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Hardly a week goes by during which Helpful Buckeye does not receive an inquiry about some form of "alternative" medicine. As these approaches to human medicine have grown in popularity, so too have they gained interest among pet owners. Just as with any topic that lies out of the mainstream of interest, these approaches to medicine have met with curiosity, serious interest, questioning, and outright disbelief.
Helpful Buckeye's goal this week is to take a closer look at these alternative forms of medicine and try to help you decide if they might help you and your pets.
Holistic Medicine Trends
By: Dr. Amy Wolff
Holistic medicine is a controversial subject. There
are passionate opinions on both sides. Opponents claim that if
"alternative" treatments really worked, they would be more widely
accepted and many illnesses and ailments would have been cured long ago. This
side of the debate feels that herbs and medications are often used
inappropriately without adequate training and understanding of the potential
side effects or dangers and without scientific evidence that they actually work.
These treatments have not been thoroughly investigated nor tested for efficacy
or safety and in some cases may actually be harmful.
Proponents feel that holistic treatments provide a
more "natural" way to heal the body in a world full of chemicals, preservatives
and synthetics. Many times, "alternative" treatments are used to
augment more traditional treatments and are not commonly used as the only
treatment.
The final decision to add alternative treatments to
your pet's current regime should be decided between you and your veterinarian.
Remember, these treatments are best used in conjunction with traditional
medicine and should not be used to completely replace proven, effective
treatments.
Just what does the term holistic really mean? The
word holistic means the body as a whole. With regard to holistic medicine, the
pet's environment, lifestyle, disease, relationship with the owner or other
pets, current medications as well as nutrition are taken into consideration
when determining the best treatment for the pet. Another term often used to
describe holistic medication is alternative treatments. Treatment options vary
and may include homeopathy, herbal medication, acupuncture or even nutritional
changes.
Holistic medicine alternatives have become more commonplace
treatment options in veterinary medicine. The goal of holistic medicine is to
promote wellness, not just to treat the symptoms of a disease. It is most often
used to augment traditional medical therapy or surgery.
Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathy is often misunderstood. It is not the
same as holistic nor is it the same as herbal treatment. The system of
homeopathy used today was originally developed by a German physician in the mid
1800s. The basic principle behind homeopathy is that "like cures like."
The primary concept of homeopathy is that medicine, plants, minerals, and drugs
that cause illness can also be used to cure the illness. Symptoms of illness
are thought to be the result of an internal imbalance.
Homeopathic remedies include the use of plants,
vitamins, minerals and other natural substances to treat illness. Homeopathic
practitioners believe that homeopathic remedies contain vibrational energy
essences that work with the disease state and help heal the pet.
Herbal Medicine
The use of herbs for their medicinal value is an old
practice that has regained new interest. Rather than the use of drugs, which
can alter the body's natural immune defenses, these remedies are used to help
stimulate the body to heal itself. Often, herbs are used in conjunction with
traditional drugs to help heal an ill pet.
Many of today's commonly used drugs were discovered
and isolated from plants. Taken in this purified and concentrated form, these
drugs are fast acting but often have potent and undesirable side effects. The
concept behind herbal remedies is to ingest an extract or dried form of a plant
known for its medicinal properties.
Since the active compounds are present in smaller
concentrations, the desired effect is often achieved with minimal side effects.
Herbal medicines are available for a wide variety of problems and many people
feel they are providing safer more natural medicine for their pets. Not all
veterinarians dispense herbal medicines. If you are interested in supplementing
your pet's diet with any herb, vitamin or mineral, be sure to check with his
veterinarian first. Some pets may require smaller than recommended doses or be
on medications that can cause interactions.
Some of the more commonly used herbal remedies
include:
• Calendula for wound healing
• Raspberry to help with pregnancy
• Echinacea to stimulate the immune system
• Milk thistle for liver disorders
• Chamomile for wound healing and respiratory
diseases
• Gingko to improve memory (mainly used in dogs)
• Lavender to promote restful sleep
• Oats to reduce itching - used in a bath
• Yeast as a skin supplement and for diarrhea
• Asian ginseng for low grade fevers
• Flaxseed for constipation and irritable bowel
syndrome
These should be treated as medications and not given
to your pet unless recommended by your veterinarian.
