There are some people in the world for whom their pets are “just pets.” I know that since you found your way to this blog, that’s NOT you.
Your pets are family members.
You want to ensure that your pets are healthy and happy, and that they receive the best possible care.
That means caring for all the parts of them, their bodies, minds, and spirits, too.
Holistic pet care is a growing trend that focuses on treating the whole animal, rather than just treating the symptoms of a particular illness or condition. Holistic pet care combines veterinary medicine with alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and energetic healing.
What is holistic pet care?
One of the key principles of holistic pet care is that it takes into account the animal's physical, emotional, and environmental well-being. In addition to treating your pet when they’re sick or injured, you provide the care that’s necessary to create overall well-being.
Your pet’s mental and emotional state, as well as its diet and living conditions work together to prevent illnesses and help your pet live a rich, full life.
If you’ve used holistic practices to improve your own life, it isn’t hard to see how those same practices might benefit your animal companion, too. And you’d be right!
There is a growing body of research that supports the use of holistic treatments for pets. In addition to being effective, many of these treatments are also less invasive and have fewer side effects than traditional medications.
How is holistic pet care different from traditional pet care?
Holistic pet care is a comprehensive approach to pet health that takes into account the whole animal - physical, emotional, mental, and environmental factors.
Using natural and alternative approaches, pet parents can help prevent illness and promote wellness.
A pet's body has the amazing ability to heal itself if it has a healthy diet, proper exercise, and if its emotional health and well-being are considered.
Imagine addressing the root cause of illness and disease before they began! It’s possible with holistic care.
While conventional pet care typically focuses on treating symptoms with medication or surgery, holistic pet care focuses on addressing the underlying cause of a problem through natural and alternative methods.
While medication and surgery are sometimes appropriate and necessary, the main goal of the holistic approach is to use a combination of natural approaches to stave off the need for conventional treatment.
How can I create wellness with holistic pet care?
Let’s address the elements of body, mind, and spirit when thinking about ways to create optimal health for your animal companion.
Diet
A healthy, species specific diet is the foundation for all health and well-being. You can try all the herbal remedies, supplements, and treatments available, but if your pet’s diet isn’t good, those things won’t be effective in the long run.
At The Healthy Animal Healing Center, we believe in providing fresh food that is natural and minimally processed, free from artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. Your pet’s diet should be appropriate for the specific needs of your pet, taking into consideration factors such as age, breed, and activity level.
Exercise
Regular physical activity can help keep pets healthy, both physically and mentally. Exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
It also provides mental stimulation, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes a sense of well-being. Holistic veterinarians recommend that pets get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, depending on their age, breed, and health status.
Since exercise is crucial for you, too, enjoy the time together knowing the walking, running, swimming, and playing fetch is doing you both good!
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies are becoming increasingly popular as a component of holistic pet care. These therapies can include acupuncture, chiropractic care, cold laser therapy, herbal medicine, orthomolecular medicine, and massage therapy.
These treatments are often used in conjunction with traditional veterinary medicine to help manage chronic pain, reduce stress, and improve overall health and wellness.
Alternative therapies are generally safe and non-invasive and can be a good option for pets who may not respond well to traditional treatments or who have underlying health conditions.
Energetic Healing
Because your pet is a sentient being with thoughts and emotions, they are vulnerable to trauma and emotional pain.
Anxiety is common in pets, especially situational anxiety and separation anxiety. If you have an anxious pet, read about how to treat anxiety naturally HERE.
There’s another source of emotional pain you may not have considered, past trauma. Unless your pet was born in your own home, you really have no idea what happened to them before they found their way to you. Trauma can occur before they reach your loving home.
If you have an anxious pet, it may be very helpful for you to know their backstory. Animal intuitives and animal communicators have special abilities to connect telepathically with animals and can communicate with them to find the root cause of their anxiety.
Intuitive Communication
As a part of my energetic healing practice, I use my intuitive communication skills to connect with your pet. I'm able to see a pet’s backstory in images, almost like a movie. Knowing this information is very helpful for the pet parent to inform them as to the “why” of the behaviors or issues they experience with their pets.
When you know your pet’s backstory, you can choose the appropriate holistic treatment to heal the trauma at its root cause.
Flower Essences
Living beings, humans and animals alike, are energetic beings.
Flower essences are liquid tinctures that contain the energetic imprint of particular flowers known for different characteristics. These characteristics can be used to balance the energy of your pet to bring them back to a state of harmony and well-being.
Discovered in the 1930s by Dr. Edward Bach, a British medical officer treating wounded soldiers, flower essences are safe, natural, and effective for treating many different physical, emotional, and behavioral issues.
To learn more about flower essences, click HERE.
Mental Enrichment
Keeping your pet’s brain healthy is essential to creating overall health and well-being.
Being mentally stimulated and encouraged to use natural instincts like sniffing, scratching, hunting, and problem solving help:
stave off boredom,
release anxiety, and
provide healthy outlets for energetic pets.
Mental enrichment helps senior pets by helping to prevent dementia and cognitive decline.
There are lots of fun ways to provide mental enrichment for your pet. Try:
Puzzles
Food dispensing toys
Lick mats
Snuffle mats
Sniffari walks
Games like hide and seek, chasing bubbles, and the shell game with treats under the cups
Bonding
By caring for your pet's body, mind, and spirit, you can help ensure that they live a happy and healthy life. Remember, holistic care is about treating your pet as a whole being, not just as a collection of physical symptoms. With a little extra attention and care, you can help your pet thrive.
Provide your pet with a comfortable and safe living environment that meets their physical and emotional needs.
Take time to bond with your pet through activities such as grooming or cuddling.
Consider incorporating relaxation techniques, such as meditation or aromatherapy, to help your pet feel calm and peaceful.
Respect your pet's individual personality and preferences, and work to create a positive and nurturing relationship with them.
Are there holistic veterinarians?
Yes! Look for a veterinarian who has training in holistic medicine and is willing to work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan for your pet. You can search online for holistic veterinarians in your area or ask for recommendations from friends or family members who use holistic care for their pets.
Conventional veterinary medicine is embracing more and more holistic approaches to health, but finding a vet who is fully on board with using holistic practice in concert with traditional ones gives pet parents a wider variety of options.
There’s only one thing wrong with pets: they don’t live as long as we do. That’s why it’s so comforting knowing there are natural, non-invasive, life-affirming things you can do in your own home to provide the support your pet needs for body, mind, and spirit to help them live the life they were meant to have.
The Healthy Animal Healing Center provides holistic products and services to help your pet live their best life and give you the comfort of knowing you’re doing all you can to make that happen. We offer Total Wellness Consultations where we address your pet’s needs, your goals, and natural ways to bring about optimal health for your beloved animal companion. Contact us today to begin building the life you both deserve!
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