Holistic Pets | Holistic Pet Treatments

Holistic pet treatments emphasize the body's natural ability to heal itself aided by the use of non-toxic, natural treatments or therapy. Following the golden rule of "First, do no harm," this type of approach to pet care is centered on the animal as a whole then focuses largely on preventative measures to future good health.

Holistic Pet Treatments vs. Traditional Veterinary Care

The main differences between holistic pet treatments and traditional veterinary care can be summed up rather simply with these two examples:

1. Your two year old Labrador is suddenly limping, favoring one back leg over another, so you head to the vet's office to find out why. The vet duly examines your dog and treats the leg itself for whatever is causing the limp, such as a bruised tendon or problem with their paw.

Holistic pet treatments, on the other hand, will of course, address that bruised tendon or the burr stuck in the paw, but it will also look at the animal as a whole, treating them from the "inside out," so to speak, looking at everything from their environment, their diet, their lifestyle, even their psychological well being.

2. Now, your 11 year old, indoor cat has suddenly developed some type of skin irritation and is scratching incessantly although fleas have been ruled out. At the vet's, your cat is examined and then prescribed an antibiotic for the infection and a topical cream to help with itching and you're sent on your way. Holistic pet treatments for the same problem would involve finding solutions for both the short-term problem, the skin infection, as well as the long-term problem, discovering what actually caused the infection to occur in the first place, and how to prevent it from returning again.

A veterinarian who practices holistic pet care is one that will take into consideration the animal as a whole, keeping in mind how they once had to survive in the wild, what they ate, and basically how they existed before we as humans domesticated them. A responsible and knowledgeable holistic vet will not ever exclude modern medicine as a part of treatment, but rather use it as a complementary aspect of their overall care.

Holistic Care and Herbal Remedies

People have been treating each other with a variety of herbal remedies for as long as, well, for as long as people have been in existence. Following this line of factual thinking with thousands and thousands of years of practice behind it, herbs, flowering essences, essential oils, and other plant extracts have the ability to help heal the body naturally with minimal side effects.

Here's a quick list of some herbs and how they are used as a part of holistic pet treatments today:

- Asian ginseng: Treating low-grade fevers
- Calendula: Healing wounds
- Chamomile: Healing wounds, treating respiratory disorders
- Echinacea: Boosting the immune system
- Flaxseed: Treating constipation and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
- Gingko: Treating memory problems in older dogs
- Lavender: Used to promote sleep
- Milk thistle: Treating liver conditions
- Oats: Treating skin conditions; itching, dry skin
- Raspberry: Used to soothe pregnant dogs and cats
- Yeast: Treating diarrhea, used as a skin supplement

Not all herbs are safe for pets, some may be dangerous or even fatal, so before dispensing of any type of holistic pet treatments to your own animals, be sure to check with an expert on the subject for recommended dosage instructions or other pertinent bits of info you may need to safely treat your pet.

If you're anything like the large majority of pet owners, you head to the store and purchase your favorite brand of commercially made dog or cat food and feed it to your pet, feeling secure that they're getting all of the nutrition they need, as after all, it says so right on the bag. But, are they really?

The pet nutrition industry is a multi-billion dollar industry full of hype and false claims. Consumers are being duped into believing that they are feeding their pets healthy foods, when in actuality they are feeding nothing more than inferior meat meals, cheap grains (including corn and soy), fillers, by-products, pesticides, preservatives and toxins. Never before has the pet-food industry been rocked by widespread contamination and rampant recalls. In all, more than 5,600 products by dozens of pet food makers have been recalled, from chain supermarket brands to prescription-only foods. This is a staggering number of products, and is unprecedented in this business. Thousands of deaths are due to the contamination, and many thousands more have suffered illnesses. We shudder to think of the long-term impacts of the compromised liver and kidney function and how this will affect thousands of companion animals in America. Experts believe that the severe reactions experienced by some animals were the result of an interaction of chemicals, between the melamine and a list of other culprits, including cyuranic acid.

