Alternative medicine is becoming more popular for animals, just as it is for humans. There are many modalities under the alternative care umbrella.

Defining Holistic Care
There are two main differences between holistic care and traditional allopathic medicine.

First, holistic vets will look at the whole animal; that is diet, emotions and behavior, as well as the physical body.

Second, most holistic treatments address the source of the problem, while western medicine focuses on treating the symptoms.

The following is a brief introduction to some of the practices and remedies available in this field.

Nutrition First
Nutrition plays a major role in any holistic practice. A holistic veterinarian will always look at the animal's diet when prescribing a treatment plan for your pet.

Poor quality food or food sensitivities and intolerances are often part of, if not the sole cause of many symptoms and illnesses.

Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese healing technique based on the body's energy, or "Chi". It involves stimulating particular sites or "points" on the body using very thin needles. Most animals enjoy the treatments. Both my dogs have been helped by acupuncture.

Acupressure is based on the same principle, but uses firm pressure on the points rather than needles. It is something the pet owner can often learn to do at home.

Using Herbs
Herbalism is the practice I use most often for my pets. Most of the herbs that are considered safe for humans are also safe for pets. There are some exceptions, so be sure to consult with a qualified herbalist or veterinarian before using them.

There are also a few excellent books available on the subject, such as Herbs for Pets by Gregory Tilford.

Homeopathics
Homeopathy is another safe alternative that works very well on animals.

In use since the early 1800's, it is based on the principle that "like cures like". Remedies are extremely diluted.

It can be difficult to know which remedy to choose, as many things have to be taken into account. In his book Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, the author lists several homeopathic alternatives for many common illnesses.

Adverse Reactions
It should be noted that both herbs and homeopathic remedies sometimes cause what is known as a "healing crisis". This is when the body begins to heal itself and may be ridding itself of toxins.

The remedy should usually be stopped or reduced in dosage if this occurs. The crisis is usually short lived and followed by improvement. However, if you are at all in doubt, or the animal does not improve you should consult your veterinarian.

Emotional Issues
Flower essences are similar to homeopathic remedies in that they are very dilute solutions.

As the name implies, they are made from various flowers. They work on the emotional level, and so are particularly useful in behavior problems or when stress or emotions play a role in the pet's illness.

They can be fed directly, added to food or water, applied topically or sprayed into the air.

The essences are always diluted in water before using, so a little goes a long way. Bach Flower Remedies for Animals by Stefan Ball gives specific recommendations for essences particularly suited to animals.

My favorite flower essence is a blend called "Rescue Remedy". It is wonderful for trauma, calming fears, shock (while you are on the way to the vet), and other first aid situations.

Touch Therapy
Massage is a practice that you can easily learn to do yourself. There are some techniques developed specifically for animals, such as TTouch, but any technique can be used. Even just petting the animal can be healing.

There are a number of good books and videos that can teach you massage techniques to use on your animals.

Finding a Holistic Doctor
Not everyone will find holistic practioner nearby. Larger communities are more likely to have someone using holistic modalities.

A complete list of holistic veterinarians is available on the web at www.ahvma.org.

Some holistic vets will do telephone consultation, either directly with the pet owner or with a local veterinarian.

Complementary Medicine
All of the above practices can be used along with conventional treatments. Some traditional veterinarians are more open than others to alternative practices, talk to your vet about the treatments you wish to try.

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