Pet owners who opt for a holistic veterinarian exercise and then for many of the same reasons people choose a holistic dr. for human healthcare: Holistic veterinarian medicine goes beyond treating symptoms to identify and correct the underlying imbalance that acquired an affliction. Knowing what veterinarian holistic medical care looks similar in practice tin can assistance y'all determine if this approach to your pet's healthcare is a practiced fit.

What is Holistic Veterinary Medicine?

Holistic veterinary medicine (HVM) aims to identify and treat the root crusade of illness, not simply alleviate symptoms. Holistic veterinarians promote healing utilizing the least invasive, most natural medical treatments alongside techniques that support pet behavioral and emotional wellbeing. A holistic vet also may use conventional medical therapies; so, yous may see their practice described as integrative animal medical care.

What Treatment Techniques do Holistic Vets Apply?

The techniques used in HVM are gentle, minimally invasive, and contain educating the pet owner. Techniques tin can vary widely amid holistic veterinarians, depending on training, specialization, and other factors.

  • Acupuncture, Acupressure
  • Aromatherapy
  • Behavioral Interventions
  • Chiropractic Treatment
  • Food Intolerance Testing
  • Dietary Interventions
  • Environmental Interventions
  • Nutritional Testing
  • >Nutritional Supplements
  • Homeopathy
  • Veterinarian Orthopedic Manipulation
  • Class IV Cold Laser Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Stress management for the pet / pet owner

Go along in mind, non every holistic vet is the same; you lot'll find that the treatment options vary greatly among practitioners.

What's the Deviation betwixt Conventional and Holistic Veterinarians?

All veterinarians hold certain educational achievements in mutual:

  • Completion of a four year higher degree (usually in a science such as biology)
  • Completion of a veterinary medical schoolhouse
  • Passing a state licensure exam
  • Most veterinarians consummate postal service-doctoral training for specialization

Holistic veterinarians will take additional courses with hands-on training. They must successfully complete a certifying exam to refer to themselves equally a holistic vet.

Many holistic doctors begin their careers in conventional veterinarian medicine. Like medical doctors for people, veterinarians will either exist general practitioners who provide routine health exams and treat common illnesses such every bit kennel cough. Others will have pursued specialization in treating certain medical conditions or using certain procedures. Along the way, the veterinarian may have experienced the benefits of holistic medicine for themselves or become curious about how holistic therapies could benefit animals. Thus, begins the journey through coursework and grooming and certification in holistic medicine for pets.

The key departure between holistic and conventional veterinarians lies in the philosophy of practice and the tools used in handling.

Philosophy of Do: Conventional Veterinarian

The conventional veterinary identifies symptoms of disease and asks, "how do I make these symptoms go abroad so the pet can exist more comfortable?" Then, the doctor dispenses medicines or other treatments to manage the symptoms. If there are no symptoms, the general belief is so there is no illness.

Philosophy of Exercise: Holistic Veterinarian

The holistic veterinarian identifies symptoms of disease and asks, "why is this pet having these symptoms, in this organ system, at this time?"

The WHY is a crucial deviation. Like a medical detective, the holistic vet wants to uncover the root cause of the affliction process, not only get rid of symptoms. They will address symptoms, but they practice not stop when symptoms disappear. If the root crusade is not addressed, then symptoms may render in the aforementioned organ arrangement or in a unlike trunk organisation. Holistic veterinarians will use the most efficacious, safe and affordable path to curing the pet's ailing health at the source. Only when the true cause of the ailment is establish is there a possibility for lasting recovery and optimal health and wellbeing for the pet.

At MainStreet Veterinarians of Stone Mountain , our vets are truly integrative practitioners, combining the condom and efficacious treatments for many types of pets.

The Detective Work of a Holistic Veterinarian

For the holistic vet, the whole picture of the patient is part of the process of discovering why the pet is ill. They volition appraise factors such as …

  • history of the illness, from before symptoms started to the present
  • the disease blueprint (how take symptoms changed over fourth dimension)
  • the animals daily routine, including physical activity
  • fecal samples and blood work
  • a pet'due south diet and fluid intake
  • he pet's living environment
  • the human relationship with the pet owner and other animals

Many other considerations, including lab tests, will become into creating a treatment protocol.

Can a Holistic Vet Treat Acute or Emergency Health Problems?

Even seemingly straightforward acute injuries such every bit a wound or a sprain may require a surgical procedure (removing a thorn from a hand is considered surgery) and drug treatment. In the initial response to an acute injury, the veterinary will rely on her or his conventional medical training to manage hurting, remove debris, control haemorrhage, suture wounds, and stabilize joints. Forth with these Western medical approaches, the holistic vet may opt for a natural therapy over a drug or other complementary medical techniques. So, aye, a holistic vet tin treat acute health problems.

As for an emergency health problem, a holistic vet tin can evaluate and recommend appropriate adjacent steps for treatment, only frequently will not be the principal provider of emergency medicine. As with people, pet emergency medicine is a specialization that requires boosted years of education and training. Proper emergency medical attention tin make the difference between saving your pet's life or saying practiced-bye to your pet.

If your conventional veterinarian does not practice holistic medicine, yous may desire to consult with a holistic veterinarian for specific complementary treatment options, but non as a replacement for your pet's routine healthcare and emergency treatment. Holistic medicine alone cannot supersede vaccinations and other forms of conventional veterinary medicine. HVM may provide adjunctive therapies for pets who are not responding to conventional handling or who aren't tolerating medication. Every pet and every situation is different, but science-backed treatment options –conventional and holistic–are always the all-time approach.

Rock Mountain's Beloved Holistic Veterinary

MainStreet Veterinarians of Stone Mount practices both conventional and holistic healthcare for animals. Because of this integrative approach, many animals that were not thriving through conventional treatment methods have now been brought dorsum to optimal health. Our caring veterinary team members provide conventional medical, surgical, boarding, grooming and retail services. Our holistic medical treatments include  Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (pet chiropractic), and Nutrition Response Testing (NRT). Nosotros also conduct a variety of holistic food and nutritional supplements to address an animal'south whole health.

When it comes to truly integrative healthcare attention for your dearest pet, look no further than MainStreet Veterinarians. Dr. Moorehead is currently simply one of 2 veterinarians in the Southeast United States to exist trained to utilize this healing technology at its highest level.

We invite you to call u.s. today at 770-498-4620 to schedule an appointment for your pets' first truly integrative wellness check. Don't forget to have advantage of our monthly specials for new and existing clients. If yous accept any questions about holistic or integrative veterinarian medicine, please send us an e-mail and we will get back to you promptly.

Resources

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association