Alternative Therapy Treatments for Pets

As a kid, I had a very cute and loving German shepherd. She was like family to us, a best friend and the cutest creature who would be happy to see me come back from school or sad when we all left her alone in the house. The way she reciprocated my love is my most cherished memory to date. I remember her jumping around in excitement when the family came back from any outing. Dogs are so loving and protective. Parents can get upset at us and punish us, but dogs are always happy to see you. That’s the best part about having a pet. 

Dogs, cats, rabbits, and other pets get unwell and require several trips to the vet in their lifetime. They cannot tell us about what ails them, so it’s important that they get the right treatment. Many common medicine options can cause serious side effects, just like for humans.

The Rise of Alternative Medicine

As more people try out alternative medicine treatments for themselves, they are also seeking to try them on their pets.

Available alternative therapy treatments for your pet include:

• massage
• acupuncture
• herbology
• homeopathy
• chiropractic care

These therapy options are nothing new and some of them date back to thousands of years ago. The American Veterinary Medical Association has established guidelines for veterinary holistic medicine practices.

Before you go ahead with any treatment, get the green light from your veterinarian first to make sure no harm will result. Referrals work great when looking for the right treatment for your pets. Depending on your location, the requirements for practitioners of alternative therapy for pets may differ. Check with your state government or state veterinary medical association.

How Each Alternative Treatment Option Works

1. Acupuncture and Acupressure

A long-standing traditional way of naturally treating illness and pain is acupuncture. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments for more than 3,500 years. There are more than 300 acupuncture points in animals and each point leads to a specific response in the body. Stimulating these points helps animals get a jumpstart on the natural healing process. According to Chinese medicine, this not only helps the body heal itself but also stimulates the flow of energy forces that nourish tissues, stimulate blood flow, and enhance the body’s functioning. 

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but without needles. Practitioners apply pressure to specific areas on your pet’s body to reduce aches and pains. Both acupressure and acupuncture follow the same idea of stimulating the body’s pressure points to enhance natural healing.

Both acupuncture and acupressure are cheaper and safer options than surgery. This holistic treatment helps both pets and owners when it comes to pain and illness.

2. Massage

Who doesn’t love a massage when your body is sore and tired?

Like humans, animals can also enjoy a good massage to soothe tired muscles. This will not cure a serious disease, but it can be therapeutic if performed correctly and with a gentle hand. There are various techniques for massaging your dog or other pet, You can try performing them yourself or find a qualified professional. The most common forms of massage include:

• kneading
• rolling or rubbing 
• stroking
• prolonged petting 

Warm or cold treatments may be used depending upon the condition. You or a professional could massage your pet’s whole body or just specific problem areas. A good massage can help promote blood flow, relieve tension in muscles, lower blood pressure and stimulate nerves, thus promoting healing and immunity.

Massages should feel good for your pet. If they show signs of pain and discomfort, stop.

3. Homeopathy

This is also an option when it comes to holistic treatments for animals.

This practice uses homeopathic remedies, which are extremely diluted solutions of assorted herbs, animal products, and chemicals. The more diluted the substance, the higher the potency. These remedies cause symptoms similar to the current symptoms of the illness. For instance, if an animal is vomiting and has diarrhea, it would be treated with a remedy that causes similar symptoms. The remedy would be stronger and similar to the imbalance observed in the animal. It would then replace the illness to cure it.

Homeopathy aims to not only cure the symptoms of a disease, but all the pet’s energy imbalances.

Most animals have positive outcomes after homeopathic treatments. It is a long-lasting practice in Europe. Recently, it is becoming increasingly popular in North America mainly because of its ability to treat many physical or psychological health problems. 

4. Chiropractic care

The word ‘chiropractic’ comes from the Greek words cheir (meaning ‘hand’) and praktos (meaning ‘done’, i.e. done by hand). It involves manipulating and adjusting bones in the spine to position the vertebrae correctly. Misalignment in the spine can affect joints, muscles, nerves, connective tissues, blood flow and functioning of an area.

A chiropractor will use quick, high velocity and controlled thrusts on specific joints to restore the normal range of motion and release the pressure to the surrounding tissues. This may result in immediate total relief of symptoms or partial relief. Sometimes, your pet can only get temporary relief from pain and they would need another session with the veterinary chiropractor.

Chiropractic treatment is ideal for pets with difficulty getting up and down, recovering from an illness or injury, or even to prepare for upcoming athletic competitions. 

Why Try Alternative Therapy Treatments for Pets?

The main advantage of alternative medicine treatments is their ability to treat a number of ailments in a natural way, unlike  conventional medicine options with chemicals which come with adverse side effects.

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Here are some tips to consider:

1. Consult professionals first

The internet has a lot of information, but not everything may be true or work well in your scenario. Consult with professionals before going ahead with any therapy, as they can direct you towards the right treatment.

2. Tests and blood work may be necessary

Keep in mind that alternative medicine does not mean your pet won’t require tests or blood work. In situations where your pet has a serious or chronic condition, they may need blood work, CT scans, ultrasounds, or other tests. Do not reject or be afraid of going ahead with these tests because the results may also help in further treatments. 

3. Be prepared for emergencies

Just like humans, in any emergency, the best thing to do is seek medical assistance. Certain illnesses require immediate professional guidance and conventional medication. 

4. Combine alternative treatments with conventional medication

Alternative medicines are very effective in treating certain chronic illnesses, but sometimes they have to be combined with regular medicines.

Conclusion

Whatever you decide for your pet, remember that its life is precious and you are responsible for it. We all want the best for our pets. Trying natural treatments is a good way to improve and maintain their health.