Holistic therapies, or natural therapies, have been used throughout history,
and their popularity is on the rise. Many people who rely on natural
therapies for their own health care are seeking the same treatment choices
for their dogs. Because of this increase in demand by their clients, more
vets are now offering these treatment options. Natural therapies can be a
part of the treatment of many illnesses in your dog. However, some natural
therapies can have side effects, so they need to be treated with respect.
How do you define a natural therapy? A natural therapy often uses a whole
body approach to healing and tries to avoid the use of surgery or drugs.
When given the right conditions, the body is able to heal itself, and this
ability is a very important part of the effectiveness of natural therapies.
Conventional treatments are usually used with in conjunction with natural
treatments in dog care, although some people do prefer to use only natural
remedies for their pets.
According to a 1997 study by The American Animal Hospital Association, 42%
of pet owners had tried alternative therapies on their pets. The main reason
people sought this type of therapy was to provide a safer, less invasive
natural treatment than everyday conventional drug therapy. Also, some people
may have had great success themselves with natural therapy in relation to
their own health care, and wanted to give their dogs the same benefits.
Some natural therapies that are available to dogs are chiropractic,
acupuncture, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. However, the boundaries
between natural therapies and conventional treatments can be blurred. One
example of this is nutritional therapy. When dogs have good quality
nutrition, they have all the nutrients and energy they need to remain
healthy. Good nutrition can also help them recover from illness. Is this
common sense or is it therapy? The drug aspirin is another example. The
active ingredient in aspirin is derived from willow bark, although it has
always been thought of as being a conventional treatment. Does that mean
that it is also a herbal remedy?
Treatments that are natural aren’t necessarily safe. Tea tree oil has been
used by people as an insecticide to get rid of fleas. However, many dogs
have died as a result of using this toxic oil. The plant Foxglove contains a
chemical that affects the heart. This chemical has been extracted, and used
to create a conventional medicine to treat heart disease in both people and
animals. It doesn’t matter if a chemical has been produced in a laboratory
or grown in a garden, it still has the same effect on the body, and should
be used with care.
If you’re going to rely on natural therapies to treat your beloved dog, it’s
vitally important that you make sure your veterinarian is well qualified in
these treatment methods.
This may not be as easy as it sounds. A 2006 survey of veterinarians found
that over 70% of veterinarians don’t offer alternative therapies.
Your first port of call is your regular veterinarian. They know you, and
they know your dog. If you explain to them that it is important to you that
you investigate the option of natural treatments for your dog, they may be
able to suggest a colleague who can help.
If not, then check out the websites for the various regulatory bodies, such
as the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
These sites often have a “search for a vet” function.
One last piece of advice. Over 60% of pet owners don’t tell their regular
veterinarian if they’re using natural therapies. This can be dangerous, as
there may be interactions between the natural therapy and any drugs your vet
may prescribe. Always make sure he knows everything you’re treating your dog
with. In this way, you can take advantage of all options to treat your dog,
and get the best possible outcome.
This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian
Dr. Susan Wright. Dr. Wright enjoys spending time with her dogs on the couch
and taking them to the dog park to run and play.
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