The phrase holistic medicine means treating the body as a whole and doing a deep dive to get at the root cause of health concerns instead of treating symptoms. It means utilizing a broad scope of treatments to generate solutions. The global holistic healthcare field has grown impressively, becoming a $1.5 trillion industry which continues to grow year over year.
We’re seeing the trend heading in the right direction with holistic veterinary care for our pets, too. Just as pharmaceuticals have side effects for humans, the same can be said for veterinary medicines. What if there was an entire array of options beyond pharmaceuticals to get to the root cause of your dog’s health issues?
Could Your Dog Benefit?
Over the last several years, the dynamic of the family household has shifted. According to a recent study, at least 97% of US pet owners consider their pets to be part of the family. And over 50% of pet owners say their dogs are as much as a part of their family as a human member.
As people embrace integrative healthcare for themselves, it only makes sense to demand the same approach for their pets. Considering a holistic approach opens the door for better health for your family dog: Quality food, and gentler treatments that aim to get to the root of the cause, instead of just treating the symptoms.
What is Holistic Veterinary Medicine?
According to the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, holistic treatment offers gentle, minimally invasive treatments by fully trained veterinarians. Holistic vets look at the animal as a whole in order to create a treatment plan that focuses on using natural methods to address diseases and conditions. A huge benefit is the expansive range of options available for treating a problem when you consider alternative and traditional therapies together. Holistic veterinary medicine also places special emphasis on disease prevention through nutrition, quality of food, lifestyle choices and regular checkups. Natural remedies are chosen, whenever possible, over synthetic drugs.
The How behind Holistic:
Here is just a short list of available treatments:
Acupuncture: Needles are inserted at specific points on the animal’s body to stimulate healing and pain relief. Acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in treating everything from joint inflammation to dry eyes.
Chiropractic Care: Adjustments are made to improve spinal alignment and overall nervous system function. Chiropractic care can be helpful for physical stress, impaired mobility and discomfort.
Herbal Medicine: Natural herbs are used to treat various conditions, either alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Homeopathy: This involves treating pets with minute doses of substances that would produce symptoms of the disease in healthy animals.
Nutritional Counseling: Diet and nutrition play a crucial role in holistic veterinary medicine. Customized diet plans might be recommended. Conventional pet food can have less than favorable ingredients, potentially causing issues. See this article here.
Physical Therapy: Used to help animals recover from injury, surgery, or degenerative diseases.
Energy Healing (Reiki): An ancient Japanese technique where energy is channeled to promote healing and relaxation.
Natural Supplements: Supplement formulas are everywhere. Just like with human supplements, where you buy and what you buy matters. For pets, here’s what Meehan formulations offers:
PAWS Sugar– Balancing support for blood sugar issues.
PAWS Fatigue – Created for older dogs, working breeds, any dog who needs a little vitality support.
PAWS Pain -A different way to approach relieving discomfort. Patented, vet tested formula.
PAWS Joint Trouble – Get beyond Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Meehan Formulations has done the homework to seek out better ingredients, including ingredients like Irish Moss and Omega-3s.
PAWS Allergies – Active nutrients support gut health and may soothe irritated skin and digestive issues.
Although our formulas are targeted to dogs on the label, they’re safe for all kinds of pets: cats, rabbits, horses, goats, etc. Just go by weight. Send us an email if you’re unsure about how much to give: support@meehanformulations.com or Ask the Minute Clinic to get you the answers you need.
The Why Behind Holistic:
Reduced side effects: Natural treatments can have fewer side effects compared to some traditional drugs.
Individualized care: Every animal is unique, and the holistic approach takes this into account when deciding what treatment options to include.
Wellness: By taking in the bigger picture of your dog’s overall health and wellness, you’re being offered more than just a treatment for a disease. You’re being offered a roadmap to wellbeing and the chance for your pet to live the best life possible.
Take for example, Dog anxiety; a common condition, whether it’s due to separation anxiety, external stressors such as travel and thunderstorms, or no identifiable reason at all! A traditional veterinarian may offer anti-anxiety medication, which often comes with a long list of side effects. To top that off, you may not see any benefit for a few weeks.
In contrast, a holistic vet may suggest appropriate botanicals, herbs and other treatments such as weighted blankets or homeopathy to calm the nervous system of your dog, without the side effects. And treatment results can often be seen much quicker as well. Exploring your options seems like a good idea to find a sustainable solution.
One of the major drawbacks to holistic veterinary care is that the cost isn’t always covered by pet insurance. Hopefully with successful outcomes, holistic treatment coverage will expand.
We believe that good, healthy food, the right supplements and the right preventative care, while it might be more expense up front, in the long run it pays off big time in a healthy, happier life. Quality of life matters.
Would you like to find a holistic vet for your pet? Click on the link to use the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association search directory: https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/#!directory/map/ord=lnm. Do your research, and make sure they have the appropriate training in any modality they claim to use.
Thanks for reading. We really appreciate it.
