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Widely usedalongside conventional veterinary treatments, complementary therapies can helpprove beneficial when it comes to managing a dog’s pain and helping recoverypost-surgery and injury.
Whetheryou’re looking into alternative treatment for your own pet or want to expandyour current service offering, our guide shines a spotlight on 8 differenttherapies available.
Whileacupuncture is considered an alternative therapy here in the UK, the practicehas been used as a medical technique in China for more than 3,000 years.
It involvesinserting very thin needles at specific points on the animal’s body to helpease conditions, such as arthritis and gastrointestinal disease. The needles aresaid to stimulate the nerves and cause a release of endorphins – the body’snatural painkiller.
Whencarried out by a trained professional, the needles should not cause pain, evenwhen being maneuvered. Some animals even find it relaxing!
Reiki is aJapanese healing therapy that promotes relaxation and reduces stress andanxiety through gentle touch.
It channelsenergy through a practitioner’s hands, either directly on the body or from adistance, to the animal and is said to help heal physical, mental, emotional orspiritual problems.
Alsoreferred to as cold laser therapy, laser therapy uses a special light topenetrate the animal’s skin and tissue to reduce pain and inflammation, as wellas speed up the recovery process.
It is anon-invasive treatment, producing a light warming sensation and offers acomfortable experience for the dog.
Commonconditions treated by laser therapy include osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia and fractures.
Just likein humans, canine massage involves the manipulation of muscles, tendons,ligaments and connective tissues.
Fromlameness and stiffness to spondylosis and elbow dysplasia, massage can helpresolve issues and injuries that could be having an effect on a dog’s mobilityand quality of life.
Massageworks well alongside medical treatment and pain relief, but should only beundertaken by a skilled and fully-insured professional. It is also illegal tocarry out any manipulative therapy on a dog without consent from their vet.
Homeopathyis a holistic method of treatment that encourages an animal’s body to healitself by curing ‘like with like’. This means diluting natural substances, suchas plants and minerals, that would usually trigger the onset of illnesses tostimulate or enhance the body’s own natural defences.
Someconventional vets now offer this holistic therapy alongside their traditionalservice offering to treat conditions and help improve the lives of dogs.
Commonlyused to treat horses and dogs, osteopathy involves working on the joints,muscles, tendons and ligaments to help treat a variety of conditions, fromstiffness and gait problems to joint pains and digestive problems.
Anosteopath will firstly observe the animal then perform a physical examinationto identify problem areas. Soft massage, stretches and joint movements are thenused to rebalance the dog’s body, relieve tension and maximise mobility.
Allosteopaths in the UK are fully-qualified human osteopaths and are regulated byThe General Osteopathic Council so check your therapist’s qualifications beforecommencing treatment.
To receivetreatment from a chiropractor, it is no longer necessary to receive permissionfrom a vet
Achiropractic session will often involve analysis of the animal’smusculoskeletal system, before they are treated and adjusted through carefulmanipulation. This will help to correct misalignments in areas such as thespine and pelvis, helping to restore the canine’s natural movement.
Chiropractictreatment can now be administered to animals without the need for veterinarypermission.
Derivedfrom the Greek word for ‘water healing’, hydrotherapy involves animals using a heatedwater pool to aid recovery from surgery or injuries, improve muscle tone andmore.
After beingstrapped into a life jacket and harness, the dog is led into a pool where theythen can swim or use a treadmill. The resistance in the water can help tostrengthen weakened muscles and joints without imposing undue stress on thebody, while the warm temperature is beneficial for pain management.
A referralletter is needed from a vet before commencing a hydrotherapy session. If youoffer hydrotherapy treatment, visit [LINK TO HYDROTHERAPY POLICY PAGE] to findout more about our insurance.
