Alternative medicine has now extended its many benefits to pets.
Although this is rather a new idea it is already starting to become popular among veterinarians. Holistic medicine offers a vast array of alternative treatments for pets, such as herbs, acupuncture, massage, essential oils and aromatherapy, physical therapy and the like.
Dr. Joyce Loeser is among some of the many vets who have decided to bet on holistic medicine. She claims that, the same way as people are already starting to question conventional health care for themselves, so are they looking for better options for their pets. Actually she started treating her "patients" this way nine years ago, and her business has been on the increase since then.
People used to question her ways at the beginning, but now the concept of holistic medicine is slowly but firmly starting to catch on.
Dr. Loeser cites the example of "Vinny the opossum", who was rescued by his owner Robin Castellon after suffering a dog attack. He was treated with physical therapy and acupuncture, and after almost 10 months of treatment the proud doctor is happy to announce that the little animal thrived.
Castellon used to take a trip to the vet around three times a week at the beginning; nowadays he just takes Vinny for an acupuncture session from time to time.
There are around 30,000 vets in the USA and at present only 6 per cent are applying holistic medicine.
Actually the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has been at work since 1992; it started off with just 30 members, which looks like nothing compared to the 900 members it has now.
Little by little vets are starting to become certified in alternative practices such as acupuncture. In Florida the International Veterinary Acupuncture society trains around 120 vets every year.
Holistic vets of course charge much more than traditional ones –sometimes even three times more. But if you are considering the welfare of your pet, you might as well want to give all this a try.
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