Animal Reiki Flow ~ Research
Held With Heart,
Grounded in Evidence
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Reiki asks for trust, and trust is easier to offer when there is something to stand on. Below is a small collection of research and writing on Animal Reiki and Distance Healing, gathered for caretakers who want to understand what is known so far, and what is still being learned.
FEATURED ANIMAL STUDY
Distant Reiki and Adult Dogs
A 2025 blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial looked at the effects of Distant Reiki on the health and wellbeing of adult companion dogs. After three, and then six, weekly sessions, dogs receiving distant Reiki showed a statistically significant reduction in pain compared with the control group. For those who have watched a companion soften during a session, the findings feel less like a surprise and more like a quiet confirmation.
Barbieri, C. · Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, 2025
ANIMAL REIKI PERSPECTIVE
The Power of Peace
to Heal Animals
In this Psychology Today piece, Animal Reiki educator Kathleen Prasad shares how Reiki offers animals a peaceful, meditative space to simply be. The article explores relaxation, trust, and the importance of letting an animal choose its own closeness and pace during a session, rather than asking anything of them.
Psychology Today · Animal Emotions blog, 2019
ANIMAL REIKI IN THE NEWS
A Practice Making Its Way Into Pet Care
This CBC News feature follows animal Reiki practitioners across Canada as they describe using the practice alongside veterinary care, easing everything from arthritis and post-surgical recovery to anxiety and end-of-life support. One story follows a shaking, terrified rescue dog who settled into calm within twenty minutes, the kind of shift caretakers often describe but rarely see written about in a mainstream outlet.
CBC News, 2018
REIKI & ANXIETY RESEARCH
Reiki, Anxiety & Emotional Well-Being
In this 2024 BMC Palliative Care meta-analysis, researchers brought together 13 controlled studies involving 824 adults to examine Reiki and anxiety. Overall, Reiki was associated with a significant reduction in anxiety. While the research was conducted with people, anxiety and stress are also common reasons caretakers seek gentle energetic support for their animals.
BMC Palliative Care · Meta-Analysis, 2024
PAIN & RECOVERY RESEARCH
Reiki for Comfort After Surgery
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 15 randomized controlled trials involving 1,219 surgical patients. Researchers found that Reiki was associated with reduced postoperative pain and anxiety at certain follow-up points, along with improvements in some measures of blood pressure. The authors describe the evidence as low to moderate certainty and recommend further research. For animal caretakers, the study explores something very relatable: supporting comfort during recovery.
Intensive & Critical Care Nursing · Meta-Analysis, 2026
WELL-BEING RESEARCH
Reiki & Quality of Life
This 2025 meta-analysis reviewed 11 randomized controlled Reiki studies involving 661 participants. Across the studies, researchers found an overall improvement in quality of life associated with Reiki, looking at areas connected to comfort and well-being such as stress, fatigue, pain, and anxiety. For caretakers of senior animals or animals facing ongoing health challenges, those are especially meaningful areas of support.
Systematic Reviews · Meta-Analysis, 2025