Holistic Pet Care

There is a common misconception concerning holistic medicine. In order to make an informed decision concerning any type of holistic treatment we must first have a clear understanding of what it is.

The basic concept behind holistic medicine is to treat the patient as a whole being. Instead of treating just the physical health issues, the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects are addressed as well. Holistic medicine also strives to prevent illness by focusing on optimal health.

Complementary medicine is a term that is often used in place of holistic medicine. There is a difference though. Complementary medicine uses nonconventional treatments such as massage, chiropractic or herbal therapies.

Holistic medicine combines more traditional medicine with complementary treatments and it isn’t just for people anymore. Holistic medicine is gaining popularity among pet owners in addressing their pets’ health needs. Employing a holistic approach to your pets’ health will almost certainly prove beneficial.

Let’s have a look at some of the treatments that would fall under the umbrella of complementary medicine.

Acupuncture is often credited to the Chinese who have used it for thousands of years, however, there are records indicating that it was used in Egypt well over 5000 years ago. The practice of acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific points that are located along the body’s energy meridians and correspond to specific internal organs. Acupuncture has proven effective in relieving muscle spasms, increasing circulation, and pain relief among other issues. Aside from needles other methods of stimulation can be used, such as applying pressure or heat to the points.

Chiropractic care and treatments are a common choice of many pet owners now. Chiropractors operate on the idea that some illnesses are cause by misaligned vertebrae that in turn affects the impulses from the spinal cord to the muscles and organs. By adjusting the vertebrae and joints the appropriate flow of impulses are restored. Like people, pets can suffer from spinal injuries such as slipped discs or pinched nerves and chiropractic treatment may prove very effective in addressing these issues.

Physical therapy is often employed after a surgery or severe injury. The types of therapy are no different than those used for people. Therapies such as stretching and or exercises, the application of heat or cold packs and even hydrotherapy may be used depending on the desired results.

Massage therapy is another common treatment. The therapist uses their hands, elbows, and body to massage the soft tissues in an effort to address issues such as cramps, soft tissue injuries or circulation stimulation.

Although many people are not familiar with homeopathy it is not a new concept by any means. The practice of homeopathy can be traced through many cultures and back thousands of years. The concept of homeopathy is really very simple. It is used to treat and prevent disease by giving small doses of a substance that if taken in large doses would cause the same symptoms of the disease to manifest. This helps the body build its own resistance to a particular condition or disease. This is no different than say, the annual flu shot that many people receive. A small dose of the flu virus is administered; the body's immune system then goes to work creating antibodies and thus the immunity to that particular strain of flu. The primary difference between pharmaceutical drugs and homeopathic remedies is that pharmaceutical drugs only treat the symptoms of a disease. For example, over the counter flu medications only help to ease the aches and pains or clear sinus congestion. They do not address the flu virus itself. Homeopathy, on the other hand, addresses the cause of the symptoms (i.e. the flu virus itself). Eliminating the cause of the illness clears the body of the symptoms as well. These natural homeopathic remedies are based on elements found in nature and have traditionally been used to treat many ailments and illnesses. They are all natural and completely safe.

Botanical medicine, sometimes referred to as herbal medicine, uses plants to create remedies for a wide variety of ailments. Many of the medications we use today are derived from plants. One example would be aspirin. Since some plants and herbs can be toxic to animals it is important that your veterinarian or the doctor they refer you to is educated in botanical medicine and treatments.

Nutritional supplements that are created from plants and animals are called Nutraceuticals. Sometimes referred to as whole food supplements, nutraceuticals are derived from whole foods, organ and tissue extracts, and botanicals and are used to fill the nutritional gap created by feeding processed foods. Nutraceuticals are used to maintain optimal health as well as address health issues such as joint problems or digestive difficulties.

If you are interested in any of these treatments for your own pet, talk with your veterinarian. If they don’t offer the treatment options you are interested in, they may be able to refer you to someone who does. In the case of a referral, be certain there is ease of communication between everyone involved to ensure the best possible care for your pet.

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Perilous Preservatives in Pet Food

Have you ever opened a bag or can of your pet’s food and been hit in the olfactory senses with an unpleasant odor? What you smell is almost certain to be rancid fat. It is not a secret that many of the ingredients in pet foods are by products of our own meat processing plants that are deemed unsuitable for human consumption. To be honest some of these by products should be deemed unsuitable for animals to consume as well.

Pet food manufacturers use animal and poultry fats to provide oils essential for healthy skin and coats. The problem arises in the fact that many of these fats have already begun to turn rancid. They are then preserved with chemicals such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which are phenolic compounds added to foods to preserve fat. Another common chemical used as a preservative is ethoxyquin.

Fat becomes rancid for several reasons but the end result is the same, as the fat breaks down free radicals are formed which creates a health issue in itself. When the preservatives BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are added this compounds the health problems.

There are studies that have linked BHA and BHT to conditions such as dry skin, dental disease, allergies, liver disease, kidney damage and tumors in pets. In the United States BHT has been banned from use in baby food. In Romania, Sweden, and Germany it is not allowed for use at all in human food and Japan has forbidden the use of both BHA and BHT. It is difficult to understand why theses chemicals, which have demonstrated known carcinogenic properties, are still permitted for use in pet foods.

In my research concerning the preservative ethoxyquin I was able to find only limited information. This much is known about this chemical. Monsanto originally developed it in the 1950’s. It was registered with the EPA as a pesticide in 1965. I have also seen some documentation listing it as an herbicide. You can read the EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document concerning ethoxyquin here, http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/fac...s/0003fact.pdf. Please take a moment to read this information. I did note, according to this document, the EPA has not tested ethoxyquin for its carcinogenic properties.

Although the EPA has not conducted these studies many other organizations have. Several studies, including a recent one at the Nagoya City University Medical School in Japan, have linked this chemical to kidney and bladder carcinogenesis. Cell Carcinogenesis, is the process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. This study also linked ethoxyquin to a higher incidence of stomach tumors.

While the studies on these chemical preservatives may be incomplete the question that begs to be asked is, why use them at all? Certainly the fats need to be protected from oxidation and rancidity; however, there are several natural preservatives available that would serve that purpose. Two examples of these would be tocopherols, which contain vitamin E and ascorbic acid or vitamin C.

The biggest drawback to natural preservatives is shelf life. This is the reason some pet food manufacturers have chosen the synthetic preservatives. Chemical preservatives are less expensive as well. If, as a pet owner you wish to feed your dog or cat foods that only use natural preservatives you should be sure that the food is used in 4 to 6 months from the date of manufacture. There should be a code on the packaging, if the code is difficult to read or is listed as code number with no clear delineation of the manufacture date call the manufacturer with your questions.

Ultimately, no matter what you choose to feed you pet, as a responsible pet owner you should perform you due diligence to make certain that your companion’s nutritional needs are being met on every level.

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