In our westernized society, alternative forms of therapy and medicine are often viewed with suspicion and occasionally, outright disbelief. Practices like acupuncture, acupressure or even homeopathy have many critics. Still, when it comes to resolving their pets’ ills, some pet owners are willing to take a chance on a non-traditional treatment.

Holistic medicine is generally defined as medical care of the whole pet, including environment, social and personal factors as opposed to the focus of treating just the disease. Integrative medicine embraces both conventional Western styles with holistic practices. Many people refer to non-traditional medicine as alternative or even complementary medicine.

These non-conventional approaches include therapies as diverse as acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic care, and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM).

For some pet owners and even some veterinarians, thinking about alternative medicine for their pets has come about from personal experiences. Although practices such as herbal medicine and homeopathy might be recognized by the public, other therapies might sound a little more exotic.

For all holistic veterinarians, slow acceptance and the potential for scorn and ridicule have been part of their journey.

Considerable skepticism still remains for these alternative therapies. Although the site is geared towards human medicine, www.quackwatch.com has made its mission to disclose health related frauds. Many of the therapies mentioned above are discussed in detail on this site. The major opposition centers on a lack of controlled scientific evidence and dubious diagnostic and therapeutic standards.

The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) is also trying to combat the “lack of evidence” argument. Through certification processes and collection of case studies, IVAS hopes to bring acupuncture into the mainstream of practice. For pet owners seeking acupuncture, the IVAS seal is an important credential.

Pets, like their human caretakers, are individuals and despite lack of scientific evidence, it is possible that some animals may respond to these treatments. A certified veterinary acupuncturist and noted author on alternative therapies has said to remind owners that integrative medicine is most beneficial for the pet and that many complementary treatments are more mainstream than people realize. Glucosamine was once alternative medicine but now is widely accepted.

When your pet is ill or suffering, make sure you and your veterinarian can reach a diagnosis for your pet before rushing off to try a novel treatment you heard about on the Internet. If you have a strong belief that a holistic approach would benefit your pet, discuss this option with your veterinarian. To learn more about other alternative treatments visit the Pet Health Resources Library at www.PetDocsOnCall.com. You can also participate in interactive holistic medicine forums.

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Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-PETS (7387)