Many pet owners choose veterinary practices that combine alternative medicine with traditional care to ensure their pets' well-being. The following are some of the most popular holistic services that promote good health and address problems at their roots.

Nutrition Counseling

Every pet wants delicious food, but animals must also consume sufficient and vital nutrients and vitamins. A diet customized to address a pet's unique circumstances can eliminate a wide range of ailments, including skin rashes, digestive upset, joint inflammation, and thinning coat. Understanding an animal's calorie requirements can also prevent over or under-feeding, leading to obesity or malnutrition and the infirmities they promote.

Massage Therapy

In addition to being a helpful activity to promote bonding with a pet, massage provides the following physical health benefits:

•       Improved circulation and blood oxygen levels for vitality

•       Drainage of the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins

•       Reduction in stress hormones leading to chronic anxiety

•       Increased flexibility of joints and muscles for better mobility

In addition to promoting a pet's security and trust, frequent massages that include lightly touching and pressing specific areas of an animal's body can reveal sensitivity or pain that requires further exploration.

Chiropractic Manipulation

Veterinary chiropractors cannot mend conditions such as broken bones or torn and sprained tendons and ligaments; however, they can perform structural manipulations that restore range of motion and reduce pain. Chiropractic treatments can address spinal misalignments, arthritis, hip dysplasia, or muscle stress caused by repetitive and compensatory movements, accidents, or other painful conditions. Periodic chiropractic adjustments can open the pathways that carry messages from the nervous system to the brain. This communication is essential for an animal's body to perform its various functions at an optimum level.

Acupuncture

This alternative medicine technique is suitable for treating a wide range of conditions, including arthritic pain and stiffness, digestive upset, incontinence, respiratory distress, and neurological abnormalities. It uses thin needles to stimulate nerves, muscles, and other connective tissue to promote the release of pain-reducing endorphins and improve the flow of blood and other essential body fluids. Aqua-acupuncture uses the needles to achieve constant and gentle stimulation of various sites through a steady flow of saline or vitamin B12. Electro-acupuncture attaches the thin needles to leads connected to a machine that generates mild electrical impulses to stimulate target areas quickly. The method of acupuncture treatment depends upon the problem.

Aromatherapy

The sense of smell is vital to all pets. Animals use it to explore and understand the world through highly sensitive nasal receptors. Diluting essential oils and spraying them in a pet's favorite spot can ensure that an animal absorbs them through breathable air. Gently massaging oils into the skin also allows them to enter a pet's body where they stimulate specific functions and systems that relieve pain, reduce anxiety, and motion sickness or increase immunity. It is vital to discuss aromatherapy pros and cons with a knowledgeable veterinarian to ensure a pet's safety and prevent adverse reactions.

Choose an Alternative Medicine Provider for Your Pet

Holistic healthcare methods can be invaluable for improving your furry friend's quality of life. Whether your pet is in pain or suffering from a chronic condition or needs essential preventative health services, choosing a provider that takes an integrative approach to your pet's health can ensure the best care possible.