Anyone who would like to have their dog, cat or small animal treated naturally is in the right place with a non-medical practitioner. But can acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine and the like really help sick pets reliably? Or should a vet be consulted as well?
If you want to have your cat treated with naturopathy or homeopathy, go to the animal naturopath – Shutterstock / aprilante
Animal naturopaths usually specialize in one or a few areas of naturopathy for animals. Here you can find out what they can be, how you can recognize a reputable expert and when you should go to the vet as a precaution.
What treatment methods are available at the animal naturopath?
The basic idea of naturopathy for animals is to treat dogs, cats, guinea pigs etc. holistically and to activate the self-healing powers of the animal patient. Chemical drugs such as antibiotics or cortisone and imaging diagnostic procedures such as X-rays or ultrasound are not used. Animal naturopaths also do not perform any operations. Apart from that, naturopathy includes a wide range of possible treatment methods, which can be very different. Most reputable animal health practitioners therefore focus on one or a few of the following types of therapy:
- ● Homeopathy
- ● Acupuncture and other methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- ● herbal medicine (phytotherapy)
- ● Anthroposophic veterinary medicine
- ● Kinesiology (kinesiology)
- ● Color therapy
The basic theory of homeopathy is that like cures like. This means that if your pet is sick, the homeopath will look for the substance that would produce the same symptoms in healthy animals. This substance is very diluted so that it loses its toxic potential and is administered in the form of drops or globules. According to the thesis, this then resolves the complaints. In TCM, it is assumed that diseases are triggered by an imbalance in the body’s energy distribution. Balance is restored using a variety of methods. In acupuncture, thin needles are placed on specific points on the body. Herbal medicine strives to replace chemical medicines with natural, herbal remedies. Anthroposophic veterinarians assume that the body has self-healing powers that can be activated. Animal kinesiologists focus on the muscles and their function. Color therapy uses colored light sources; Your pet will be illuminated with light of a specific shade. This is said to have a healing effect on the inside of the body.
When it makes sense to visit a veterinarian
A reputable animal naturopath takes a lot of time for you and your pet to get a holistic picture of the health of his four-legged patient. He will ask you in detail about the medical history, living conditions, diet and other habits of your dog or cat in order to be able to make a well-founded diagnosis and find an appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, the term animal healer is not protected; anyone can call themselves that and anyone can offer training courses on the subject. The best way to look for recommended therapists is via the website of the Association of Resident Animal Healing Practitioners (www.fn-thp.de) or the Association of German Animal Healing Practitioners eV (www.tierheilpraktiker.de). You can also ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
Naturopathic methods are considered to be gentler compared to conventional medical forms of therapy. It can therefore help chronically ill animals in particular to be treated by an animal naturopath. Even with pain that does not seem to have a clear cause or that cannot be treated so well with conventional medicine, herbal painkillers or physiotherapy are often advisable.
Animal naturopaths do not replace the veterinarian
Nevertheless, it is better to go to the vet first if you have the impression that your fur nose is doing badly. Some diseases and especially injuries cannot be treated with naturopathic medicine. An intestinal obstruction or a torsion in the stomach, for example, represent an absolute emergency that requires immediate surgery. Traffic accidents can result in serious broken bones or other injuries that also require surgery. Furthermore, only the veterinarian can neuter your pet. However, that doesn’t mean you have to steer clear of animal health practitioners; As a supplement, for aftercare or to alleviate the symptoms of chronic diseases, naturopathy provides valuable services. A good animal healer usually has no problems if you have your four-legged friend treated by the veterinarian at the same time.
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