The term “holistic” is widely used in the medical world, but many people are unfamiliar with its definition. Some people confuse it with the term “natural.” That is partially correct, but it includes far more.
Holistic pet care considers the whole animal and considers their physical, emotional, and mental well-being as well as their health issues. Traditional care emphasizes cures, while holistic care emphasizes health. If your pet has an emergency, you can not take her to a holistic, non-veterinary doctor.
Traditional care excels in this field. Holistic pet care focuses on preserving the animal’s balance in order to keep his body and spirit balanced. And, natural remedies for various ailments (not emergency).
Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathy’s philosophy is based on the body’s resilience and the use of self-healing rather than traditional-type medicine. Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the body has the power to heal itself due to an inner vitality or invisible healing force that directs it to self-correct and balance (AKA homeostasis).
These eight laws will be advocated by small animal naturopathic practitioners to help your dog or cat restore balance. Your dog will recover from illness by incorporating the concepts of health mentioned below with other complementary treatments and “natural” methods. Herbs, homeopathy, and other natural supplements are also used to aid with the healing process.
Animal naturopaths primarily practice by researching alternative treatment protocols and performing alternative therapies and remedies, which are also known as wise and ancient healing methods. Naturopathic education includes very little of the allopathic conventional curriculum completed by veterinarians, as animal naturopaths primarily train by studying alternative treatment protocols.
A Different Approach to Medicine
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution for holistic pet care. Holistic care focuses on the specific dog, as well as the dog’s particular condition and requirements. A holistic pet care practitioner collects more knowledge about a pet’s health and lifestyle than a conventional veterinarian. Expect to be quizzed on possible toxins in your home or climate, as well as your pet’s diet, actions, behaviors, and fears.
Alternative therapies not used in traditional practices are introduced throughout holistic pet treatment. In non-emergency cases, conventional veterinary pet healthcare practitioners use different forms of drug therapy as the first line of protection. The drugs may be effective, but they have the potential for long-term side effects. Drugs are rarely used by holistic practitioners unless absolutely necessary.
Instead, they use healthy, natural solutions to fix the underlying cause of the dog’s problem rather than only treating the symptoms. These approaches do not have an immediate cure, but they do display improvements over time and have little to no negative side effects. Holistic practitioners allow the body to heal naturally rather than just placing a “band-aid” on the ailment.
Holistic pet care therapies include:
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic
- Massage
- Reiki
- Homeopathy
- Herbal remedies
- Flower essences
- Nutrition
- Exercise
Lower Costs with Holistic Approach
Traditional, drug-based pet care tends to be more costly than natural therapies. Some treatments, such as basic massage, can be taught by the holistic practitioner to the owner. While holistic pet care includes a broad range of complementary therapies, the basic concepts of diet and exercise remain unchanged.
You are What You Eat
Everyone who has a dog understands the importance of proper feeding. It’s not that conventional pet care professionals don’t care for nutrition; it’s just that they don’t always have a thorough understanding of food and its healing properties. Certain disorders may be avoided or stabilized with nutritional therapy.
The holistic practitioner would prescribe a diet that is free of fillers and overly refined ingredients for the dog. Holistic pet foods will cater to the needs of the whole animal. It’s nice if conventional pet foods are labeled specifically for skin or digestive health. A holistic food, on the other hand, can meet all of the pet’s needs, including support for the main organs and bodily systems. The coat and digestive system of the pet will show this if they are in equilibrium.
Differences in Flea and Tick Prevention
Fleas, ticks, and other pests are not something anyone wants on their dog. The conventional method involves applying strong pesticides to the animal, either topically or orally, to avoid flea and tick infestations. These products work, but they can have long-term effects or even be lethal to certain animals if used inappropriately. Because of an increased number of adverse reactions reported, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a consumer advisory in 2009 about approximately 70 flea and tick preventives.
Holistic flea and tick prevention takes a little more time and effort than squeezing a pesticide on the skin, but it kills pests while posing no danger to the dog. For example, holistic pest control can entail releasing nematodes into your yard, which are tiny worms that eat flea larvae. Natural herbal products are applied to the pet’s skin, and regular flea and tick combing is necessary.
Pets under the guidance of a holistic practitioner are less likely to get flea or tick infestations than those under standard care. Since parasites prey on the weaker dogs and cats, a holistically managed dog should have a stronger immune system.
Concerns Regarding Vaccinations
Latest research and scientific discoveries about vaccines and the over-vaccination issue have shown that they could be causing immune system failure in our dogs and cats, as well as causing severe health problems.
Vaccines are believed to shield our pets from dangerous viruses, but we are now finding that vaccines can also cause chronic health problems in dogs who are susceptible. Furthermore, they can still contract the disease against which they have been vaccinated, indicating that the vaccine is not always effective.
If your cat or dog already has a compromised immune system, the vaccine may actually damage them in the long run, making it very difficult to get them back to full health.
The Bottom Line
You’ll find some of the best foods, pest control techniques, and treatments for your dog on our website. It’s a journey toward overall health, well-being, and happiness, and you’ll be pleased with the outcome.