"Reiki For Animals"

Reiki for Animals: Healing, Comfort, and Compassion

Stories, Evidence, and End-of-Life Support

Animals are remarkable teachers. They feel deeply, trust instinctively, and respond to care in ways we often can’t put into words. Reiki allows us to meet them in that quiet space — offering calm, comfort, and balance.

Real Healing: Rescue Dog Leiki / JayJay and Pancake the Rabbit .

I’ve seen this magic first-hand. Our German Shepherd foster dog Leiki , once overwhelmed with fear/ aggression and labelled as “schizophrenic,”  after the Covid Lockdowns , was deemed impossible to rehabilitate and due to be euthanized , my partner and I took him on and it was touch and go , his behaviour seemingly so unchangeable but we persevered with the support of K9 Rescue Remedy and daily Reiki sessions ( when he consented ) and he has blossomed through Reiki and continues to daily . Each session brought him more calm, more trust, and a deeper connection to the world around him, alongside enrolling in 2 courses of scent work ( One for training as a Cadaver dog and the other to scent for synthetic DNA ) These practices and method's of scent work helped his rehabilitation greatly, alongside Reiki,  we have left behind these  pathways and now share the knowledge we picked up along our journey and enjoy sharing these methods to help rehabilitate other rescues within K9 Rescue Remedy and give them a purpose in life , it's so rewarding and great fun to watch them progress .

Then there was Pancake, a tiny wild rabbit stranded in the middle of a road. heavy lorries driving over the poor animal " precisely a rabbit in headlight's ,,, the animal frozen and terrified  " Three days of gentle Reiki, food, and care were all it took for this frightened creature to regain strength and confidence, so we could safely release pancake back into the wild. These experiences show the gentle, supportive power of Reiki for animals in need.

Honouring JayJay : Reiki at the End of Life

This is the story of my beloved German Shepherd, JayJay, who came into the world through my care as a puppy and remained a part of my life for nearly 15 years. His journey shows how Reiki can provide love, comfort, and dignity during the end of life.

Earlier in life, when his mother Volly  was dying, I watched her struggle under veterinary care. She wanted to hide, to pass away in peace, but she was heavily medicated instead, the veterinary practice prolonging her agony  when we could see she wanted to pass over ( a zombie in her own body under veterinary protocol ) . That experience stayed with me, and I wished I could have shared Reiki with her as  my partner and I would later with JayJay.

When JayJay was nearing the end of his life, I was supporting a young person through a therapy session online. During a pause, I sensed that JayJay was ready to pass. At the bottom of the stairs, he waited patiently, calmly, for our presence. My partner and I placed our hands on him, offering Reiki, and he passed over peacefully.

Unlike the clinical or rushed experience of a vet visit, this was a gentle, conscious, and loving way for JayJay to transition. Reiki supported his body and spirit, helping him release comfortably and with dignity. We wrapped him in a blanket, spent some quiet time together, and later buried him with love.

Reiki can provide comfort, dignity, and support during the end-of-life process — a gentle companion for both the animal and those who love them.

Clinical Evidence: Reiki for Pain Relief in Dogs

Science is beginning to catch up with what many animal Reiki practitioners have observed. A recent blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study published by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) found that distant Reiki significantly reduced pain in dogs. Every dog in the Reiki group showed some improvement, with over 70% experiencing “excellent” or “moderate” relief.

Below is the link to that study :

AHVMA PDF Viewer [Do not Delete] - AHVMA 

Sharing Reiki With Animals

Whether you’re working with rescue pets, domestic companions, or wild creatures, Reiki offers a gentle, compassionate way to support their well-being. For students at our Reiki school, this is an invitation to expand your practice — to bring healing energy to those who cannot ask for it, yet feel it deeply.

Reiki for animals is a gift of love, patience, and presence. It’s a reminder that all beings — human or not — thrive when they are seen, held in calm, and offered healing energy.

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