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.

Chiropractic Medicine and Osteopathy

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.

While virtually no research has been carried out on the value of osteopathy for dogs, anecdotal evidence suggests the treatments are effective and especially helpful during recovery after an injury or accident.

Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture serves as an alternative “medicine” for dogs and is typically used as an effective painkiller. Painkilling drugs work by mimicking the brain’s pain-killing chemicals like endorphins. Acupuncture, instead, stimulates the release of natural endorphins.

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 Medicine

Most pharmaceutical drugs come from herbs and plants, but they isolate a particular chemical or component of the plant. In herbal medicine, the whole plant is used rather than only a single part. Also, many herbal remedies are seen as a complimentary program with each herb prescribed to a variety of ailments.

Most conventional veterinarians understand and accept the medicinal value of herbal therapies find it difficult to accept the ancient concepts that underlie traditional herbalism. Because toxic doses for dogs have not been calculated for many herbs, most veterinarians are, understandably, hesitant to prescribe or recommend an herbal program.

Relaxation Therapies

Relaxation is a critical part of good health – improving our breathing, anxiety, muscle pain and stress. The same holds true for dogs, and many veterinarians will actually prescribe massage and relaxation as treatment for pain, anxiety, stress or sleeping problems.

Homeopathic Treatment

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.

The number of veterinarians who prescribe or include homeopathic remedies and alternative medicine for dogs is increasing. Many vets are willing to accept evidence that natural remedies can work.

Filed under: Dog Health

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!