Holistic Dog Health - What Is It?

Holistic dog health care is becoming a natural means for pet owners to ensure that their beloved dogs are as healthy as possible, living long, happy lives to the fullest.

Nutritional needs are perhaps the most important aspect to consider when it comes to a dog’s health, as theirs are somewhat different from ours and will require a certain balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to ensure everything from the digestive systems to the bones, joints, and organs as well as the skin and coat are as healthy as possible. A diet of meat, vegetables, and whole grains without any processed foods or unnecessary fillers is usually recommended when following the holistic approach to dog care.

Using a variety of essential oils, plant extracts, herbs and flowering essences, people have treated numerous ailments and conditions over the past thousands of years. As of recently, these ancient healing practices have found their way into pet care and are now becoming increasingly popular as more and more dog owners are looking for safer, healthier, and less invasive alternatives to treating their pets.

Canine herbal remedies include calendula and chamomile for treating wounds, with chamomile used to give relief for respiratory compaints as well.For dogs suffering from constipation or bowel disorders, crushed flaxseed mixed with plenty of water may do the trick. For dry, itchy skin, oats are as soothing to a dog’s skin as they are to a human’s, and if your pup is having trouble sleeping, smelling some lavender may help them to relax and finally fall soundly asleep.

Before concocting any type of herbal remedies of your own, make it a point to do plenty of research and be absolutely certain that what you’re giving your dog isn’t toxic or harmful in any way, as not all herbs and flowers are safe for pets, or even people for that matter. Also, ask your veterinarian for their input and recommendations when it comes to holistic dog health and using all-natural remedies for their care.

Today there are an increasing number of veterinarians who are putting great stock in holistic dog health, making it a large part of their practice. A veterinarian who uses holistic pet strategies treats the dog as a whole, rather than identifying a certain issue and prescribing one type of treatment for that particular disease, illness or injury.

As an example, if your dog has suddenly come down with some form of rash on his skin causing irritation, redness, itching, a possible infection, and some fur loss, a “regular” vet would probably send you away with an antibiotic to treat the skin infection as well as a topical ointment to address the itching.

A holistic veterinarian will place more emphasis on determining the cause of the rash as the source of the infection before prescribing those two remedies.With holistic care, the dog’s indoor and outdoor environment, his daily lifestyle, eating habits and nutritional intake are all taken into consideration before attempting to diagnose or treat the animal.

Holistic dog health care is becoming more popular as an alternative to purely conventional veterinary care. It is thought that holistic pet health care encourages a healthier, longer life for pets.

- Melinda Smith