Holistic dog health, alternative health for your pooch

Holistic dog health is rapidly gaining popularity in the western world. Holistic treatment for dogs comprises herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic and homeopathic remedies for dogs.

Holistic dog health may be combined with traditional medical treatment, although certain homeopathic remedies are contra indicative. There are also natural treatments you can do at home such as massaging your dog. We’ll have a look at each of these in more detail and deal with herbal medicine on another page.

Acupuncture for dogs ~ A very old Chinese therapy, acupuncture has now been widely accepted into traditional medicine. Some medical practitioners will suggest acupuncture when traditional medicine fails to bring relief. However I am going to suggest the opposite for your dog – try acupuncture first. There are no side effects and it’s painless.

Acupuncture is used for restoring balance in the body. It releases energy blockages and allows the life energy or qi to flow uninterrupted through the meridians or energy channels. There are over 150 acupuncture points on your dog’s body, not all these will be used in one session though.

Acupuncture for dogs may be used for specific complaints, such as arthritis or just as an immune system boost for improved general health.

Chiropractic care ~ This is based on your dog’s nervous system and is centered on the spine. Spinal misalignment can be responsible for nerve damage leading to a breakdown in communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Chiropractic can heal the nervous system leading to increased energy and repairing both the circulatory and immune systems

Chiropractic is popular choice for holistic dog health because it uses no drugs but helps the body to heal itself.

If your dog is experiencing trouble with his movements, then chiropractic will probably help.

Homeopathic remedies for dogs ~ This is only just being widely accepted in the US, but has been a popular health practice for animals in Europe and other parts of the world.

Homeopathy believes that chemical medications and supplements interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself. Thus a homeopathic vet will encourage a dogs owner to select a healthy diet for their dog and discourage the use of medication, particularly steroids, before commencing treatment.

Homeopathy is truly holistic dog health in practice as it takes into consideration more than the physical symptoms but also looks at the dog’s environment, behavior and personality as well.

Dog massage ~ There’s probably not a dog in the world who doesn’t enjoy a massage. Massage can improve circulation and ease stress in dogs. When done by a professional it can also ease aching joints and improve muscle tone. We will expand further on massage techniques for dogs on another page.

Holistic treatment for dogs will benefit your dog and holistic vets are gradually growing in numbers. Some traditional vets are also leaning more towards holistic dog health.