Those of you reading this magazine have already taken an interest
in going beyond conventional therapies to achieve optimal health. Many of you
may not be aware that the developing trend in veterinary medicine is to set
a new standard of health using many of the alternative therapies you are already
familiar with. The philosophy behind providing holistic veterinary care should
be to balance modern medicine and diagnostics with “whole health”
nutrition and alternative modalities. Each pet should be treated as part of
a family unit, and treated to heal the mind, body and spirit of our beloved
companion animals. The sacred bond between companion and caretaker should be
recognized and respected at all times during treatment.
Finding a good holistic veterinarian can be hard, possibly harder than finding
a human practitioner. One needs to find out about not only the traditional medical
background of the practitioner, but also about the advanced training in the
various alternative modalities. In general, a holistic veterinarian will be
an advocate of less vaccination, whole or raw food diets, and using alternative
modalities as a first option for treatment. Many holistic veterinarians will
still do traditional diagnostics or surgery when necessary, but support the
animal holistically through these procedures.
When choosing a practitioner, keep these standards in mind. Keeping an animal
well and free of illness includes providing the best nutrition available, including
fresh and raw food, organic when possible. Make sure commercial foods are free
of preservatives like BHT, BHA, and Ethoxyquine. Supplementation with select
nutraceuticals can enhance the diet. Practitioners should avoid recommending
topical pesticides that can harm the pet, owner and the environment.
Veterinarians should be encouraging alternative treatments that stimulate the
vital force in the animal. The immune system should be kept healthy, and over-vaccination
avoided. Antibody titers should be used to asess immune protection, and vaccinations
should be judicially given only when needed. Finally, the practitioner should
show interest and concern for the emotional state of the animal. The place of
the pet in the family unit, stress and anxiety, and caretaker bond should all
be considered when treating the pet. The types of alternative modalities that
you can expect to have offered for your pet are similar to what you would expect
for yourself. Treatments may require several visits to determine effectiveness.
Most pets are very receptive to alternative treatments, and often after the
first session, will drag their owners in the door to return!
Acupuncture treatments stimulate acupuncture points in specific locations along
meridians. This reestablishes normal energy flow, increases circulation and
stimulates nerves. When stagnant Qi is moved from “problem” areas,
pets will experience increased well being, tonifying, analgesia from pain associated
with common injuries, and return toward normal function. Types of acupuncture
used may include dry needles, electric stimulation, aquapuncture, and Laser
Near Infrared Light Therapy. Often owners can be sent home with instructions
to repeat stimulation of certain points at home with moxa or acupressure. Initially
treatments are usually once a week for six-eight treatments to determine effectiveness.
Homeopathy is also commonly used in holistic veterinary practices, and dispels
once and for all the “placebo” argument for good! Remedies are based
on the Laws of Similars that “like cures like”. Very dilute amounts
of a substance are used to treat symptoms or groups of symptoms that the substance
would actually cause if given in large doses. For example, an itching dog that
is worse in cold, damp weather may be given Rhus Tox, which comes from poison
ivy! Remedies are given in pellet form or in distilled water, and are readily
accepted as they have no taste. Homeopathic remedies can be used to treat acute
injuries, or deeper chronic disease and behaviour issues.
Allergies are commonly treated in conventional practices with immune suppressive
doses of steroids. One technique used to diagnose and treat allergies is NAET
– Nambudripads Allergic Elimination Technique. This method uses applied
kineseology to test for “allergies” and uses acupressure to clear
the allergy from the body. This method tries to determine what has sensitized
your pet’s system and remove the allergy, not just cover up the symptom
of the allergy.
Chiropractic care is commonly used in alternative practices. The skeletal system
must be in correct alignment for the body to function efficiently. Human chiropractors
and veterinarians can be trained in animal adjustments techniques. Adjustment
is often recommended when an animal has been compensating for an injury, does
high impact work like agility or fly ball, and for prevention of hip issues
during fast growth stages.
Medicinal herbs and Bach flowers can also be used. Many of the drugs in traditional
practices are synthetic, and no longer have naturally resonating compounds.
Oriental and Western medicinal herbs are available in a variety of remedies
and can easily be placed in pet’s food. Bach Flower Remedies can be placed
in a pet’s water source or misted in the room to treat a number of emotional
states.
Another healing technique that is commonly used is massage. Massage can be for
fun, or therapeutic. Pets love this alternative modality and will often demand
it! Owners can learn simple massage techniques to use at home between treatments.
Massage can increase flexibility, encourage circulation and healing, stimulate
natural analgesia, and relax muscles for pets, just like for humans. Sessions
can be done as needed, and last about twenty minutes.
Animals are also very receptive to various forms of energy healing. Reiki is
a favorite among our furry friends! Reiki used the life force energy that flows
through the practitioner to heal self and others. This form of energy healing
removes negative energy patterns form the pet’s body and restores the natural
and healthy energy flow. Pets can have Reiki treatments in conjunction with
any modality to enhance health. It can even be done while the pet is having
surgery or in recovery from surgery! Other energy healing modalities that are
commonly used for pets include Cranial-Sacral therapy, Polarity, and Integrative
Energy work.
Another realm of options may be also be open to you if your practitioner works
with an animal communicator. Animal communicators can offer insight into the
elusive psyche of our companions. Often communicators can provide a bridge between
pet and owner that veterinary medicine cannot provide.
In conclusion, pet owners are now starting to demand better and more comprehensive
whole health care not only for themselves, but also for their beloved companion
animals. Owners can empower themselves to heal their pets by knowing that options
beyond conventional medicines are now available. With a little research, owners
can now find a veterinarian that will treat the pet, not the disease, and nurture
the mind and spirit of man’s best friends
-Excepted from June/July 2002 Issue of Earth Star Magazine