As its name suggests, holistic medicine focuses on the patient’s overall health. They focus on determining the root cause of any issue to offer an effective and efficient treatment for them. It considers the physical, mental, and spiritual health that the person is suffering from.
Pet owners often look for alternatives when traditional treatments, like medications and procedures, fail to aid their pets. For those who have adopted clean, nutritious, and other lifestyle choices that are holistic for themselves, there is a reason they’d want the same for their pets.
Holistic Approaches to Pet Health
Instead of focusing solely on individual symptoms, holistic medicine adopts an overall view of the patient and works towards improving their health’s overall condition. A lot of holistic methods discussed here could prove beneficial to your pet. Although many modern veterinarians indeed use a mix of traditional and alternative therapies, it’s always recommended to seek the advice of your vet before any treatment.
1. Massage
Massage for dogs can have the same beneficial effects on the body as it does for humans. It improves circulation, soothes your nervous system, relieves muscle tension, and reduces stress. Veterinarians believe that dog massages have two main benefits: giving the dog a sense of well-being and making the bond between pet and owner stronger. There isn’t a person who doesn’t love a good and relaxing massage from a friend.
Although massage alone will not cure your dog’s cancer or repair a fractured bone, it’s an effective method to help your pet relax and feel better when paired with veterinary treatment, which is why you should give the practice a go.
2. Acupuncture
Veterinary acupuncture, the application of specific pressure points on your body, has been used by humans for thousands of years. It took another few years before acupuncture gained recognition for dogs. The American Veterinary Medical Association classified it as an “alternative therapy” in 1988.
When needles are inserted in some regions of the body, certain chemicals are released into the spinal cord and brain, which promote healing. While scientific evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture is not available, reports from anecdotal sources suggest that the treatment may help dogs suffering from muscle soreness and arthritis to post-operative recovery and treat cancer and diabetes.
3. Hydrotherapy
The practice of physical therapy immersed in water is referred to as hydrotherapy. Low-impact exercise is perfect for dogs with particular needs, like recovering from injuries or surgery, who have difficulty with mobility due to weight or age, or who need to get their heart rate up and burn off some calories.
Apart from being an excellent exercise, hydrotherapy can also help build muscle and increases mobility, improves circulation, and eases stress. Likewise, a visit to the dog dentist can help you in the maintenance of your pet’s oral health.
4. Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine uses herbs in specific formulas or combinations to treat specific disease patterns. Chinese herbal medicine can be the most efficient when coupled with western veterinary treatment to treat chronic diseases. Herbal medicine experts suggest it is an excellent option to alleviate pain, assist in the healing of damaged organs, and strengthen and strengthen the immune system.
Certain herbs, like ones used to thin the blood or for diuresis, shouldn’t be taken in conjunction with prescription medications. In addition, as with any other oral medication, Chinese herbal therapies can trigger adverse reactions, such as nausea and diarrhea. For a wholistic veterinary approach, you can search online and visit the website about this.
5. Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractors make manual adjustments to the spine and other bones in different body regions to treat various ailments, including joint pain in muscles, bones, and joints. Chiropractic treatment for animals is a non-invasive therapy that doesn’t require medication but relies on gentle adjustments to relieve discomfort and improve mobility.
