HEALING PETS

Healing Pets Holistically Integrative Vets Treat Root Causes

firn/AdobeStock.com

by Julie Peterson

Emma, a mini-schnauzer mix, was Emma had kidney issues that were slow4 years old when she started acting ing her down. Upon deeper investigation, like a senior lacking zest for run- these problems were found to be the only ning or playing. After being treated by an visible symptom of a tick-borne illness. integrative veterinarian for one month, Once given immune-boosting, anti-inshe regained vibrancy. “She’s 6 years old flammatory and liver-detox herbs, the dog now, and she’s her normal, barky, running, made a full recovery. zig-zagging self,” says Yvonnda Agent, a volunteer with animal transport rescue Expanded Options operations, near Rockvale, Tennessee. Getting to the root cause of the condition

Agent’s practitioner determined is what integrative veterinarians are known for. They combine both conventional and holistic medicine, may use fewer drugs and limit vaccinations.

“With conventional medicine, we tend to treat the symptoms, versus treating the root cause of disease, which is why a majority of the time, the symptoms return when the drug is finished,” says veterinarian Katie Woodley, in Fort Collins, Colorado, who blogs at TheNaturalPetDoctor.com. “With a holistic approach, we look at the nutrition, gut health and how all the systems are connected … and resolve the imbalance.”

Holistic veterinarians may specialize in acupuncture, herbal medicine, kinesiology, chiropractic, laser therapy or any of many other natural modalities as an adjunct to conventional medicine. They first must earn a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree and then may pursue optional holistic training. Following this path can take a great deal of time.

Natural Nutrition

At the Franklin Road Animal Hospital, in Brentwood, Tennessee, Mark C. Ingram, DVM, has found inadequate nutrition from low-quality foods at the root of most health problems. High-quality food helps animals absorb nutrients needed for optimal well-being. “The first ingredient should always be meat, and we like limited-ingredient foods due to the numerous allergies we see,” says Ingram. “Every case of cancer that we have seen in the last 20 years has food allergies. Every torn cruciate and every paralyzed dog with disc problems has food allergies. It is also the most underlying cause for ear infections and cystitis.”

This was the case with Gabby, a 3-year-old mini-schnauzer that Agent rescued about a year ago. “She came to us with a bottle of ear solution and a history of green pus in her ears,” says Agent. Gabby’s medical history indicated that the ears, in addition to digestive problems, had been unsuccessfully treated with antibiotics and changes in diet.

“Our holistic vet recommended a raw diet with no grains and no starchy vegetables. Gabby hasn’t had a single instance of ear irritation since,” says Agent, who believes that whole foods served as medicine and now serve as prevention for her pets.