Many keepers of pets may be familiar with the concept that in some circumstances, it is not always necessary to rush to the veterinarian for advice and treatment. For example, with care, some mild skin infections in dogs can be treated using everyday ointments and creams used for humans, saving both time and expense.
The practice of using complementary care methods and techniques for maintaining pet health has increased alongside their application in some treatment of humans. One of the reasons for this is that some petkeepers have misgivings about potential side-effects of annual vaccinations, for example. That aside, complementary methods of caring for, feeding and treating one's pet are options for consideration.
Natural Diets
Raw food is the most common approach to more natural diets for pets and provides a way to vary their diet alongside commercial food if not replacing it altogether. Whilst there is a lot of truth in the adage that "a dog will eat anything", it is normal to find that different dogs will be partial to a particular vegetable. Carrots and greens are often relished by dogs and cats. Raw carrots provide a rich source of vitamins and minerals for them.
There are many other examples where a natural approach could benefit a pet. Honey offers antiseptic properties and if part of the regular diet may be useful to reduce the tendency for some dogs to excessively lick wounds to a point where the licking increases infection.
Cooked bones will splinter much more easily than raw ones, so raw bones are definitely to be preferred here. Cats generally love chicken, but chicken bones, raw or cooked are too fragile and are to be avoided for most types of pets.
The easiest way to gauge results of a pet's dietary change is to see what emerges at the other end! Pet keepers know what is normal and a slight change over a day or so is no problem.
Supplements of vitamins, enzymes, minerals and even some herbs can be considered, but one would be advised to do some research beforehand.
Natural Treatments
Most of the holistic methods applied to humans exist in similar forms for pets and growing numbers of veterinarians use some of them where they think it merited. The methods can be applied to the larger mammals such as dogs, cats and rabbits and have also been used on birds as well. Methods used include herbal treatments, homeopathy, aromatherapy and hands-on methods including acupuncture, massage, chiropractics, etc.
Natural treatments merit research by pet keepers for at least three reasons:
- The research itself often provides very useful guidance on maintaining pet health through adopting better general practices on areas of, as examples, general diet, exercise, etc.
- Methods of dealing with emergencies can be both useful preparation and might enable some to be dealt with better as a result, even if only as a less stressful pre-cursor to visiting the vet
- They could well provide pointers to items that can be built into the regular pet care.
Keep An Open Mind
Keeping an open mind about natural healing for pets is worth consideration. With research and consideration one may find that natural methods do offer solutions to pet health and care issues.