Popular but not recommended:
• Garlic or onion - can result in anemia
• White willow - used to reduce inflammation but
contains salicylates, which can be very irritating to the stomach, especially
in cats.
Acupuncture, Acupressure and Massage
As better health care and preventative medicine
increases the life span of your pet, sadly some dogs and cats will acquire
chronic diseases that may require periodic pain relief. Common examples of this
are osteoarthritis and degenerative joint diseases. Dogs especially may have
arthritis in hips, elbows, and spine that causes pain and limited activity as
the pet ages. Anti-inflammatories prescribed by your veterinarian may control
pain and inflammation but in some pets these drugs cause stomach upset and are
not well tolerated. These pets may benefit from acupuncture, acupressure or
massage to limit or relieve pain. Even pets treated with traditional
medications may also benefit from the added help acupuncture and massage may
provide.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of pain
control that causes the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals by the
brain. The stimulus for the release of these substances is accomplished with
the use of fine needles placed in strategic locations on the body. It is
generally a non-painful procedure, and well tolerated by many pets. Acupuncture
is also thought to strengthen the body's immune system and help improve organ
function.
Acupressure is a version of acupuncture, except that
in place of needles, firm pressure is applied to pain relief sites. The amount
of relief is generally less and of shorter duration than that of acupuncture.
Physical massage is often beneficial in relieving
chronic pain or rehabilitating an injury. Your veterinarian can demonstrate how
to massage a sore limb or use range-of-motion exercises to increase
circulation, strength and flexibility. For pets with sore hips or elbows, these
joint exercises often extend your pet's activity and comfort level. The use of
heat or cold with massage may provide added benefit. For a more intense
massage, consider consulting a certified massage therapist. These animal loving
professionals are trained in the proper ways to massage and strengthen your
beloved companion. Ask your veterinarian for further advice on massage therapy.
Nutrition
Nutrition is an important part of maintaining
wellness in your pet. Some people feel that commercially prepared pet foods can
contain excessive preservatives and chemical. There are a variety of natural
pet foods available as well as some homemade diets. Be sure to ask your
veterinarian before switching your pet's diet. Homemade diets are not as easy
as they may seem. Consult with your veterinarian before making any changes.
Adapted from: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/holistic-medicine-trends-2/page1.aspx
Dangers of Holistic Medication in Pets
The past several years has seen the growing
popularity of the "holistic" health movement. That trend is growing
in the world of veterinary care as well. Many pet owners seek to complement or
even replace traditional medical therapy with holistic treatments.
Holistic medicine, including alternatives such as
herbal/organic supplements, aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and
massage, are believed to support the body's ability to heal itself. In some
cases, the implementation of these practices may improve your pet's condition.
However, the same caution must be taken when using these alternatives as you
would with conventional medicine. When used inappropriately, serious illness
can result.
It is easy to be deceived by the words
"natural" and "organic." We believe that if a product is
natural then it must be safe to use. Remember that some extremely dangerous
substances are natural. Cyanide and arsenic are natural compounds but they are
certainly lethal. Care must be taken to understand the nature of any medicine
and its potential side effects.
Natural Diets and Vitamin Supplementation
Some pet owners formulate and cook their pet's diet
at home – for a number of reasons. Pets with special dietary needs are often
prescribed modified diets that may be unpalatable; home cooked meals may be
necessary. Commercial cat foods often contain flavorings, colors,
preservatives, protein or carbohydrate sources that are poorly tolerated in
some cats.
In addition, many people have ethical and moral
objections to the ingredients used in commercial foods. They want to eliminate
the use of animals as food sources, so they feed themselves and their pets
vegetarian diets.
A vegetarian diet for dogs, which are omnivores, is
possible. On the other hand, cats cannot thrive on a vegetarian diet. If you
are considering preparing your pet's food at home, ask your veterinarian for
recipes that give proper balance of nutrients and instructions for preparing
and storing it safely.
There is also the general feeling that a home cooked
meal is just better. Ingredients, preparation and freshness can be controlled
when the diet is made at home. But it takes careful research to balance a home
cooked meal with the necessary amounts of nutrients. There are many components
to producing a well-balanced diet for your pet with regard to primary
nutrients, vitamins and minerals. A common feeling is that if vitamins and
minerals are helpful in small amounts, then large amounts must be better.
