Interpreting dreams takes time and effort, especially learning the language of symbolism, but it's worth the effort in my view.

Animals can appear in dreams (and indeed in fairy tales) as helpful figures.

Psychosis as a term to describe Jung's experience is used by those who don't understand him, those critical of him. It was really a spiritual journey into the underworld, as recounted in various myths and stories throughout history. As you say, it was the unconscious emerging.