If you’ve ever seen a dog comforting a sick companion or a horse gently nudging an anxious stablemate, you’ve witnessed something profound—animals have an incredible ability to heal one another.
We often think of healing as something humans do for animals, whether through veterinary care, energy healing, or holistic therapies. But the truth is, animals have their own innate healing abilities, and they naturally provide physical, emotional, and energetic support to their fellow creatures.
From dogs acting as emotional support for each other to elephants mourning their lost herd members, the ways animals heal one another are both fascinating and heartwarming.
Let’s explore the science, energy, and real-life examples behind how animals help each other heal—and what we can learn from them!
The Many Ways Animals Heal Each Other
Animals are highly intuitive and often know exactly what their fellow creatures need. Whether it’s through physical touch, emotional support, energetic connection, or even sound and vibrations, animals use a variety of healing techniques—many of which mirror human healing practices!
1. Emotional Healing: Comforting & Supporting Each Other
Animals form strong emotional bonds with one another, and when one is in distress, others will often step in to offer comfort.
Example: In a shelter setting, bonded dogs or cats often cuddle together for warmth and emotional support. You’ll frequently see one animal licking or nuzzling another when they sense fear or sadness.
Example: Elephants are known to grieve deeply when a herd member dies. They will stand by the body, gently touching it with their trunks and even “crying.” This behavior not only honors their lost friend but also helps the herd process their emotions together.
These behaviors show that animals are deeply connected on an emotional level, and their presence alone can bring healing to others.
2. Physical Healing: Grooming, Touch & Massage
Animals use physical touch as a way to heal each other, similar to how humans use massage or acupressure.
Example: In the wild, big cats groom each other to strengthen bonds and improve circulation. This grooming releases endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers), helping to reduce stress and promote healing.
Example: Dogs often lick the wounds of their packmates—and science shows that dog saliva contains natural antibacterial properties! This instinctive behavior helps prevent infections and speeds up recovery.
Example: Horses engage in mutual grooming (allogrooming), where they gently nibble each other’s backs and necks. This helps relieve muscle tension, improves circulation, and strengthens social bonds—similar to how a massage works!
3. Energy Healing: Animals as Natural Reiki Healers
Some animals are known for their energetic healing abilities, and they instinctively share Reiki-like healing energywith their companions.
Example: Cats are believed to be natural energy healers. Their purring is not just a soothing sound—it actually produces frequencies between 25 and 150 Hz, which have been shown to promote bone healing, reduce pain, and lower stress! Many cat owners notice that their feline friend will lie on their chest or next to them when they’re sick or sad.
Example: Some therapy animals, like dogs and horses, are naturally drawn to other sick or injured animals. They will sit beside them, offering quiet, steady companionship that seems to promote relaxation and healing.
Example: Dolphins use echolocation (a type of sonar) to communicate and even heal each other. Some researchers believe that the sound frequencies emitted by dolphins can help promote cellular repair and pain relief in both dolphins and other species!
Animals seem to have a natural ability to sense imbalances in energy, and many of them will instinctively offer healing by simply being present, using sound, or placing their body near an injured companion.
4. Intuitive Healing: Knowing When Something Is Wrong
One of the most fascinating aspects of animal healing is their ability to sense illness, injury, or emotional distress—often before humans even notice it.
Example: Some dogs are trained as medical alert animals, detecting changes in blood sugar, seizures, or even cancer in humans. But even without training, many dogs can sense when another dog is sick and will instinctively stay close to them.
Example: Birds, especially parrots, are incredibly empathetic. If one of their flock members is ill, they will often sit beside them, preen them gently, or bring food to help them recover.
Example: Horses in a herd will often surround a sick or injured member, providing protection and comfort. Some horse owners have even reported that their healthy horses seem to “transfer” energy to a struggling horse just by standing nearby.
Real-Life Example: How Two Rescue Dogs Healed Each Other
One of my students, Avery, shared an incredible story about her two rescue dogs, Bella and Scout.
“When I adopted Stella, she was a shy and anxious dog, having been mistreated in the past. A few months later, I adopted Scout, a confident, happy-go-lucky pup. I was worried about how Bella would react, but something amazing happened. Scout immediately started ‘taking care’ of Bella—he would nuzzle her, lay next to her, and even gently lick her face when she seemed scared. Within weeks, Bella became more confident. I truly believe Scout healed her in a way I never could.”
This story is a perfect example of how animals heal each other emotionally and energetically. Scout didn’t need training to help Bella—he just knew.
What Can We Learn from How Animals Heal Each Other?
Animals have so much to teach us about healing, connection, and energy. Here are a few lessons we can take from them:
Healing Doesn’t Always Require Words – Sometimes, just being present is enough to bring comfort.
Touch & Connection Are Powerful – Grooming, cuddling, and even standing close to a loved one can ease stress and promote healing.
Instinct Knows Best – Animals don’t overthink healing; they just do what feels right. We can learn to trust our own instincts more.
Energy Is Real – Whether it’s a cat’s purr, a dog’s gentle nuzzle, or a horse’s quiet presence, energy plays a huge role in healing.
How to Add Your Pet to Your Pet Business as an “Employee”
If animals have natural healing abilities, why not make them part of your business? Whether you run an animal Reiki practice, a holistic pet care service, or a pet therapy business, your pet can become an essential “employee” and brand ambassador! Many holistic pet business owners find that their own animals help attract clients, create a calming atmosphere, and even assist in energy healing sessions.
Therapy & Healing Partners: If your pet is calm and enjoys social interaction, they can join Reiki or energy healing sessions with other animals to help set the tone. Cats, dogs, and even horses can serve as “healing assistants,” offering comfort to nervous clients.
Meet & Greet Experts: If you host pet wellness workshops or training sessions, your pet can be the friendly facethat makes clients feel welcome. Some business owners bring their pets to events or allow them to interact with customers in a studio or clinic setting.
Social Media Stars: If your pet enjoys the camera, they can be the face of your brand on social media! Posting behind-the-scenes moments, showcasing your pet’s involvement in your healing work, or sharing their own success stories with holistic healing can build trust and engagement with your audience.
Want to Learn More About Healing Animals?
If this topic excites you, and you want to deepen your understanding of animal healing, I invite you to join my Awaken Your Inner Healer Mini-Course!
In this course, you’ll learn:
How to recognize energy healing in animals Techniques to support your pets with Reiki, meridian massage, and crystal healing How to connect more deeply with your animal companions Ways to turn your love for healing into a professional skill
Click here to enroll in the Awaken Your Inner Healer Mini-Course & start your journey today!
Animals are not just receivers of healing—they are natural healers themselves. Their ability to offer comfort, restore balance, and share energy is something we, as humans, can learn from and even integrate into our own healing journeys.
So, have you ever seen an animal heal another animal?
