Alternative health care isn't just for people. Dogs and cats are receiving acupuncture, chiropractic, reiki, massage and other hands-on therapies. Even pet food manufacturers are in on this trend in providing dry, canned, freeze-dried and frozen diets made from human grade foods including organic vegetables and free range meats. Many veterinarians are departing from tradition and its ties to the drug companies and other big businesses while others are adding holistic medicine to their conventional approach.

Over the years,  I have witnessed many early deaths in dogs, deaths due to diseases that most people think of as 'people diseases'- lupus, diabetes, Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome, hemolytic anemia, heart, kidney, cancer, cancer and more cancer. A conservative and still staggering statistic is that close to 60% of dogs die of cancer. In a nine month period, I lost three client dogs to brain tumors, aged 5, 10 and 7 years. Other cancers that have taken the lives of dogs I have known include hemangiosarcoma (4), lymphoma (5) and osteosarcoma (4). There are breeds that are prone to specific cancers and their increased numbers skew the overall statistics.

While genetics plays a part, there are many factors that contribute to illness. Holistic medicine treats the whole person or animal and takes into account the stresses of daily living. Dogs are at least as stressed as we are with many being more so simply because they live with us. Proper diet, nutrition and exercise are key factors in promoting and maintaining their good health too. How you live with and train your dog impacts both their behavior and health.

Many people take their pets to holistic veterinarians after all conventional treatments have failed and have weakened the body's ability to heal itself. Even in such dire circumstances, holistic veterinarians are often able to extend our pet's quality and length of life. Pet owners who practice holistic principles prior to the onset of disease reap the greatest rewards. The following veterinarians have many years of experience and are within a one hour driving distance from Boston:

        Randy Caviness, DVM  www.iahcbolton.com 

        Margo Roman, DVM     www.mashvet.com

        Sharon Doolittle, DVM   www.holisticanimalvet.com

The gift of alternative medicine is that your health, and that of your pet, is in your hands. Your practitioner is your guide, advocate and resource. However, there's a lot you can do on your own.

The Whole Dog Journal is a monthly publication that reports on natural ways to train and care for our dogs. It also provides a 'consumer reports' like perspective on products and information. You can get a preview at www.wholedogjournal.com .

TTouch was developed over 25 years ago by Linda Tellington-Jones in her work with horses. Since then she has worked with zoo animals as well as companion animals. Her methods have helped to reduce stress and diffuse many behavioral and physical problems in companion animals. Getting In TTouch with Your Dog is a do it yourself book with which many pet owners have helped their dogs overcome their fears of thunder and lightning storms. You can learn more at www.ttouch.com  as well as www.anxietywrap.com .

An extraordinary book is Wild Health-How Animals Keep Themselves well and What We Can Learn From Them was written by biologist Cindy Engel. It is filled with information pertinent to caring for a dog or a cat. For example, we would do well by our pets to pay attention to where they lick themselves (as in acupuncture meridians) and at what time of day (as in circadian rhythms) since these are often attempts at self healing. Most people know that animals eat grass to induce vomiting when they are nauseous, but, many do not know that they also eat soil to detoxify their bodies. A summary of this fascinating work is available at www.animalselfmedication.com

Another fun and thought provoking book is Animals and Psychedelics- The Natural World and the Instincts to Alter Consciousness by Giorgio Samorini. As it turns out, humans are not alone in trying to escape reality!

On a more serious note, Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM have co-written Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog. Now in its second edition, this is a tremendous resource for dog owners and explores diet and nutrition; vaccines and alternative therapies. The Five Element Theory is the primary focus of this book. The appendix is filled with useful information, especially the blood work and urinalysis interpretation charts.

A more complete picture of the five element theory utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is provided in veterinarian Cheryl Schwartz' book Four Paws Five Directions- A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs. The acupuncture meridian drawings provide an understanding of energy flow in the body. It is that flow, when impeded, that causes stagnation and leads to dis-ease. When the point(s) of stagnation are stimulated either with needles or pressure, a state of ease or well being resumes with free flowing chi energy. Our bodies and those of our pets are perfectly designed and so, are capable of healing completely.

Other energy based treatment modalities include aromatherapy and Bach flower remedies. Helen Graham and Gregory Vlamis have written a book on the latter, Bach Flower Remedies For Animals. Animals experiencing home-sickness benefit from honeysuckle; those who are clingy, possessive or attention seeking should fare well with chicory; a dog who is bullying to others, territorial and aggressive in a domineering way can be reigned in with vine; and rock rose can help those creatures who experience extreme fear, panic and absolute terror.

DAP, or Dog Appeasing Pheromone, is a stress reducer for dogs with many anxiety based issues. It mimics the hormones released by the mother dog while nursing her pups and even calms adult dogs. This is a supplemental tool in behavior modification programs. Until recently, DAP has been available at your local pet store as a plug-in diffuser for use near your dog's sleeping quarters. For its twenty-four hour calming influence, you can purchase a collar at www.petvetdirect.com.

What you feed your dog has never been such a hotly debated topic as it is today, thanks to the books of Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. He started a revolution of sorts with Give Your Dog A Bone, Grow Your Pup With Bones, and The BARF Diet. The acronym, BARF, stands for Bones And Raw Food is the basis of many of the frozen diets available for pets. These are thought to be the closest we can get to a dog or cat's natural, evolutionary diet. Advocates claim that their pets are healthier and, as a result, are less likely to develop 'people diseases'.

Vera E. Wilkinson originally wrote this article for The Barking Beacon in August 2002.  Updated June 2006 and rewrite to be continued.