If your dog suffers from an ongoing or debilitating health issue, complementary therapies could offer relief and foster healing in an holistic fashion.
Many holistic veterinarians incorporate acupuncture, massage and herbal remedies into their practice. Although scientific evidence regarding such practices remains scarce, their application has proven useful for improving overall pet wellbeing.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the most widely utilized alternative therapies for dogs, drawn from traditional Chinese Medicine and performed using needles inserted into specific points to stimulate healing and balance energy flow. Acupuncture can be especially helpful in relieving arthritis pain and improving overall quality of life for your canine companion.
A veterinary acupuncturist is specially trained to identify and assess acupressure points on your pet’s body and advise where the most suitable points for placing needles. They may also offer advice regarding which herbs or supplements may benefit your dog and how best to give them. Examples include herbal capsules, oils, granular extracts and lotions while holistic treatment options might include music/sound therapy aromatherapy homeopathy hyperbaric oxygen therapy or even hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an additional form of treatment.
Although there is little scientific proof that alternative therapies prevent disease or cure illness, many veterinarians remain believers. They’ve seen arthritis-stricken pets bounce out of the office after receiving acupuncture treatments or seen dangerous fungal infections clear up after homeopathic remedies were given to combat them.
However, it should be remembered that these therapies should not replace a thorough examination and diagnosis from your family veterinarian. Furthermore, finding an experienced practitioner is key. Certified holistic vets sometimes offer alternative treatments alongside their regular services; ultimately the goal should be creating a comprehensive and complementary plan for your pet that improves overall health and well-being.
Hydrotherapy
Who have adopted holistic solutions for themselves are likely to do the same for their pets. Alternative therapies may prove invaluable as part of an integrative treatment regimen or even as standalone solutions; it’s best to consult your veterinarian first as some methods could have side effects they are unaware of.
Hydrotherapy is an increasingly popular alternative therapy practice. Hydrotherapy uses water to alleviate pain and build muscle mass, such as swimming in a pool, walking on an underwater treadmill treadmill or playing therapeutic games. Hydrotherapy may help treat injuries or arthritis pain as well as behavioral issues like anxiety and aggression.
Alternative therapies available include naturopathy, aromatherapy and homeopathic remedies. Naturopathy utilizes herbal medicine to promote healing. As an alternative therapy option it could prove particularly helpful for dogs suffering from allergies or chronic infections.
Aromatherapy utilizes plant essences to facilitate healing and boost immunity, often alongside other therapies like massage or acupuncture. Aromatherapy may also be useful in aiding trauma victims or recovering from surgery.
Homeopathic remedies can be an excellent form of alternative therapy for dogs suffering from chronic illnesses or those experiencing mild to moderate symptoms, providing a natural way of helping your pet heal – whether administered as drops, gels or injections. Homeopathy has been found highly effective against several conditions including nasal aspergillosis.
Massage
Dogs recovering from surgery or managing chronic health conditions could benefit from massage. Gentle manipulation of soft tissues can ease muscle tension, relieve pain, ease stiffness and promote movement.
Massage can increase a dog’s blood flow and help them relax, making this form of alternative therapy particularly helpful for anxiety-ridden or traumatised pets. Furthermore, nervous or fearful dogs often respond well to massage and it builds trust between people.
Professional dog massage requires extensive training. Certain massage schools provide courses dedicated to animal massage that cover topics like anatomy and physiology for dogs as well as teaching specific massage techniques for them. Dog owners can learn basic massage techniques for their pets at home; however, professional practice usually requires additional instruction from professionals in animal massage schools.
Studies with horses revealed the effectiveness of massage to increase mechanical nociceptive thresholds and decrease nociceptive pain thresholds, with human participants also reporting positive results with regards to decreasing pain and improving quality of life through massage treatments.
Massage can increase range of motion and decrease stiffness in older dogs, helping them to move more freely. Massage also has been proven to enhance athletic performance by decreasing injuries while increasing flexibility and mobility; for working dogs such as police and service dogs it can even prevent musculoskeletal injuries and expedite recovery more rapidly from injury.
Massage can provide benefits to dogs suffering from conditions like hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis by strengthening muscles and improving mobility. Massage may also alleviate any discomfort related to spaying, orthopedic procedures or surgeries; providing relaxation during healing processes as well as encouraging deep restful sleep which is key for overall health and wellbeing.
Underwater Treadmill Therapy
Underwater treadmill therapy offers a unique solution for helping dogs strengthen and increase mobility. Conceived to offer exercise and rehabilitation while minimizing joint impact, this form of treatment provides buoyancy, warmth, and gentle resistance – ideal for senior dogs struggling with arthritis as these sessions will strengthen muscles while improving balance and improving balance; providing increased endurance so your beloved companion can explore further and enjoy more playtime with his or her favorite people and dog friends!
Hydrotherapy should only be considered once an animal’s injuries have fully healed; wet environments could potentially dissolve sutures or stitches and become infected – however once cleared by their vet for underwater treadmill therapy can offer numerous benefits to both you and your pet.
Water resistance provides resistance training that builds muscle mass, making it ideal for older dogs with arthritis. Furthermore, this low-impact workout is great for weight management and cardiovascular fitness; buoyancy reduces joint strain during workouts which makes this activity an excellent choice post surgery or with previous injuries or illnesses.
Water therapy can also help treat neurological conditions such as spinal disease and balance issues due to weakness. Treadmill therapy can also assist dogs who exhibit bad gait patterns by providing them with the opportunity to walk with an exaggerated gait pattern that promotes joint flexion and extension. Furthermore, underwater treadmill therapy has also been proven effective at improving quality of life in senior pets while stimulating mental stimulation and emotional well-being while relieving anxiety or depression symptoms in affected dogs.
Chiropractic Care
As its name suggests, this treatment method employs chiropractic principles to manipulate the spine and other joints for realigning body, relieving pain, and encouraging healing. A chiropractor may use soft tissue manipulation techniques or neuromuscular electrostimulation.
Acupuncture can be used to treat conditions ranging from nerve pain, digestive, musculoskeletal and dermatological conditions to skin diseases. Acupuncture is an extremely effective pain reliever and often results in significant improvement of mobility with chronic diseases such as arthritis or other musculoskeletal problems.
Homeopathy is a collection of remedies intended to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes and can be used by veterinarians for everything from skin infections and ear infections to seizures and car accident injuries. Epstein uses homeopathic treatments such as Aconite and Arnica for his car-struck dogs’ rehabilitation – it reduces swelling and bruising.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) encases your pet in an oxygen-rich pressurized chamber to promote wound and neurological condition healing faster, while therapeutic lasers such as class 4 laser therapy can ease inflammation and stimulate tissue repair in pets.
Many alternative therapies have minimal to no adverse side effects and help patients relax more. Furthermore, these alternative therapies may also enhance immunity by decreasing inflammation markers and strengthening immunity as a means to combat disease.
When employing these modalities, a veterinarian must be involved to ensure their safe and effective application. A comprehensive health history review must also take place prior to beginning these therapies; otherwise inappropriate or incorrect application could result in injury to either patient or practitioner.
