We all love our fur babies and would do anything for them. A large percentage of people spend more money on their animals than they do on themselves. This issue’s Top 7 List brings you the Top 7 Alternative Medicine Treatments for Pets. Some therapies are more affordable than others and some you may not know can benefit animals just as they do people. We hope this list brings you some ideas on ways to help your own pets if they’re suffering from particular ailments.
7. HYDROTHERAPY:
Hydrotherapy is a form of occupational or physiotherapy that uses water to help rehabilitate injuries your dog might have and to also relieve pain. It’s especially beneficial for dogs who have conditions such as a torn ACL, hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, or dogs who have been paralyzed or lost a limb. Hydrotherapy uses buoyancy, resistance, viscosity, and hydrostatic pressure to help a dog move the injured joints they are trying to rehabilitate. This type of therapy works because, essentially, you provide weightless physical therapy and remove the added pressure of gravity. Your pet’s buoyancy in water reduces the stress on their joints as they try to recover from their condition. This type of therapy is also a natural anti-inflammatory due to its ability to reduce swelling in body tissues. Finding hydrotherapy specialists can be difficult and expensive. There are different kinds of hydrotherapies as well, from underwater treadmills to dog pools. If budget is a concern, you can always use a friend’s swimming pool or go to the lake to get the benefits of hydrotherapy.
6. SOUND THERAPY:
Contrary to what you might think, sound therapy is not the same thing as music therapy. Sound healing uses specific frequencies and harmonics that are said to heal the body. Certain frequencies are known to help heal the body and soul. Sound therapy deconstructs music into pure sound, harnessing the knowledge that sound can have a powerful effect on our emotions. Sound therapists believe that we are all made up of different energy frequencies. They use sound frequencies to interact with these, thus attempting to rebalance the body’s energy. Subjects enter an altered state of consciousness, experiencing “floaty feelings, reduced anxiety and muscle tension” and even losing a sense of time as their brainwaves settle at a lower frequency. Sound healing works on healing the mental and emotional levels. Sound healing reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. Balancing and clearing the mind leads to a renewed sense of purpose, well-being, calm, and happiness. Deep relaxation is the most universal benefit of sound therapy.
5. FRESH FOOD DIET & SUPPLEMENTS:
Pet food can be highly processed and contain additives like corn, meal and byproducts as filler in both dry and wet food. One of the things you can do to add nutrients to your pet’s food is cook them supplemental protein or vegetables according to their needs. You can even go to your local butcher or meat deli and ask for chicken livers or gizzards and prepare it for your dog or cat. Liver contains all the nutrients your pet needs to remain strong. It can also help to add supplements your animal’s diet with things like fish oil, turmeric, curcumin, collagen and glucosamine chondrodite. Pet stores and retailers can charge a hefty pet tax on tablets like glucosamine chondrodite specifically marketed towards pets. Here’s a tip: human grade supplements are actually of a better quality and potency than supplements manufactured specifically for pets. Additionally, human grade supplements can cost less than pet supplements.
4. MEDICAL QI GONG:
The word “Qi Gong”, literally translated from Chinese, means “Energy Work”. Medical Qigong is a form of healing energy therapy that incorporates the diagnostic and energetic balancing principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the energy sensing and intuitive healing abilities of the Medical Qigong Therapist to boost the body’s immune function, reduce stress levels and allow healing to occur in a totally non-invasive manner. Medical Qigong involves a trained practitioner moving qi (chi) through the body to bring harmony and balance to the body. The practitioner assists the patient by redirecting, cleansing, and restoring the patient’s vital energy based on the principles of Chinese Medicine. During a Medical Qi Gong treatment, the patient generally lies or sits on the treatment table while the practitioner uses various hand movements and mental images to perform the energetic healing procedure. Often the patient can feel certain things happening in the body, both on a physical and emotional level. Sometimes, the patient simply gets a sense of deep relaxation and well-being. The experience of the treatment will be different for each patient. There are no invasive techniques used, and little to no physical touching is required.
3. CANNABIS AND CBD:
Just as humans have an endocannabinoid system, so do dogs, cats and horses. This means dogs, cats and horse’s bodies are all built in a way to receive the benefits of cannabis and CBD in their systems. Cannabis is a proven analgesic and the United States government owns the patent on CBD for all of its medical benefits, including but not limited to its use as a neuro-protectant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. So, when they say cannabis has no medical benefit, that’s just not a true statement. The proof is in the patent pudding. Just google: US Patent 6,630,507. The evidence is in plain sight. The main concern with using THC with animals is finding the right dose. CBD can safely be used on pets but THC is what produces the anti-tumoral effects. Just a little too much THC and your dog or cat can feel wobbly, disoriented and lose control of their bowels. When it comes to animals and cannabis (THC), the starting dose should be a microdose less than 1mg a day. Just like people, every animal’s metabolic system is different. With CBD dogs and cats can take up to 60mg of CBD per day, but each animal has its own ailments and needs and you will need to find an appropriate dose based on trial and error. CBD tincture for pets is available from brands like NuLeaf Naturals. A horse can take up to 500mg of CBD per day and 10mg of THC per day depending on their symptoms and needs. A horse with aggressive cancer can take more CBD and THC, it’s all about finding the right dose for your pet.
2. MASSAGE:
As many humans already use massage as a form of physical therapy, our pets and animals can benefit from massage. It reduces inflammation, relaxes muscles, relieves stress, promotes circulation and enhances range of motion. When our pets get old they tend to have problems like arthritis, dysplasia and joint problems. Regular therapeutic massages can be a great way for your pets to maintain a healthy activity level and help them live longer and happier lives. Massage therapy can also promote tissue healing and decrease chronic or acute pain. The best news is you don’t have to hire someone to do it. You can massage your dog, cat or horse yourself and the entire experience is a bonding moment for your and your fur baby.
1. ACUPUNCTURE:
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.
By B Le Grand