How to Find and Use Holistic Veterinarians

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By Shirley Philbrick
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Companion animals

To find and use holistic veterinarians; may or may not, be easy to do depending on where you live. The following article will cite resources that will be helpful in finding a holistic practitioner near you and provide information on complementary health care for your pet.

More and more, the veterinary world is discovering that just like people; our companion animals may heal more quickly when holistic medicine is applied to their care. A holistic pet care approach is such that a dog, or cat, is regarded in it's entirety: meaning body and mind.

The idea is to design the optimal lifestyle approach for the animal's well being; and treat any ailments with the least invasive (and least expensive) means possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

FIND HOLISTIC VETERINARIANS:

Optimally, start with your local vet. Ask him, or someone knowledgeable, in the veterinary clinic; if they offer holistic care options such as acupuncture, homeopathy, flower essence remedies, or other complimentary care treatments.

Alternatively, you can visit the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association website or the altvetmed.org for listings of alternative therapies and holistic pet care providers. (See resources below for links).
Step 2

LEARN WHAT HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE IS:

Do some research on holistic medicine if you're not familiar with treatment options. You'll likely be pleasantly surprised to find out that dogs, and cats, respond quite well to acupuncture, flower essence remedies, and other holistic care options.
Step 3

KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HOLISTIC PET CARE PROVIDERS:

At the veterinary clinic, (or at certain vet schools), your pet will be given a complete physical exam. The veterinarian will observe the animal's behavior, medical background, eating habits, patterns of stress, and other factors.

A treatment plan will then be implemented using any, or a combination of, complimentary care options such as chiropractic, massage, herbs, acupuncture, dietary modification, and others. Conventional medicine or surgery may also be part of the treatment plan for your pet.
Step 4

Please see resources below and on other areas of the page for additional information on holistic veterinarians.

Comments

jenajera said

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on 3/12/2009 Natural medicine for pets - what a great idea!

sonni57 said

on 3/11/2009 Good advice on holistic veterinarians and well done article.

amberdawn said

on 2/14/2009 Wow, interesting. I never knew about holistic vets.

lydiabily said

on 2/12/2009 I didn't realize that holistic healthcare for animals had become so popular, but it's great to know! Thanks for the lowdown on what to expect from a holistic vet, and terrific resources, too.