to Reiki almost immediately. Common reactions include:
- Heavy sighing (the universal sign of canine relief)
- Slowly collapsing into a puddle
- Falling asleep mid-session
- Leaning into the practitioner as if to say, ‘Please don’t stop, my new friend’
- Some dogs wag their tails gently, others snore. A few may wander off, come back, wander off again — because, after all, they are busy creatures with important sniffing schedules. All responses are perfectly normal.
Cats: “I am not interested… oh wait”
Cats are famously selective. At first, many pretend Reiki is beneath them. They may sit across the room, judging silently.
Then something magical happens.
- They move closer.
- They hang around.
- They purr like a tiny motorboat.
- They may even demand Reiki by aggressively head-butting the practitioner’s hands.
- They often become very still during Reiki, as if they’ve entered a higher dimension of comfort. Occasionally, they will fall asleep, into a deep state in fact.
It also has a powerful effect on horses too.
One important aspect to remember: Animals don’t fake it
Unlike humans, animals don’t pretend Reiki is working to be polite. If they’re not interested, they’ll leave. If they love it, they’ll stay, relax, and often ask for more. Many animal guardians have provided feedback to say that their animals are much calmer, more confident, seem more bonded with them, and a general sense that their animal is happier and more settled after a Reiki treatment. Sometimes the change is subtle and sometimes it’s obvious and, therefore, it is a win-win situation.
Healing doesn’t have to be serious – choose Reiki for your beloved pets
Reiki for animals reminds us that healing doesn’t always require needles, machines, or complicated explanations. Sometimes it’s simply a quiet presence, gentle energy, and listening — really listening — to what an animal needs. Although animals don’t communicate with us with the spoken word, their body language and vocal reactions (a purr, a deep sigh, a nuzzle or head butt, or a tiny bark or meow for ‘more please!’) they do appear to enjoy the relaxation and well-being that Reiki healing provides, they know a good thing when they feel it.
Natural Joki Flow provides healing and therapy for a wide range of conditions for both humans and their beloved pets. If this article has piqued your curiosity, please do get in touch by phone, 910 665 601, or by email at paul@naturaljokiflow.com
Also read Paul Jokinen-Carter‘s article Why New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep – and what we could do instead
