Veterinary Care Basics
- 1. Basic, Commmonly Used Drugs
- 2. Veterinary Specialists
- 3. Can Your Dog Be a Blood Donor?
- 4. How to Tell if a Cat or Dog May Need Veterinary Care
- 5. Getting the Most Out of Your Pet's Veterinary Visits
- 6. Holistic Pet Care
- 7. Medical Procedures on Young Animals
- 8. Choosing a Vet
Holistic Pet Care
Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M.
One of the most important aspects of being a pet parent is
providing for the emotional and physical well-being of your
animal companions. Veterinary practitioners who offer an
integrated approach to healthcare - combining the best of
conventional medicine with that of complementary and alternative
therapies - may offer a helpful and viable option beyond what
traditional care can offer.
As a vet practicioner, I have spent most of my career
searching for ways to provide better care for my patients.
Learning about alternative therapies convinced me to share my
discoveries with others through the Natural Vet book series
(published by Prima). This allowed me to share everything I had
learned about natural pet care with other doctors and pet
guardians.
This desire to offer alternative care to my patients in no way
indicated any displeasure on my part with conventional medicine.
Rather, I concluded that conventional medicine had certain
limitations. The integration of complementary and alternative
therapies with my conventional training allowed me to go beyond
those limitations by using an either/or approach. Some of the
holistic options I've examined include acupuncture, chiropractic,
herbal medicine and nutritional therapy.
Beyond Conventional Medicine
Why are some veterinarians and pet caretakers interested in
alternative health care? In some cases, no conventional
treatments are available. For example, milk thistle is a
wonderful herb that helps heal the liver; there are no
conventional medications that can provide the same benefit.
Probiotics and glutamine are wonderful complementary therapies to
heal a diseased intestinal tract, yet there are no conventional
medicines that do the same.
Complementary therapies are often chosen to minimize side
effects from conventional approaches. Probiotics, for example,
can minimize damage to the intestinal tract when antibiotic
therapy is needed.
Many owners view complementary therapies as safer than
conventional ones. While some therapies - especially herbal ones
- can be toxic, most complementary methods are safer than
conventional medications. Glucosamine and chondroitin, for
example, are safer for treating pets (and people) with arthritis
than corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
medications.
Finally, many complementary therapies cost less over the long
term for the treatment of your pet.
Give It a Try
Anyone can easily initiate an integrated approach to pet care.
Start by feeding the best, most wholesome diet possible.
Supplement it with healthy, whole food sources of vitamins
and minerals, fatty acids and digestive enzymes that can improve
digestion, minimize inflammation and decrease harmful effects
from cellular oxidation. Finally, minimize any unnecessary
medications, including vaccines.
I'm often asked for proof that complementary or alternative
therapies work. While there is more clinical support for the use
of these therapies in people, there is an increasing body of
knowledge that has demonstrated positive results in animals, as
well. Having treated thousands of animals with the various
complementary and alternative therapies at my disposal, my
favorite "proof" is how my own patients respond to these
therapies. Either the pet gets better or he doesn't. If the
therapy doesn't work, we try something else. If I used only a
conventional approach, many of my patients would not improve, as
some diseases have a limited number of therapies that may be
helpful. By listening to the pet's body and observing his
response to the chosen therapy, the integrative approach allows
me to create a program that works best for each and every
patient.
I encourage you to learn about this fascinating aspect of pet
health care. Discuss your new knowledge with your own
veterinarian. Slowly incorporate some of the things you learn
into your pet's preventative health regimen. You can then begin
to take a holistic approach to pet care.
Dr. Messonnier (naturalvet@juno.com) is a veterinarian and author
of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats.
© 2003 ASPCA
ASPCA Animal Watch - Spring 2003
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Pet Health: Veterinary Care Basics:
Medical Procedures on Young Animals