Following are a few of the sites we trust with our pets:

Pet Alive

Pet Alive is one of the leading holistic pet treatment stores online today.

We like them because of their dedication to holistic pet treatments, cheap prices, and dedication to customer support.

They offer a one-year guarantee on all their products, worldwide shipping, and an impressive list of holistic pet treatments including:

• Kidney problems,
• UTIs,
• Digestive Support,
• Parasites,
• Skin Problems,
• Kennel cough,
• Oral health,
• and more....

Only Natural Pet

Think of it as a holistic "PetsMart" and you'll begin to see the appeal of Only Natural Pet.

Vitamins, supplements, toys, pet food, flea and tick products, pet treats, grooming, hygiene, and more...are all offered under the virtual "roof" of this huge online store.

We like Only Natural Pet because they actually live up to their name. They help us care for our pets...naturally! If you want to start caring for your pets holistically, you'll want to add this site to your favorites.

Pet Care Rx

Even the most hardcore holistic pet owner will tell you that there are certain times when modern medicine will be needed to help care for your pet.

When that time comes, turn to Pet Care Rx for all your pet medicine needs. Pet Care Rx is a certified online pharmacy that is 100% FDA and EPA approved...no chance of getting scammed here. Only top-quality, low-cost pet medicines.

We like them because there's no membership fee to get the "special" prices, they have an online pharmacist and veterinarian, and your medicine comes right to your door. Plus you can track your order, so you'll know exactly when your medicine will arrive. They're our pet medicine one-stop shop.

#1. Just how is the term "holistic pet care" defined overall?

Holistic pet care addresses the animal as a whole, looking at more than the obvious when trying to determine the root of a particular problem, or when giving simple preventative care. It also takes into account an animal's complete environment as well as their mental well being in addition to their physical body when it comes to developing the best course of treatment.

#2. Does holistic pet care eschew traditional veterinary medicine? In other words, if I take my dog to a "holistic vet" will they still make use of the advances of modern science when it comes to treating serious illnesses?

A veterinarian who practices holistic pet care will indeed do everything in their power to care for your animal, including the use of modern veterinary medicine complemented by a holistic approach that may involve treatments such as herbal remedies, natural, nutritional supplements, or even acupuncture.

#3. How does holistic pet care involve the use of massage or acupuncture?

Much like both massage and acupuncture are said to be beneficial to humans suffering from common conditions like arthritis, our pets, especially dogs who are prone to degenerative joint diseases and osteoarthritis, can benefit from the use of these practices in addition to traditional medication if necessary.

Acupuncture, which uses very thin needles inserted into strategic locations throughout the body, or acupressure, a type of massage that's essentially the same practice but without the needles, are both used on dogs for relieving discomfort. This ancient Chinese practice is said to help control pain as it stimulates the production of the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals in the brain.

#4. What are some of the absolute essentials our dogs must have in their diets as a part of their holistic pet care in order to be healthy?

The vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids that our dogs should have include beta carotene, folic acid, calcium, iron, manganese, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, and D3, just to name a few. Most of these can be found in items such as chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, brown rice, flax seed, sunflower oil, and yeast cultures.

What our pets DON'T need in their diets include all of the unnecessary fillers that are used today in commercial dog and cat foods, like the wheat and corn glutens that were found to be contaminated during the recent pet food recalls.

#5. What are some of the early warning signs that may indicate my pet is suffering from a nutritional imbalance or that their immune system isn't functioning at its optimal level?

The immune system is rather vulnerable to the effects of improper nutrition and problems may manifest themselves in several different ways including many with the skin and fur such as "hot spots," excessive shedding or hair loss, dry, itchy skin, and eczema.

Other signs the immune system is being compromised or not functioning as it should may include an excess of ear wax, runny eyes, bad breath, tarter and plaque build-up on the teeth, body odor, hyperactivity, a loss of energy, and digestive problems like diarrhea or vomiting. If your dog always seems to want to eat grass then vomits, but still continues to do so, this is also a good sign that something may be amiss with their digestive or immune systems.