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Widely used alongside conventional veterinary treatments, complementary therapies can help prove beneficial when it comes to managing a dog’s pain and helping recovery post-surgery and injury.
Whether you’re looking into alternative treatment for your own pet or want to expand your current service offering, our guide shines a spotlight on 8 different therapies available.
While acupuncture is considered an alternative therapy here in the UK, the practice has been used as a medical technique in China for more than 3,000 years.
It involves inserting very thin needles at specific points on the animal’s body to help ease conditions, such as arthritis and gastrointestinal disease. The needles are said to stimulate the nerves and cause a release of endorphins – the body’s natural painkiller. When carried out by a trained professional, the needles should not cause pain, even when being maneuvered. Some animals even find it relaxing!
Reiki is a Japanese healing therapy that promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch. It channels energy through a practitioner’s hands, either directly on the body or from a distance, to the animal and is said to help heal physical, mental, emotional or spiritual problems.
Also referred to as cold laser therapy, laser therapy uses a special light to penetrate the animal’s skin and tissue to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as speed up the recovery process. It is anon-invasive treatment, producing a light warming sensation and offers a comfortable experience for the dog. Common conditions treated by laser therapy include osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia and fractures.
Just like in humans, canine massage involves the manipulation of muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues. From lameness and stiffness to spondylosis and elbow dysplasia, massage can help resolve issues and injuries that could be having an effect on a dog’s mobility and quality of life. Massage works well alongside medical treatment and pain relief, but should only be undertaken by a skilled and fully-insured professional. It is also illegal to carry out any manipulative therapy on a dog without consent from their vet.
Homeopathy is a holistic method of treatment that encourages an animal’s body to heal itself by curing ‘like with like’. This means diluting natural substances, such as plants and minerals, that would usually trigger the onset of illnesses to stimulate or enhance the body’s own natural defences. Some conventional vets now offer this holistic therapy alongside their traditional service offering to treat conditions and help improve the lives of dogs.
Commonly used to treat horses and dogs, osteopathy involves working on the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments to help treat a variety of conditions, from stiffness and gait problems to joint pains and digestive problems.
An osteopath will firstly observe the animal then perform a physical examination to identify problem areas. Soft massage, stretches and joint movements are then used to rebalance the dog’s body, relieve tension and maximise mobility.
All osteopaths in the UK are fully-qualified human osteopaths and are regulated by The General Osteopathic Council so check your therapist’s qualifications before commencing treatment.
A chiropractic session will often involve analysis of the animal’s musculoskeletal system, before they are treated and adjusted through careful manipulation. This will help to correct misalignments in areas such as the spine and pelvis, helping to restore the canine’s natural movement. Chiropractic treatment can now be administered to animals without the need for veterinary permission.
Derived from the Greek word for ‘water healing’, hydrotherapy involves animals using a heated water pool to aid recovery from surgery or injuries, improve muscle tone and more. After being strapped into a life jacket and harness, the dog is led into a pool where they then can swim or use a treadmill. The resistance in the water can help to strengthen weakened muscles and joints without imposing undue stress on the body, while the warm temperature is beneficial for pain management. A referral letter is needed from a vet before commencing a hydrotherapy session.
If you offer hydrotherapy treatment, visit our Pet Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy policy to find out more about the cover we can offer.
