Making sure that your dog or cat receives regular checkups and vaccinations at the veterinarian's office is absolutely important. However, if you're looking to reduce your pet's stress, minimize pain, or treat chronic illnesses, give these three alternative treatments a try.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is starting to become a common sight at many veterinarians' offices. Acupuncture has to either be performed by a veterinarian or under a veterinarian's supervision, so talk to your vet to see if they offer an acupuncture program for pets.
Acupuncture is generally painless, as the needles are extremely thin and only inserted slightly. Cats and dogs have shown many benefits from receiving acupuncture, including reduced stress levels, reduced joint pain that's due to arthritis, and even improving the quality of life of pets who are suffering from cancer or other major illnesses.
Reiki
Reiki, like acupuncture, is based in the concept that all living beings have an energy flow that can be boosted or otherwise corrected to improve health. Unlike acupuncture, Reiki doesn't require the attention of a veterinarian, and is completely non-invasive.
Reiki practitioners can treat your pet by laying their hands on the pet and channeling energy from a higher source into your pet. While it may sound a bit odd, many pets will almost immediately show signs of intense relaxation, and often begin to trust their Reiki practitioner long before they would show signs of trust towards other strangers. Reiki practitioners claim that their work is particularly beneficial in lowering stress levels and reducing pain, so your pet may benefit from this method.
Massage
The idea of your pet receiving a massage might strike you as silly; after all, you probably pet them all the time already, right? Even so, lightly stroking your pet isn't quite the same as working on the muscles deep under your pet's skin and tissues. While pets don't engage in the same muscle-tensing behaviors that humans do, like staring at a computer for hours on end, or slouching in a chair, pets can still experience muscle cramps, aches, and tightness.
Pet massages also don't require the supervision of a veterinarian, though some holistic veterinary offices may offer this service. Pet massage therapists may or may not need a license and official training depending on your state's laws, so if you know of a veterinarian offering these services, they may be your best bet. If you'd rather try an independent massage practitioner, make sure to ask them about their training and licensing, if any.
Pets can use a little pampering and additional treatments to improve their overall health, just like humans do. If your pet is struggling with pain, recurring or chronic illnesses, or just seems to not be their spunky usual self, try one of these three methods. Talk to a vet like Clayton Veterinary Associates for more information.
Share30 July 2015
Having your pets spayed and neutered is more important than most people realize. Not only does it help manage the pet population, but it can help your pet's behavior and protect them from unwanted and unsafe pregnancies. Our blog is all about spaying and neutering pets. You will learn about the procedure, the benefits and even the potential risks of having it done. Hopefully, the information that we have included here will help you come to an educated decision about whether your pet should be spayed or neutered. Take your time to read through everything compiled here and you should have little question about the procedure.
