Holistic Veterinary Treatment
What is it ?
Holistic medicine means considering the whole animal; physically, psychologically and socially, in the management and prevention of disease. It is underpinned by the concept that there is a link between our physical health and our more general 'well-being'.
It is concerned with the whole of the animal, rather than just parts or problems and the approach treats the whole animal rather than just looking at individual symptoms.
Treatment with natural therapies such as herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture can be used on their own as well as being integrated with conventional medicine to rebalance your animal’s health in a natural and gentle way
Where can it help?
Holistic therapies can be used for a huge range of animal conditions.
They can be integrated with conventional medicines and Ilse always liaises with the client’s usual vet, so everyone involved in the healthcare of an animal is kept fully informed.
What to expect
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A holistic consultation is a little different from a usual veterinary consultation and can take up to an hour. A full case history will be taken including information on the patients’ diet, lifestyle, environment and demeanor and a physical examination will be carried out. Sometimes, further tests will be advised and the therapist will liaise with your usual veterinary surgeon about these.
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A treatment plan will be devised based on the information obtained during the consultation. Medicines will either be prescribed at the time of the consultation or posted on a few days later. A follow up will be arranged after a few days or weeks depending on the case.
Treatments we offer
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Herbs have been used to treat people and animals for thousands of years all over the world, and modern knowledge of pharmacology and toxicology combined with traditional herbal knowledge allows herbs to be used effectively for many conditions.
Herbal medicines are formulated using whole plants, or extracts of the whole plant, not isolated active constituents as in some supplements. This means that the different constituents or phytochemicals in the herb can act together to give a greater effect but with fewer side effects.
Herbs can be given in a number of different ways including, teas, tinctures, dry herbs as well as topical preparation such as ointments or salves. An individual treatment plan will be drawn up depending on the animals’ particular symptoms and medical conditions.
Herbs can be used alongside conventional medicine to support and rebalance your pet’s health in a natural and gentle way.
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Homeopathy is a safe and effective natural system of medicine based on the principles of ‘Like cures Like’ this means that a medicine that in large doses produces the symptoms of the disease may in small doses help treat that disease.
Homeopathic medicines or ‘remedies’ are made from extracts of plants, animals, minerals, metals and other substances. There are several thousand homeopathic medicines available, they may come in tablet, liquid or powder form.
Homeopathic medicines may be given in single doses or in courses of a few days or weeks depending on the condition.
Homeopathy may be useful in situations where conventional medicine has undesirable side effects or where conventional treatment isn’t working or can’t be used for a particular reason. It may help to treat physical issues as well as behavioural ones.
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Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine, solid needles into the body for pain relief or, in some cases, to help the body deal with other diseases.
It works through the nervous system, blocking unwanted pain messages and encouraging the body to produce more of its natural painkillers and hormones. This helps to reset the body’s normal functioning. Most animals tolerate acupuncture really well, some even become relaxed and sleepy during the treatment.
The usual course of treatment with acupuncture is one session a week for four to six weeks. After four weeks we will work out a plan for the long term.
Acupuncture can be used to help treat many conditions including osteoarthritis, disc and back problems and tendon and ligament injuries as well as other problems such as allergies.
Animals react in different ways to acupuncture, it is a good idea to rest them after a session. Do not change exercise, diet or medication unless it has been discussed with your vet.
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Laser therapy is becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory and painful conditions, as well as to stimulate wound healing.
It works by using infrared light to stimulate tissue repair beneath the surface of the skin. It is a process known as Photobiomodulation. The photons of light stimulate the metabolism of cells which reduces pain and inflammation and speeds the healing process. The process is completely non-invasive, most animals find it very relaxing.
Our therapist uses a class IV pulsed laser, which is very safe and doesn’t cause overheating of the skin or hair. She also has an acupuncture head, so animals that won’t tolerate traditional needle acupuncture can still gain the benefit of treating acupuncture points.
The sorts of conditions that can be helped are; arthritis and joint pain, acute injuries such as ruptured cruciate ligaments and other strains or sprains, skin conditions like hot spots, lick granulomas and otitis, wound healing, cystitis and gum disease.
Some vets have also started to use laser therapy routinely post- surgery to speed up the healing of wounds and also after dentals to reduce the inflammation in the gums.