Why is my dog/cat/horse so fearful and sensitive?

This is probably one of the most frequent questions I receive from communication clients.  They have an animal that seems more fearful or sensitive to noise, movement, people, energy, etc.  They may be more prone to illness or allergies too.  Of course there are many reasons this can happen.

Certainly experiences of trauma can cause an animal to be more fearful and being raised under certain conditions can also promote more sensitivity or fearfulness.  But I have found more often that the animal has just been born more sensitive.

People expect there to be a specific reason for the fear or sensitivity but very often it is because they are wired differently. While I would say that all animals are sensitive empaths by nature, some of them are definitely more sensitive than others, much like those of us humans that are highly sensitive empaths.  Frequently they come into our lives to help us learn how to be more aware of our own sensitivities as well.

Adam (a horse), is a good example.  While he isn’t particularly fearful…not anymore than any other horse, he is sensitive to changes in the environment that affect his health.  Just recently he colicked.  The vet was called while we administered some holistic methods to help him until the vet arrived. If you don’t know horses, colic is a digestive disruption (it can take several forms) that can easily be fatal.  We don’t mess with it.  Fortunately, Adam recovered in about a day.  But there were some circumstances that led me to wonder if something was behind this colic episode.

As a highly sensitive empath, I had been feeling large waves of energy coming at me during this same time period.  I decided to check out what was happening with the Sun.  It turns out there were some pretty major solar flares occurring just prior to Adam’s colic and while I was experiencing these rather uncomfortable waves of energy (they feel a lot like anxiety).

I decided to ask Adam about his colic episode.  Here’s what he had to say:

Wendy:  A few weeks ago you had colic, you know when your digestive system wasn’t working right and we had Dr. Johnson come out and help you?

Adam:  Yes.  I remember that.  I am very sensitive.  It’s not the first time it has happened to me.

Wendy:  I was wondering if you knew what caused that to happen.

Adam:  It was a combination of things but mostly, it was because my body was disturbed by the energy shifts that were taking place.

Wendy:  Do you mean from the solar flares?

Adam:  I’m not sure what caused it exactly but I know that I could feel the energy around me was different.  It felt like it was buzzing me. (This is also what some dogs say about thunderstorms).

Wendy:  How come none of the other horses got sick?

Adam:  They are not as sensitive to the changes as I am.  I’m just more sensitive to these changes.

Wendy:  Was there something we could have done to prevent this?

Adam:  I don’t think so.  I have what I need here to be healthy.  I have a herd to hang out with, good hay and lots of water.  I have room to run and move so I don’t think there is anything that might have prevented this particular episode.  I wish I could eat grass every day.  I think that would be better than hay.

Wendy:  I wish you could eat grass everyday too but unfortunately, the grass has to rest for the winter.  That’s the only way to have hay in the spring and summer for you.

Adam:  Yes, I understand.  I just don’t like it.

Wendy:  Thanks for sharing with me.

When I ask dogs about why they are afraid of thunderstorms, they often relate to me a similar “buzzing” feeling.  This is why they often begin to show signs of anxiety before the storm actually appears.  They are responding to the change in the barometric pressure.

As for the Solar Flares, there is scientific evidence that they create biological changes in humans and animals (we are after all animals).  First let me explain about Solar Flares.  A solar flare is the result of a magnetic storm on the Sun.  The eruption that occurs ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona of the sun into space. These clouds typically reach earth a day or two after the event and have a measurable effect on the magnetic field of the earth.

Since our bodies (and our animal’s bodies) have magnetic fields, we too are affected.  Scientific studies have shown that solar flares affect the central nervous system and the heart (which also has its own magnetic field).  There is a much higher incidence of heart attacks at the time of high solar flare activity.  Some of the central nervous system affects that have been attributed to flares include vertigo, anxiety, headache, palpitations, mood swings, and feeling generally unwell. Chaotic or confused thinking and erratic behaviors also increase. Studies have shown that the flares desynchronize circadian rhythms and melatonin production which is partly why these affects happen.  So if it is happening to the humans, you know it can affect your animals as well.  And when you have an especially sensitive animal, you may very well see changes in their behavior and health.  If you are interested, you can follow the tracking of the solar flares and other geomagnetic activity here.  http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/en/sun_flares.html  Solar flares follow a cycle of the Sun and we have been in a peak cycle for the last year or two that will continue for at least another year.

Highly sensitive animals are also more sensitive to being touched and to our energy.  Sensitive cats are very easily overly stimulated with grooming or petting.  For them, it really needs to be on their terms.  This is nothing to take personally; it just is their need for less stimulation because they are already over-stimulated by their surroundings.

And as I have discussed before, (see Are your pets getting wired)  our energy and the electrical energy in our homes from TV’s, cell phones, computers, etc can also add to the “energy burden” of our companions.

So what do you do with these sensitive guys?

First and foremost, honor who they are.  That means understanding that they are, without any fault of their own, just a bit different, a bit more sensitive.

Be observant.  Learn what is more difficult for them and what helps them.  Maybe they (cat or dog) need a thundershirt.  Maybe some essential oils or hydrosols can support them during difficult times. If they aren’t comfortable around new people, don’t force them into those situations.  Maybe they need a quiet dark place they can retreat to.  And if you’re not sure what they need, you can always have me talk to them.

Remember that our energy also affects them.  The more you are grounded and calm when around them, the calmer they will be.

There’s a great deal we can learn from these sensitive ones.  Let’s embrace them and be grateful they are in our lives.