by Molly O'Shea

Created on: May 11, 2009   Last Updated: August 04, 2009

Holistic veterinarians look at all aspects of the animal. This includes nutrition, diet, environment, lifestyle, and psychological state. Communication between animal, owner, and veterinarian is paramount. Holistic veterinarians are conventional veterinarians with extended training in holistic practices. They recognize that modern techniques such as ultrasound, laboratory tests, and surgical procedures are useful. Using both conventional and alternative treatment on a case-by-case basis works well for some.

Alternative treatments and results

Acupuncture is effective in treating conditions like allergies, asthma, and arthritis. The release of endorphins results in relief of pain due to giving a feeling of well being and a physiological effect similar to morphine. Acupuncture encourages natural healing by:

*Stimulating blood flow
*Nourishing tissues
*Helping the body heal itself

Herbal, or botanical, remedies are centuries old and support the body during its healing. Animals are often seen eating plants and using these remedies on their own. Each patient receives an individual herbal prescription used in:

*Treating emotional disorders and physical illnesses
*Soothing and giving balance to diseased organs

Chiropractic treatment in animals manipulates joints and realigns vertebrae restoring proper blood flow and function to affected areas. Spinal care treats both physical and emotional disturbances. It is helpful to animals suffering from:

*Past abuse
*Fear
*Emotional issues from other sources

Massage sooths and relaxes tired and overused muscles. Itself, massage may not cure, but it will make the animal more comfortable while healing happens. It stimulates the:

*Lymphatic system and blood circulation helping remove toxins
*Nerves
*Immune system
*Lowers blood pressure

Ozone therapy is like using a super form of oxygen. Having been repeatedly proven safe and without side effects when properly used, it has been studied for over 100 years. Enhancing circulation, boosting the immune system, and increasing energy are benefits. It shows good results when used to treat:

*Arthritis
*Viral infections
*Fungi
*Many other conditions

Holistic treatment for heart-worm infestation in dogs seems to produce few ill effects to the pet. Being safe, economical, and effective are benefits of this treatment. The dog may still test positive after several months, but with continuing treatment will eventually test negative.

Using a 24-hour fast on a weekly basis for detoxification is helpful. Giving the pet reverse osmosis water because of its purity and mineral content helps alleviate this problem by eliminating many of the toxins found in tap water.

These are but a few of the alternative treatments used by holistic veterinarians. If you are interested in having your pet treated with non-conventional methods, search out listings and see what each veterinarian offers. Many use both holistic and conventional treatment, which in many instances work very well together.

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