What is Holistic Health for Pets?

When some people hear the term “holistic health,” they sometimes think of crystals, reading auras, and yoga by a tranquil lake. 

Although those things can be a part of holistic health, there’s a lot more to holistic health and there are a number of benefits your pet can gain from visiting a veterinarian that practices it. 

As you read you’ll see, there’s nothing supernatural or strange about holistic health, and it may help your pet recover from an illness or injury faster than traditional veterinary care alone. 

What is Holistic Health? 

Holistic health focuses on the whole animal. The primary focus is on their physical health but also covers their emotional well-being. It also encourages the use of a wider range of treatment options than most veterinarians offer. 

Another aspect of holistic health is that it doesn’t just treat symptoms. For example, if an animal has a skin infection caused by self-mutilation, a holistic vet will go beyond topical antibiotics to figure out what’s causing the self-mutilation. Stress, parasites, or a food allergy may be to blame. 

Holistic Health Examples 

Let’s quickly look at three examples of alternative treatments used in holistic veterinary medicine and discuss how they can help your pet get relief from numerous conditions. 

Chiropractic Care 

A chiropractor is trained to properly align the spine. Because of the number of nerves that run through it, when the bones themselves aren’t aligned as they should be, these nerves can become pinched and cause various painful conditions. 

Humans that use chiropractic care report less pain throughout their bodies and overall better health. Even ailments like headaches and nasal congestion can be resolved through chiropractic care. 

It’s no different for our pets. If your pet’s nerves are being pinched, they’re suffering in some way. A specially-trained chiropractor can help get your pet’s spine into alignment and ease the pain.  

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture has a long history of helping to cure countless ailments, so it’s no surprise that it’s now being used to treat the furry members of our family. 

It uses special needles which are inserted at particular points in the body. The idea is that your body’s natural energy flows through these points which can become blocked. Acupuncture stimulates these areas to unblock these points. 

As you can imagine, this works the same way for animals, too. A variety of conditions may be treated using acupuncture including stress, poor appetite, and numerous physical ailments. 

Diet Changes 

“You are what you eat.” As true as this is for people, it’s also true of our animal companions. For this reason, many holistic vets focus strongly on diet to improve the well-being of an animal. 

Cheap commercial pet foods are often filled with unhealthy fillers like corn, flour, and other empty calories that your pet doesn’t digest well. Some animals also have allergies to certain grains or even protein sources found within their food. 

Through dietary changes, digestive issues, skin problems, and bladder conditions can all be treated, to name a few. By giving your pet exactly what they need and eliminating things that are making them sick, they’ll feel better within days of a diet change. 

Benefits of Holistic Health for Pets 

Although we already mentioned a few of them, let’s quickly go over some of the benefits of holistic health for pets. 

• Eliminate or reduce the side effects of medication 
• Better pain management 
• Strengthens the immune system 
• Treats illnesses rather than just symptoms 
• Improves overall happiness of pet 
• Can reduce health care costs 

All pet owners love their pets. It’s why we refer to them as our fur babies. It’s also why so many people are now choosing veterinarians that practice holistic health. 

Consider Investing in Pet Insurance

Looking for more ways to keep your pets happy and healthy? Consider investing in a pet insurance policy with MetLife Pet Insurance.¹  Our dog insurance and cat insurance policies can provide the coverage and care your furry family members deserve.  Get your free quote today.