Funny Stuff is all around

Health care is not only a huge issue among people, but is increasingly so for our beloved pets as well.

As people continue to turn to natural medicine, more of us are seeking alternative medicine for dogs, birds, cats, and all of our pets. Just like humans, dogs have natural ways of maintaining their health, and we need to harness these progressive defenses, not depress them when providing health care.

To learn about some popular alternative therapy treatments for dogs and their needs, keep reading.

Osteopathy and Chiropractic Care

Manipulating the body through chiropractic care and osteopathy has been shown to reduce back pain, joint pressure and spinal problems. In fact, in 1996, the American Veterinary Medical Association concluded that both anecdotal and clinical research proved veterinary chiropractic care is beneficial.

And though there is no clinical research to support the effectiveness of osteopathy, many veterinarians and dog health professionals agree that treatments can be effective and beneficial, particularly as part of a comprehensive recovery program.

Acupuncture Needles

Normally, acupuncture is used as a pain treatment for dogs in lieu of painkillers or sometimes ineffective arthritic relief therapies. By puncturing certain points, acupuncture stimulates the brain to release endorphins, a natural pain killer.

Remember that acupuncture for dogs should only be performed by a veterinary acupuncturist and should not be done by an acupuncturist who only works on people. It is a medical procedure and should be treated as such. Instead, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation in your area.

Herbal Therapies

While herbs and plants are a major source for all pharmaceutical drugs, herbal remedies use the whole plant rather than an isolated chemical. In herbalist medicine, the choice of herbs will depend on both the dog’s personality as well as its medical condition.

While many veterinarians understand herbal remedies and will accept that various treatments have a medicinal value, they are also hesitant to prescribe or recommend herbal therapies. This is because toxic doses of herbs are largely unknown for dogs. So, before you undertake an herbal medicine program with your dog, do your research carefully.

Relaxation and Massage

The ability to relax and breathe is critical to good health - and the same benefit applies to dogs. Teaching dogs to relax or engaging in pet massage is a great way to naturally boost the immune system, increase the dog’s alertness, reduce anxiety and even improve digestive function. Most veterinarians will recommend massage and relaxation as part of a healthy dog’s daily program.

Homeopathy

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association - “clinical and anecdotal evidence exists to indicate that veterinary homeopathy may be beneficial.” And though no high-caliber studies of homeopathic medicines have been carried out on dogs, it’s a treatment course that’s increasing in popularity.

More and more veterinarians are beginning to prescribe alternative medicine for dogs, from touch therapy treatments to herbal remedies. So, ask your vet about natural therapies during your next visit as a health option for your pet.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!