Holistic Dog Care

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The word “holistic” sounds so healthy and pure, and it has become a common buzzword when humans discuss their health and how now dog owners are getting into the act and are looking for holistic veterinarians.

Holistic is defined as the whole body treatment of disease by considering every part of the body to bring the internal environment into balance.

Many holistic healing systems fall under the holistic umbrella, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, flower essences, and craniosacral bodywork. Other terms you may hear are allopathic, homeopathy, modality, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Holistic care should consider the dog’s age, breed, general health, and lifestyle, along with the commitment the owner is willing to make. Holistic treatment focuses on the whole dog and any health problems the dog may have.

The purpose of holistic treatment is to return the body to its average balance to resolve disease from within the body and not by using drugs and surgery. For many of the conditions a dog may have, the most holistic approach will involve a rational selection of conventional and complementary therapies. However, if need be, holistic vets prescribe medications and do surgery, but only if alternative measures do not cure the problem.

Many people start their puppy’s on a holistic way of life by feeding them a home-prepared diet, keeping vaccines to a minimum, and taking them to an acupuncturist or chiropractor for “tune-up” visits to keep minor problems from becoming big ones.

Holistic pet care is the belief in unconventional therapies and treatments, which involve many homeopathic solutions, vitamins, and natural remedies. It also includes managing a pet’s health with alternative medicines such as herbs, therapeutic nutrition, natural dietary foods, homeopathy, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, massage, and other physical therapies.

Does it work? Is there proof that it does anything? Can I pull up a list of statistics that will show you how it works? No, I really cannot at this point. However, I can point out that “blind studies” have been done using a Placebo-Controlled Study, which is considered the “gold standard” for scientific proof. This again brings up the question that some people get better using a placebo, and some pets do too, so where is the evidence?

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Since I am not a scientist or a veterinarian, I will say this concerning holistic care. If a person and a pet can get better with a placebo or on their own, why not use a safe and natural approach to health care rather than medication, which may have many side effects?

Conventional medicine tends to concentrate more on the removal of symptoms and the suppression of disease by the use of antibiotics and other drugs. Antibiotics are life-saving drugs to be used in severe cases, but in many situations, prolonged use affects the immune system in humans and dogs.

Treating minor problems holistically with a natural means enhances the immune response, becoming more vital so that when another infection comes along, it can fight it off naturally. Holistic treatment allows the immune system and the disease resistance to become stronger and helps the dog become stronger and healthier.

Drugs work directly on the body to decrease the immune system’s response, which is why they work to remove symptoms. Holistic treatment offers fewer side effects and prevents the disease by improving the dog’s immune system and overall health. When animals are born and raised in this way, better health results are much more apparent. Dogs appear younger, have much more vitality, and hardly ever get sick. If they do get sick, they recuperate more rapidly. It is a case of an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure.

Why choose natural treatments versus conventional treatments? Many times there are no traditional treatments available for specific ailments. For example, milk thistle is a great herb to heal liver problems, and no conventional medication is available. Probiotics and glutamine are natural therapies for treating diseased intestinal tracts. Sometimes natural treatments are given to minimize the side effects of traditional medicines.

Many owners of dogs feel natural therapies are much safer than conventional ones. Granted that sometimes, herbal therapies can be toxic, overall holistic therapies are safer than conventional ones, especially for long-term use in treating inflammation and pain.

There are many benefits in considering holistic treatments for your dog; as more and more people are finding benefits for themselves in such treatment, they are now looking for holistic veterinarians. I suggest finding a good holistic reference book and learning more about holistic treatment and what it does.