Recommended Article #03September22
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This recommended article "Five Myths about Holistic Pet Care" is curated and sourced from Animal Wellness Magazine. If you loved this article, please do feel free to share it around.
Five Myths about Holistic Pet Care
Common myths about alternative holistic pet care, and learning how to find a vet that would not break the bank.
Interested in the benefits of an alternative like natural medicine for your animal companion? Take a look at some of the common myths surrounding holistic pet care, and find out why they are not based on fact.
Myth #1: Holistic care costs too much
Cost, like beauty, is subjective and in the eye of the beholder. Some people would feel that spending over a hundred dollars on a single veterinary visit is too expensive, but there would be those who would be willing to spend thousands on surgery if the outcome was to add another six to twelve months of life for their furkid.
In general, when looking at the long term healthcare cost of having an animal, holistic care is usually cheaper than a conventional approach. This is so as holistic care focuses on disease prevention and relying on natural therapies as opposed to conventional medications.
Between the two, disease prevention is always less expensive than treating it. Put another way, if one were to compare the average cost of eight hours of care for a sick dog, which could easily run five hundred dollars or more, that hundred dollar blood test twice a year to help prevent the problem in the first place may look pocket friendlier.
While it is true that some medications do cost less than supplements, however, even supposed inexpensive medication on a regular basis will eventually add up. Prednisone is one such example. The medication cost aside, the cost of care could come up to more since its long term use can predispose your furkid to other problems such as diabetes or adrenal gland disease. Additionally, prednisone patients on a regular basis should have blood and urine tests, and checkups every quarter to allow for early detection of these diseases. The repeated veterinary visits and costs would be unnecessary with a holistic approach. Since medications like prednisone may actually reduce your furkid’s longevity, spending a little more on holistic therapy is worth the money if its gain is several more years of happy and healthy life.
Myth #2: No proof holistic care works
There are literally thousands of documents showing the effectiveness of holistic care, it just takes one to really look. While it is true that nutritional supplements are not subjected to the same standards of testing as conventional drugs, that does not mean that there are no studies showing their effectiveness, or lack of. In fact, several studies have demonstrated that alternate therapies could be more beneficial than conventional medications. More often than not, if someone thinks that there is no proof holistic care works, the person either has not taken time to do the research, or is simply discounting the good it does.
Myth #3: Holistic care is wacky
It is hard to dispute that new things often come across as "wacky" and "different". However, it is also true that some of these "new things" of holistic therapies have become mainstream. Nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal therapy are just some of these to name. Other therapies such as homeopathy might appear “wacky” when first studied, but it is only because this particular discipline has a very different perspective on health and disease. The same can be said of the Eastern or Chinese medical approach to health and disease. However, with careful study and logical questioning of the different holistic disciplines, it is possible to determine the logical therapies from the “far out” ones.
In general, if a certain therapy promises a complete cure, or touts itself as the “only” therapy needed for good health, be very wary and suspicious about it, even avoid it. No particular discipline, holistic or conventional, can make such promises, what more guarantee specific results. Any practitioner who does so is likely a quack, guilty of malpractice, or is just an outright cheat out to swindle your money. With careful examination of mainstream holistic therapies, it could help in adding to one's perspective and make sense of how health and disease affect the body.
Myth #4: Holistic care requires too much effort
It is fact that holistic care often involves more work than simply popping a pill or two of conventional medication. For example, a skin disease patient may be prescribed frequent bathing, and three to five supplements given once or twice daily. For dogs with cancer, a combination of dietary therapy, mind-body medicine techniques, and ten or more supplements a day would be the likely standard holistic care.
If you are incapable of the extra time and effort, or if your furkid resists your good intentions, it may well be that a conventional approach would be best for you. However, it is not impossible for a transition to a holistic disease prevention or treatment approach, most animals do often respond well to the alternate holistic therapies. It just takes effort.
Myth #5: I am unable to find a holistic veterinarian
There are certainly fewer veterinarians offering holistic care over those who go by the conventional approach. Over time, however slowly, the number of holistic and integrative vets have increased. While many places do not have holistic veterinarians available to see patients in person, several doctors are able to help and consult via phone appointments. This is very easily done, and even reduces the stress of the clinic visit for your furkid. This way, you are still able to work with your local conventional doctor and take advantage of the offered care, while the holistic veterinarian is able to prescribe natural therapies to further encourage your furkid’s healing.
If you do not have a local holistic veterinarian, fret not. It is possible to set up a phone or video call appointment, thanks to technology, with a holistic doctor who could give you a second opinion and offer additional therapies you may not be able to find locally.
"Five Myths about Holistic Pet Care" curated and sourced from Animal Wellness Magazine is written by :
Veterinarian Dr Shawn Messonnier, DVM, is the pet care expert for Martha Stewart Living’s “Dr. Shawn – The Natural Vet” on Sirius Satellite Radio, as well as the creator of Dr. Shawn’s Pet Organics. He has his practice, Paws & Claws Animal Hospital (petcarenaturally.com), in Plano, Texas, and also wrote the books "The Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats", "The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs", and "8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog".
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This blog first appeared on the Animal Wellness Magazine website, where this article "FIve Myths about Holistic Pet Care" was curated and sourced from.
Original source: https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/5-myths-holistic-pet-care/
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Disclaimer:
JJ E-Homez Holistic Pet has curated and reproduced this article in good faith, which may contain an element of consumer opinion, but cannot be held responsible for any information inaccuracies in it or any use assumed from this information by the reader. JJ E-Homez Holistic Pet welcomes positive recommendations for holistic healthcare products, but does not necessarily endorse the author’s opinion. We acknowledge each animal is an individual and may react differently to the highlighted product/s, and that there may also be other similar effective products available.
General recommendations made by JJ E-Homez Holistic Pet are solely for informational and educational purposes, and are not a substitute for the appropriate veterinary care. It is important to always consult professional help if you have concerns about your furkid’s health.