Alternative health care for dogs, such as holistic health care, is quickly becoming the way for owners to make sure that their beloved pets are healthy, playful, and living long, happy, full lives. Perhaps the most important aspect for a dog’s health would be a unique blend of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to make sure the joints, organs, and digestive systems make work in harmony as well with the skin and coat being healthy. A great diet for your pet dog should remain a holistic approach as meals should consist of meat, vegetables, and whole grains. The important thing is to avoid processed foods.
Herbal Alternatives to the Health of Your Dog
Using a combination of various essential oils, flowering essences, plant extracts, and certain herbs, people have been treating a host of ailments and health conditions for the last few thousand years. As of recently, these ancient healing practices have found their way into pet care and are now becoming increasingly popular as more and more dog owners are looking for safer, healthier, and less invasive alternatives to treating their pets.
Some of the plant life that’s used for treating dogs include both calendula and chamomile for promoting the healing of wounds, and the latter is often used for the treatment of respiratory ailments as well. For dogs suffering from constipation or bowel disorders, crushed flax seed mixed with plenty of water may do the trick. For dry, itchy skin, oats are as soothing to a dog’s skin as they are to a human’s, and if your pup is having trouble sleeping, smelling some lavender may help them to relax and finally fall soundly asleep.
Be sure to do your homework before using any herbal concoctions on your dog. Some herbs and flowers can be harmful or even toxic to animals or people. In addition, you should be sure to consult your dog?s vet and get his or her advice when you?re thinking of switching to holistic health care and so-called ?natural cures?
Holistic Medicine for Animals
Nowadays, many veterinarians are developing faith in a holistic dog fitness approach, and are using it as a way to augment their practices. A veterinarian who practices holistic pet care treats animals as a whole, rather than identifying a certain problem and prescribing one type of treatment related to that specific injury or illness.
As an example, if your dog presents with a skin rash displaying symptoms like itching, irritation, redness, and possible infection with concomitant fur loss, a prescription from a “traditional” vet would certainly include an antibiotic and maybe an ointment for the itching.
A holistic veterinarian will be more concerned about the source of the rash and why it happened even though they may still prescribe the two remedies. Keeping holistic care in mind, the dog’s indoor and outdoor environment, its daily lifestyle, eating habits and nutritional intake are all to be considered before diagnosing or treating the animal.
In light of growing concerns over pet food recalls, questions about whether or not to vaccinate, or how many immunizations may be “too much,” or if we’re over-medicating our pets as well as ourselves as a society, dog owners continue to search for effective ways for keeping their beloved best friends as healthy and happy for as long as possible.
