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ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR PETS

Complementary and Alternative Medicine is now a recognized modality for treatment by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Additional modalities of diagnosis and treatment are now emerging in veterinary and human medicine. Veterinary medicine, like all professions, is rapidly changing. Accepting these new techniques and treatment protocols is a big step for the profession. Below is a list of some of these alternative medical modalities used in veterinary medicine today.

Acupuncture:

Although Veterinary Acupuncture is still regarded as experimental, it has been shown to be a clinically safe and effective treatment for specific conditions if used properly and competently.

Alternative and Complementary Medicine for Pets Veterinary Acupuncture

Although still regarded as experimental, veterinary acupuncture has been shown to be clinically safe and effective modality for specific conditions if used properly and competently. 

The most common uses for acupuncture in small animals are

1. Paralysis and pain associated usually with ruptured disks or trauma;

2. Large dog paralysis or weakness caused by disk rupture, spinal instability, or degenerative myelopathy (common to the German Shepherd breed);

3. Pain caused by hip dysplasia and resulting arthritis;

4. Other arthritic pain conditions;

5. Conditions not responding to conventional therapy, including allergy, epilepsy (seizures), stomach and intestinal problems, nerve injuries, and miscellaneous pain syndromes.

Treatment by an individual competent in the art of acupuncture is essential. Your veterinarian may be able to refer you to a qualified individual in your area. Most Veterinary teaching institutions now have acupuncture capability.

In cases of acute injury, treatments every 2 to 3 days is usually necessary. Improvement varies on the situation and frequency of treatments. In chronic conditions, improvement is generally slower until the desired effects are seen.

In two large scale studies, acceptable improvement was seen in 50 % to 64 % of the cases treated. Most of these cases had previously been unresponsive to more conventional therapies.

Chiropractic:

Chiropractic care can be integrated into the veterinary practice in many ways. As preventative health care, or as a treatment for animals with chronic back and neck pain or disk disease.

Alternative & Complementary Medicine: Chiropractic Care for Pets

Chiropractic philosophy is based on the relationship of the spinal column to the nervous system and the role of the spinal column in biomechanics and movement. Spinal manipulation of humans has been practiced for centuries in many cultures. Therapy is directed at the spinal column to alter the progression of the disease process.

Chiropractic care can be integrated into the veterinary practice in many ways. As preventative health care, or as a treatment for animals with chronic back and neck pain or disk disease. Many degenerative spinal diseases may respond to chiropractic adjustments, increasing the quality of life for that patient. At present, the definitive role of chiropractic care has not yet been fully explored in veterinary medicine. Ask your veterinarian about qualified individuals performing chiropractic medicine in your area.

Holistic Veterinary Medicine

Holistic veterinary medicine incorporates aspects of both alternative and conventional diagnostic and treatment modalities. It incorporates aspects of Acupuncture and Acutherapy, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Nutraceutical, as well as conventional medicine, surgery, and dentistry.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy involves the treatment of the patient as a whole, mind and body, and includes consideration of lifestyle, nutrition, and other inter-related factors.

Alternative and Complementary Pet Medicine: Homeopathy

Homeopathy involves the treatment of the patient as a whole, mind and body, and includes consideration of lifestyle, nutrition, and other inter-related factors.

The concept of mind and body are indeed inseparable, and should be treated as such. For example, anxiety and stress have physical consequences, and a physical injury produces mental effects.

The use of herbal agents in the treatment of conventional diseases is the mainstay of homeopathic medicine. Treating the patient by stimulating the body’s ability to fight disease, not by counteracting symptoms.

Although, homeopathy is not a substitute for surgery, fluid therapy, or mineral and vitamin supplementation, it can markedly reduce the need for such procedures. Homeopathy does not kill bacteria and is therefore not a substitute for antibiotics. However, it may eliminate the need for antibiotics in most cases by stimulating the body’s defense processes.

Although still quite controversial in its acceptance as an alternative approach to treatment of disease, homeopathy takes a holistic approach to the patient, treating the patient as a whole, rather than dealing with a specific part of the patient. Even if acceptance of this approach may still be low, its effectiveness has been shown. 

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