Holistic veterinarians: finding holistic vet in USA and Canada
Finding holistic veterinarians is usually no easy task, especially because there is confusion about the meaning of the term. If you are looking for Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Herbal, or any other specific discipline under the umbrella of Holistic veterinary, it is useful to refer to organizations that list or accredit veterinarians in specific modalities.
As said, holistic veterinary therapies include - but is not limited to - homeopathy, herbs, nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic. They are becoming more and more popular. Together, we see some of the main points, and resources available online, to know more about holistic veterinarians and what they can do for our beloved animals.
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (http://www.ahvma.org/) explores and supports holistic, complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and natural healing for pets and animals, including chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture and nutritional therapy for horses, dogs, cats, birds. It is dedicated to integrating all aspects of animal wellness in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association created a useful directory of holistic veterinarians on http://www.holisticvetlist.com/ with United States and Canada based holistic veterinarians.
Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (http://www.theavh.org/) aims to advance veterinary homeopathy through education and research. It provides updates about conferences, and a list of certified holistic veterinarians on http://www.avhlist.com/avh_index.php
The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy also provides a useful list of questions to better understand which treatment your animal will receive. Quoting from the site, "Questions to ask a Veterinarian to Determine if S/he Practices Classically"
On what do you base your prescription?
Symptoms alone are the guide to remedy selection.
Do you treat symptoms, or do you provide treatment based on the name of the disease?
Symptoms alone are the guide to remedy selection. The disease name may be helpful for prognosis and determining which symptoms are important to the case, but never for remedy selection.
How do you administer remedies?
Oral administration is most suitable.
Do you utilize diagnostics? Why?
Diagnostics are important to help determine the prognosis for your animal. They typically do not assist with remedy selection. They can also document improvement in the case.
Will you need any information about past illnesses?
Historical information is very useful to confirm or deny a potential prescription.
Do you use more than one remedy at a time?
This is never acceptable.
Do you use more than one modality at a time?
The use of acupuncture, network chiropractic, or Chinese herbs is not homeopathy, and interferes with the curative response to a remedy.
If my companion has a troublesome skin wart, can I have it removed?
Surgical removal of a lesion will suppress the vitality of the patient and make it more difficult for the patient to react curatively to the remedy. Surgery, even seemingly minor, is always problematic.
What type of adjunctive treatments do you employ?
Very mild herbs, such as slippery elm for diarrhea, or calendula rinses for a wound, do not interfere with healing. But the use of allopathic drugs, even ear ointments or skin creams, directly interfere with the animal's response to curative treatment.
Is nutrition important?
Good nutrition is essential to the optimal health of your companion, and helps speed cure. This may involve some home preparation of foods.
What if my animal is already on allopathic medication?
As your animal improves, classical prescribers will work with you to gradually eliminate the use of drugs such as prednisone, thyroid medications, and other drugs that may be supporting your animal.
What if my animal is incurable?
Some animals cannot be cured. However, using the best-selected remedy (or series of remedies) and optimal nutrition will give your companion the longest and best quality of life possible.
If my animal's case is difficult, where do you go for help?
There are email forums and conferences of homeopathic veterinarians which are used extensively, even by experienced practitioners, to discuss difficult cases and provide consults.
Additional sites
Other sources you may find useful are:
The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
http://www.aava.org/
National Center for Homeopathy
http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/
As said, holistic veterinary therapies include - but is not limited to - homeopathy, herbs, nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic. They are becoming more and more popular. Together, we see some of the main points, and resources available online, to know more about holistic veterinarians and what they can do for our beloved animals.
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (http://www.ahvma.org/) explores and supports holistic, complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and natural healing for pets and animals, including chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture and nutritional therapy for horses, dogs, cats, birds. It is dedicated to integrating all aspects of animal wellness in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association created a useful directory of holistic veterinarians on http://www.holisticvetlist.com/ with United States and Canada based holistic veterinarians.
Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (http://www.theavh.org/) aims to advance veterinary homeopathy through education and research. It provides updates about conferences, and a list of certified holistic veterinarians on http://www.avhlist.com/avh_index.php
The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy also provides a useful list of questions to better understand which treatment your animal will receive. Quoting from the site, "Questions to ask a Veterinarian to Determine if S/he Practices Classically"
On what do you base your prescription?
Symptoms alone are the guide to remedy selection.
Do you treat symptoms, or do you provide treatment based on the name of the disease?
Symptoms alone are the guide to remedy selection. The disease name may be helpful for prognosis and determining which symptoms are important to the case, but never for remedy selection.
How do you administer remedies?
Oral administration is most suitable.
Do you utilize diagnostics? Why?
Diagnostics are important to help determine the prognosis for your animal. They typically do not assist with remedy selection. They can also document improvement in the case.
Will you need any information about past illnesses?
Historical information is very useful to confirm or deny a potential prescription.
Do you use more than one remedy at a time?
This is never acceptable.
Do you use more than one modality at a time?
The use of acupuncture, network chiropractic, or Chinese herbs is not homeopathy, and interferes with the curative response to a remedy.
If my companion has a troublesome skin wart, can I have it removed?
Surgical removal of a lesion will suppress the vitality of the patient and make it more difficult for the patient to react curatively to the remedy. Surgery, even seemingly minor, is always problematic.
What type of adjunctive treatments do you employ?
Very mild herbs, such as slippery elm for diarrhea, or calendula rinses for a wound, do not interfere with healing. But the use of allopathic drugs, even ear ointments or skin creams, directly interfere with the animal's response to curative treatment.
Is nutrition important?
Good nutrition is essential to the optimal health of your companion, and helps speed cure. This may involve some home preparation of foods.
What if my animal is already on allopathic medication?
As your animal improves, classical prescribers will work with you to gradually eliminate the use of drugs such as prednisone, thyroid medications, and other drugs that may be supporting your animal.
What if my animal is incurable?
Some animals cannot be cured. However, using the best-selected remedy (or series of remedies) and optimal nutrition will give your companion the longest and best quality of life possible.
If my animal's case is difficult, where do you go for help?
There are email forums and conferences of homeopathic veterinarians which are used extensively, even by experienced practitioners, to discuss difficult cases and provide consults.
Additional sites
Other sources you may find useful are:
The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
http://www.aava.org/
National Center for Homeopathy
http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/
Labels: holistic vet, holistic veterinarian, holistic veterinarians, holistic vets
posted by Holistic Health Magazine at
7:21 AM
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