natural pet
CHECKTreating the Whole Pet
VET by Julie Peterson A
bout 10 years ago, Kim Krouth’s dog, Buckeye, was suffering from severe allergy symptoms. Te
mixed-breed shepherd was licking and bit- ing her paws until her toe pads were bleed- ing. “Our conventional vet prescribed steroids,” recalls Krouth. “It helped some, but also agitated Buckeye. When I found out that other side effects could include serious health problems, I didn’t want to put her at risk.” Te Madison, Wisconsin, animal lover
headed to a holistic pet supply store to ask about alternative treatments for the dog’s al- lergies. She learned about herbal remedies, and was advised to take Buckeye to a holis- tic veterinarian. “Treating her holistically seemed like a better option than the side effects of treatment with drugs,” she says. Te holistic veterinarian recom-
mended acupuncture. It helped, but the dog later became sensitive to the needles. At that point, she was given homeopathic plant-based treatments that worked well with no side effects. Buckeye, now 15, has also received laser light therapy and spinal manipulation to help with mobility in her senior years.
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Te Holistic Difference Holistic veterinarians have been treating dogs, cats, chickens, livestock and exotic animals across the nation for some time, but many people aren’t entirely clear about how their approach—and their training— differs from a conventional vet. Both enter the profession aſter earning a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree.
NaturalAwakeningsOKC.com
Holistic practitio- ners can then choose to train in a variety of modalities, includ- ing acupuncture, herbs and physi- cal rehabilitation, plus trigger point, megavitamin and stem cell therapies. “Any method that is sufficiently differ-
ent from conventional medicine requires extra training ... over a period of weeks, months or years,” says Nancy Scanlan, DVM, the executive director of the Ameri- can Holistic Veterinary Medical Founda- tion, in Mount Shasta, California. Veterinarians, holistic or not, typi-
cally do the same initial examination of an animal, she says. From there, a holistic vet may look at additional areas or assess things in a slightly different way. “For example, someone trained in veterinary osteopathy or veterinary chiropractic would explore the range of motion of joints or the spine.” In treatment, holistic DVMs use an
integrative approach. Te goal is to look at the animal as a whole and treat the under- lying condition, rather than treating the symptoms. “Integrative medicine is about broadening our medical options, blending both conventional medical and holistic approaches. It focuses on client education and participation in the healing process of their pet,” says Danielle Becton, DVM, of Aloha Pet & Bird Hospital, in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.
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