Massage Therapy
Improves circulation Increases range of
motion Preventing injury Reduces inflammation Relieves tension
Massage Therapy
Stimulates lymphatic system
Eliminate toxins and promote healing
Improves animal disposition
Treat body as a whole
Massage Programs
Equissage– One week course in
VA Certified with the
(IAESMT) International Association of Equine Sports Massage Therapists
Benefits of Hydrotherapy
Improve general fitness
Improve muscle tone Helpful in recovering
from injury or operation
Bone are not put under great stresses as on land
Hydrotherapy’s unique features
Thermal effects– Warm for dogs, cooler
for horses
Buoyancy– For weight bearing
problems
Increase hydrostatic pressure– Edema
Cohesion– Resistance moving
through water
Turbulence
Therapy for animals
Weak, unbalanced animals
Animals that can’t bear weight on their joints
Arthritis, fractures, CNS problems
Animal Rehabilitation Center of MI
A tank of approximately 4 ft x 6 ft– Cleaned every 10 days
Run about 8 dogs through a day
$50 to $100 a day Annette swims with
frightened dogs
Chiropractic
A back problem is almost always secondary to a primary cause.
Ie: shoeing, badly fitting saddle, injury
What is Chiropractic?
Joint manipulation aka adjustments– One fixed joint causes
excess movement of surrounding joints.
Deals with the entire body as a whole
When to use Chiropractic
Pain– Last thing to come and
the first to go Changes in animal’s
– Attitude
– Performance Signs of stiffness,
soreness, muscle spasms
Bones’ History
3 yr old Appendix Green broke, off the
track Injury to right hind in
July of 2001– Caught in a fence?
Abandoned
Bones’ Butt
Lowering of hip on right side
Can not physically stand square
How did this happen? How do you fix this
without chiropractic?
Aromatherapy
The art and science of using essential oils from plant sources for the health and well being of the patient.
Essential Oils
Life force of plants Affect the patient on both
mental and emotional planes
Act through the resonance principal
Many uses– Massage, Candles
– Ingested, Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy
Quick acting Oils are inhaled Stimulate olfactory
nerve Send messages to
limbic area of the brain– memory, learning,
emotion
Homeopathy
The natural pharmaceutical science that uses various plants, minerals and vitamins in very small doses to stimulate the body’s natural defenses.
Homeopathy
Body cures itself, homeopathy creates/facilitates conditions so healing can take place
Giving small doses that cause symptoms– 1:9 – 1:30
– Allergy injection
Why Integrate Complementary Healing and Conventional
Veterinary Medicine?
• “There are more options to animals healing than we ever imagined…” (Allen Schoen, DVM)
• Western practitioners respond, “because I am tired of not being able to help.” (Particularly in managing chronic illnesses.)
Why Integrate Complementary Healing and Conventional
Veterinary Medicine?• There is a difference
between treating and healing. Treatment comes from the outside. Healing comes from within. (Dr. Andrew Weil).
• Practice builder –
You’ll be unique in your area!
Three Examples:An Integrative Approach to:
Managing Seizures
Upper Respiratory Infections
Bladder Problems in Cats
An Integrative Approach to Managing Seizures ( in small animals)
If possible, eliminate the cause:– food allergies?
– neurotoxic insecticides?
– over vaccination?
An Integrative Approach to Managing Seizures
If the cause is unknown, some management options include:
Supplementation:
– Eg. Antioxidant combination of Vitamin C, E and Selenium along with B-6 or magnesium
• Dose by weight of the animal
An Integrative Approach to Managing Seizures
Acupuncture: – To be discussed in
another presentation. Minimize the animal’s
stress: - Eg. Herbs: valerian
root, skullcap, oatstraw, kava
- Be aware that you might need to lower the dose of other anticonvulsants when using herbs.
An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections
(in cats) PREVENTION!
– Vaccinate against common causes of URI’s:
• Feline rhinotracheitis• Feline calici virus
– A holistic approach to vaccination:
• Follow vaccine with a homeopathic remedy to reduce the likelihood of a reaction
• Don’t over vaccinate (boost vaccine every 3-10 years, depending on exposure and risk)
An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections
PREVENTION!– Suggest
isolation of new cats before they are introduced into a household with cats
An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections
If prevention wasn’t enough…
– Bacterial culture and sensitivity
• followed by appropriate antibiotics
An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections
If the infection is not bacterial in origin or is resistant to antibiotics:
ADD supportive measures to the antibiotic treatment to help boost the immune system:– Vitamins– Western or Chinese Herbs– Immunostimulant homeopathic remedy– Acupuncture– Interferon– Chicken soup (no joke!!)
An Integrative Approach to Bladder Problems
(in cats) Diagnostic Tests:
– Urinalysis
– Blood chemistry
– Radiographs
Treatment:– If the problem is acute:
• SURGERY to remove blockage
• Followed by diet change and/or antibiotics (depending on the cause)
• Close observation to detect reoccurrences
An Integrative Approach to Bladder Problems
Treatment– If the problem is chronic, a more natural
approach may help prevent reoccurrences:
• Increase water intake– Add extra water to canned food
• Feed a low ash diet
An Integrative Approach to Bladder Problems
Treatment– If the problem is chronic, a
more natural approach may help prevent reoccurrences:
• Nutritional Supplementation
– Vitamin C and E– Cranberry juice capsule
for cats
• Chinese Herbal Formula (“polyporous combination”)
– The formula includes herbs specific for treating both crystals and bacterial infections
• Acupuncture
Some Caveats to Integrative Therapy
Natural DOES NOT mean safe and/or effective!
Don’t combine Western and Chinese herbs at the same time.
Use herbal formulas from quality companies. (It is best not to create your own formulas unless you receive training as an herbalist.)
Study homeopathy before you apply it, or REFER to a specialist.
Some Caveats to Integrative Therapy
Be aware that clients might try to “self” medicate their pets. Ask!
Remember that hydrotherapy is contraindicated in animals with cardiovascular or respiratory depression.
Offer clients options (conventional, alternative or complimentary).
There is a lot of opposition to integrative veterinary therapy – if
you are going to do it… be really good at it!
In Conclusion…
A quote from Michigan Veterinary Conference
(2001),“Use the best medicine that
is effective on that day, for that condition, and is
least invasive.” Keep in mind that might
range from improving saddle fit to surgery.
(Joyce Hatman, DVM)
To Learn More About Holistic Veterinary Medicine:
Talk to Dr. Deborah Wilson here at MSU (Anesthesiology)!
Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (www.AHVMA.org)
Love, Miracles and Animal Healing – Allen Schoen, DVM
(www. Drschoen.com)
To Learn More About Holistic Veterinary Medicine:
Kindred Spirits – Allen Schoen, DVM
Four Paws, Five Directions – Cheryl Schwartz, DVM
Animal Rehabilitation Center of Michigan, Inc.
(www.unionlakepets.com)