There are a few choices of holistic medicine for dogs with arthritis, but it is important to consider the cause as well as the choice of medicine before embarking on any action.
Holistic medicine, ie that which treats the whole patient not just the part, can also be termed energy medicine. Since all living beings are energy beings, it makes sense to use an energy medicine when health is not at its optimum.
Some of the best energy medicines include chiropractic, bowen and homeopathy. Both chiropractic and bowen are hands-on treatments, so if you don’t have a local practitioner, that can be a problem.
Homeopathy, on the other hand, is a hands-off treatment, so even if you can’t find a local practitioner, you can have a telephone or Skype consultation with a practitioner/consultant anywhere in the world. The desired treatment is then sent to you.
Why is it that homeopathy can do this? Because we rely on the unique and personal symptoms of the patient. For example, is the dog showing a reluctance to walk on the initial movement from rest, or is it always there? Does the pain seem to be better in the summer than the winter? Has another symptom developed along with the arthritis? Was there a major stress prior to its onset?
Another factor to consider is, is it even arthritis? I have known dogs to be diagnosed with arthritis, when it wasn’t that at all. This may partly be to the age of the dog or the breed. Vets can automatically jump to a conclusion, and there may be test markers to confirm that, but it may not be the main problem. It may be secondary.
With holistic medicine for dogs with arthritis, at least with homeopathy, the cause always has to be examined. It may be a chronic effect from an injury many years ago. It may be as a result from a recent veterinary procedure, such as a vaccine. It may be the end result from feeding a commercial dog diet for years, which is neither nutritious nor toxin-free. Or it may be as a result of a genetic inheritance. Perhaps the breed is susceptible to arthritis.
All these different causes would mean a different approach, a different prescription. Arthritis is a chronic disease and these cannot be treated by laymen. The treatment needs close monitoring and prescriptions may need to be changed, as the symptoms change.
However, what you CAN do, which WILL have a positive effect on the arthritis, or any other health problem, is to ensure your dog is fed the right diet for the species.
Commercial pet food is not about providing you with a healthy product, despite what the packet says or your vet tells you. It is all about making a handsome profit for the maker and seller. We live in a very corrupt world at the moment and big businesses flourish by telling lies. Or avoiding the truth.
Dogs, as anyone, need to eat as they evolved to. By providing a natural, quality, wholesome diet based on the species evolution, health issues can disappear totally. This will make for a much happier and more active dog. What is left is best dealt with by good homeopathic treatment.
Take an holistic approach as well as an holistic medicine for dogs with arthritis. Look at everything, or engage someone who can. Yes, arthritis IS common in dogs. It partners with heart disease, which is dogs weak link. So it is all the more reason to consider the whole dog not just the arthritis.
