Veterinarians practicing holistic veterinary medicine frequently utilize alternative treatments, including acupuncture, herbs without prescription and homeopathy.
Holistic veterinarians take an holistic approach when treating cats, taking into account all aspects of diet, environment, exercise and stress levels as well as hereditary traits as well as supplements or medication that could potentially benefit their care.
Chinese Herbal Therapy
Chinese herbal therapy, part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been utilized for millennia to restore harmony within the body and treat imbalances or disharmonies within. Used alongside acupuncture and food therapy treatments, Chinese herbal therapy assists the natural healing process in supporting natural recovery.
Chinese herbal therapy relies on ancient herbs like ginseng and licorice root to boost your pet’s immunity while improving his energy. They also balance out yin and yang energies for overall wellness – often at less expense than conventional medication regimens.
Most people who utilize herbal medicine experience increased energy, better sleep, improved digestion, and an overall sense of well-being. Herbs work holistically by treating both physical symptoms as well as any related emotional distress, so many continue taking them even after initial symptoms have subsided.
Herbs in veterinary medicine are most frequently administered via capsule. However, they can also be mixed in with your pet’s food or given as a special treat; since cats can sometimes be picky eaters it may be wiser to give these as treats before trying them alone. Herbs should be administered twice daily and, similar to any form of medication, must be given regularly in order for results to show.
Herbal medicines for cats include chamomile and valerian root, both known to reduce anxiety. Valerian root acts as a natural depressant that may also help calm an overly anxious animal. Another popular herb used as natural medicine for cats is yarrow, which can prevent and heal inflammation while being particularly useful in treating arthritis and other musculoskeletal issues. For more information about alternative medicine for your cat consult with a holistic veterinarian who has studied acupuncture – these vets often offer this ancient practice too!
Acupuncture
Alternative medicine has grown increasingly popular, and some cat owners find acupuncture to be a fantastic way to aid their pet’s healing naturally. Vet acupuncture involves placing needles along specific energy channels known as meridians to stimulate hormone release that can alleviate pain, inflammation and other symptoms naturally.
Acupuncture can be an extremely effective treatment for many illnesses and conditions. It works by resetting the balance of energy in the body – known as “chi” – to ease chronic pain, arthritis, gastrointestinal issues, behavioral issues and cancer among other things. Acupuncture can also increase blood flow while supporting immune systems to facilitate healing processes naturally and enhance cats’ healing capabilities.
Acupuncture also promotes the body’s natural painkillers called endorphins to be released, helping reduce dependence on medications by decreasing side effects and interactions among them. Furthermore, this therapy may reduce medication usage overall through reduced side effects and interactions.
Acupuncture can be safely used on almost all cats, with most tolerating it well. When combined with herbal medicine, acupuncture provides a very safe treatment option for the feline population. To find out how acupuncture may benefit your feline friend, reach out to our office to arrange an appointment and learn more! Our veterinarian team is eager to hear from you and assist them in leading an optimal life!
Massage
At times it’s easy to be confused by terms like “alternative medicine,” “holistic care” and “natural treatment.” Your local Raleigh veterinarian has the knowledge necessary to distinguish between treatments that are truly safe and those which pose greater risks for your pet.
Herbal products designed specifically for cats include valerian root, which alters how parts of the brain communicate; chamomile, which reduces stress hormones and anxiety; and goldenseal, an herb which shrinks swollen gums while treating infections. Cat-specific herbal tinctures combine several herbal supplements for maximum effect.
Many herbs can act as powerful antioxidants that defend cells and tissues against oxidative damage caused by free radicals, including vitamins A, C and E; beta-carotene; and flavonoids. Some varieties are available as tasty chewable tablets that make administration simpler than pills; they bypass digestion entirely, making taking medicine much more pleasant for your cat! Medications in transdermal form are also available to treat hyperthyroidism and alleviate pain as well as to protect from fleas and ticks in cats that refuse eating food!
This book covers dietary issues for felines, such as the advantages of raw diets, as well as offering homemade food recipes. Additional chapters explore detoxification, herbs (without prescribing them) and supplements. A chapter on feline astrology helps pet owners understand its behavioral and medical implications in relation to their cat’s date of birth.
Be mindful that herbal treatments tend to work best in cases of mild to moderate anxiety or short-term stressful situations (like a trip to the vet). Chronic stress should be managed using behavioral modification protocols and, if necessary, prescribed medications.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is an holistic form of medicine that uses highly diluted substances to assist the body’s natural healing processes. Homeopathy was invented by Samuel Hahnemann during his dissatisfaction with conventional medical practices such as bloodletting. Homeopathy works according to the “like cures like” principle – meaning substances which cause similar symptoms in healthy animals (bee sting or poison ivy for example) can be used to treat illnesses that manifest similar symptoms, like allergies or diarrhea in sick ones.
Practitioners of animal homeopathy utilize various plant and mineral materials to prepare remedies, with remedies then being diluted via stirring and shaking vigorously (known as succussion). As more remedies are diluted, their potency increases, helping stimulate healing responses within the body.
These remedies come in the form of pellets or liquid drops and should be stored in spring- or filtered-water glasses to remain uncontaminated by strong odors or electromagnetic fields. When giving homeopathy remedies to your pet, carefully monitor for changes; even subtle ones like lifting the head may indicate progress – it is important not to overlook even minor modifications!
At its core, holistic treatment should complement traditional options for animal wellness. A good homeopath should consider diet, environment, exercise, stress levels and signs of disease in an animal when assessing them as patients; also finding out what their responses are to any given treatment and why.
Transdermal Medications
Many medications that can be given orally can also be given transdermally in gel or patch form. Your veterinarian will work closely with a compounding pharmacist to determine if their pet’s medication can be tailored into this form of administration. Common examples include methimazole for treating hyperthyroidism; amitriptyline to manage behavioral issues and provide pain relief; and fentanyl as pain relief medication. Heartworm, flea and tick preventives have also been designed as transdermal gel formulations.
Transdermal delivery offers several advantages that include site specific treatment, avoidance of first pass metabolism by the liver, decreased gastrointestinal tract irritation and elimination of peak and trough concentrations of medication. Unfortunately not all drugs can be made suitable for transdermal formulation and there may be side effects associated with using transdermal medication.
Transdermal medications tend to cause skin sensitivity as their most prominent adverse reaction, usually manifested as mild to moderate irritation that may progress to full-blown dermatitis. Other potential side effects can include burst capillaries (erythema), localized inflammation around application site and swelling due to edema.
Help is necessary when giving transdermal medication to your pet, and petting or providing their favorite toy should distract them while you squirt the medication onto their ears. A clump or glob of medication could easily dislodge and be swallowed unknowingly, potentially leading to serious side effects including potentially life-threatening ones like those contained within fentanyl-containing products.