Dr. Laura Hady
The history of holistic medicine for animals can be documented back to the first century AD when used on Roman animals by the herbalist Pliny. However, I suspect humans were treating their animals with plant-based medications before this time. Portions of holistic medicine are taken from Eastern medicine, which looks at the whole animal, not just the area of concern, when diagnosing and treating conditions. Some branches of holistic medicine include homeopathy, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, chiropractic, and nutritional support. These practices, outlined below, can often complement the Western style of health care.
- Homeopathy is said to work according to the principle of, “Like cures like.” According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, “Homeopathy refers to the treatment of a disease with sometimes extreme dilutions of a substance that in the undiluted form may cause symptoms of that disease.” A homeopathic veterinary product may be of plant, animal, chemical or mineral origin. One example would be salt. It is a chemical that can cause dehydration in its pure form, but in homeopathy, a prescription of salt to treat a pet would be disseminated in a much more diluted form. Caution should be taken using these products without the oversight of a veterinarian and be aware they may have some positive placebo effects. The Federal Trade Commission has stated that homeopathic products cannot include claims of effectiveness unless proven by reliable scientific evidence.
- Acupuncture in animals may help to promote healing by restoring the body’s energy balance. Fine needles are inserted into strategic points along the body where nerves and blood vessels come together (often in muscles). Each point is part of a meridian focused on healing and decreasing pain in certain areas. For example, the liver and gallbladder meridian has points close to the eye and may extend down to the foot. This can help treat hip issues, gastrointestinal conditions, ear problems and neurologic diseases. My advice is to find a credentialed veterinary acupuncturist and have the practitioner work with your family veterinarian to diagnose a condition. They can also communicate with each other about medications given as well as responses to treatment.
- Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years on people. A veterinary provider of holistic medicine can best direct which herb, or combination of herbs, will help to restore balance in your pet with chronic issues. However, when an herbal combination is given, your family veterinarian may not be able to know exactly how much of an herb and what is in that formulation or its application for a certain health issue. For example, when I request a report of Chinese herb combinations from holistic veterinarians, the names are often in Chinese. Keep in mind, too, that some formulations may contain impurities and/or are contraindicated with mainstream veterinary drugs. For example, stinging nettle should not be used with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in animals.
- Chiropractic care involves specific manipulations of the spine and other areas of the body to promote healing and decrease pain in joints, the skeleton, or spine of an animal. According to the American Kennel Club website, it is important to talk with your family veterinarian or with an experienced, accredited veterinary chiropractic about whether or not chiropractic care can help. The key to effective treatment is an accurate diagnosis, which may involve radiographs, ultrasound for soft tissues, and manual palpation of the entire animal.
- Nutrition is also an important part of holistic care, especially when commercial diets are unable to help chronic medical conditions such as food allergies. Certain energy sources (known as Chi in holistic medicine) may provide too much heat in a diet, according to Eastern practices. Some foods are considered neutral or cooling. Examples of warming food include chicken and lamb, while others like turkey, fish and rabbit are cooling. Veterinary holistic practitioners can help you formulate or recommend a diet that may help with chronic health conditions.
Holistic medicine continues to be a rapidly growing portion of veterinary medicine. Effective communication among all parties is essential for good outcomes for pain, mobility and comfort. There are several credentialed veterinary acupuncturists providing holistic medicine in the Albuquerque area, including Dr. Susan Erika-Argeres, Dr. Fredric Schlessinger, Dr. Annet Sheffield, Dr. Todd Webster, Dr. Christine Wilson (also performs chiropractic care), Dr. Amanda Mouradian in Santa Fe (also provides chiropractic care), and Dr. Diana DeBlanc (chiropractic care for horses), to name just a few. I know these practitioners personally and have seen them guide their clients and treat their patients with positive outcomes.
