Holistic veterinary medicine is the examination and diagnosis of an animal, considering all aspects of the animal’s life and employing all of the practitioner’s senses. When a holistic veterinarian sees a pet, besides giving it a comprehensive physical examination, he wants to find out all about its behaviors, distant medical and dietary history, and environment, including diet, emotional stresses, and other factors. Holistic vets use a combination of conventional and alternative modalities for treatment. The techniques used in holistic veterinary medicine are gentle, minimally invasive, and incorporate patient well-being and stress reduction.
Holistic vets provide pets with diets that are palatable, preservative free, practical and cost-effective. Practitioners also use supplemental minerals, vitamins and nutrients that correct deficiencies, prevent pathology and reverse tissue damage. Supplements are prescribed that support the organs and body tissues, aid body detoxification and give energy to assist in the healing process. Some holistic vets also perform behavior modification techniques that incorporate ethology, biology, nutrition, pharmacology, lifestyle evaluation and aspects of modern psychotherapy. Veterinary acupuncture is growing in popularity as a holistic treatment for pets. The primary aim of veterinary acupuncture is to strengthen the pet’s immune system—to stimulate the body’s adaptive–homeostatic mechanism. Homeopathic remedies and herbal medicine may be used as well. Veterinary herbal medicines include North American herbs, Aryuvedic herbs from India, traditional Chinese herbs and other herbs from all over the world. Herbs have healing powers that are capable of balancing the emotional, mental and physical dimensions of animals. Veterinary chiropractic can be used to treat a broad spectrum of conditions in animals as well.
Source: American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA)
Find a Practitioner
To find a Holistic Veterinarian in your area, please click here.
Find a School
To find a school in your area that offers Holistic Veterinary classes as part of, or in addition to, a degree in Veterinary Medicine, please click here.