Caution must be used here since overdoses of vitamins can cause serious
illness.
An overdose of vitamin A can cause bone disease;
large doses of vitamin C can cause stomach upsets; imbalances of vitamin D,
phosphorus and calcium can lead to bone demineralization. If you include raw
meats in the diet, bacterial contamination becomes a concern. The same goes for
raw eggs. Raw eggs also contain a protein that interferes with the absorption
of B vitamins.
Herbal Supplements and Cures
Medicines from plants have been used for thousands
of years to prevent or cure a wide variety of ailments. Most drugs used in
conventional medicine were originally derived from plant sources. While most
plants used have beneficial properties, it is important to remember that the
strength of the plant's active ingredients will vary with the variety of herb
and the horticultural practices used to grow them.
Herbs can be sprayed with pesticides, fungicides or
fertilizers. They may have been fertilized with improperly prepared compost,
which can harbor harmful bacteria. They may produce more than one active
compound causing unwanted side effects. They may worsen some medical
conditions. There are no standards for quality control in production and
dosages. Many have vomiting and diarrhea as a side effect. Onion, garlic,
pennyroyal, and ginseng are a few of the commonly used herbal preparations that
can cause toxicities if used inappropriately.
Even if your pet is taking an herbal supplement
without complication, make sure your veterinarian knows what you are giving.
Some herbs interfere with other health concerns and other medications.
Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chiropractic and Massage
Used as additions to pain relief and management of
chronic conditions, acupuncture, acupressure and chiropractic can be extremely
beneficial in making your pet more comfortable. Massage can be very helpful in
helping rehabilitate injury and increasing range of motion. The biggest concern
for this growing area of veterinary medicine is making sure you have qualified
professionals who have completed recognized courses of study in the treatment
of animal diseases. None of these procedures should be performed by novices.
Before beginning any health care program, talk to
your pet's veterinarian. Many clinics are incorporating these strategies into
your pet's total health care picture. It is unwise to go to your local health
store and buy a variety of herbs and supplements to add to your pet's regimen
without this consultation. Any illness or sudden change in your pet's behavior
should have a medical check up before initiating any treatments, herbal or
otherwise.
The Debate Over Alternative Therapies for Dogs
Practitioners of acupuncture and chiropractic
undoubtedly believe in the merits of these treatments, as their swelling ranks
will attest. But how do traditional veterinary practitioners view them? The
jury is still out.
John Bonagura, DVM, DACVIM, Editor of Kirk's Current
Veterinary Therapy, one of the leading "western medicine" veterinary
textbooks, suggests that before you embark on alternative treatments like
acupuncture or chiropractic that you should "first be certain you
understand the diagnosis."
In Bonagura's opinion, "using acupuncture or
chiropractic to treat your pet for a serious infection, for an acute asthmatic
attack, for heart or kidney failure or for uncontrolled seizures is both
incorrect and dangerous, and most practitioners of alternative methods would
not recommend such therapy."
Bonagura also advises that you "inquire about
the evidence that objectively recommends an alternative treatment." While
Bonagura believes that a number of alternative and complementary treatments
will prove valuable, he says, "it is very difficult to find objective, properly
conducted studies that assess the safety and effectiveness of these treatments
in pets with naturally occurring diseases." He adds, "because many
conditions improve with 'tincture of time,' the burden for all treatments -
whether for traditional medicine or an alternative therapy - should not be our
individual testimony, but carefully designed and unbiased clinical
studies."
While veterinarians and pet owners await such
information, there is no doubt that complementary and alternative treatments
will continue to increase.
Adapted from: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/the-debate-over-alternative-therapies-for-dogs/page1.aspx
As with anything else we do in life, whether it's
building a deck, planting a garden, investing your money, or taking care of
your pets, we are most likely to follow the "tried and true" methods
of previously successful efforts.
However, from time to time, there might be an innovative, alternative
idea that offers another way to be even more successful. If you have any thoughts of considering one
of these holistic approaches to taking care of your pets, Helpful Buckeye
suggests that you first talk it over with your veterinarian before pursuing it
any further.
Please send any comments or questions to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com
~~The goal of this blog is to provide general
information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more
rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the
professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian.
When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~
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