Holistic Treatments for Feline Cancer

Holistic treatments are considered to be a more natural approach to improve the overall health of the pet, rather than focusing solely on the illness. When cancer is diagnosed, many cat owners are wary of going the traditional route of treatment. However, pet owners should keep in mind that just as with traditional methods, there is no guarantee that alternative methods will work for every pet, every time.

  1. Conventional Treatments

    • Conventional treatments for feline cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical removal, hyperthermia treatments, photodynamic therapy, targeted therapy, cryosurgery and immunotherapy. There may also be pharmaceutical medicines to relieve pain or other symptoms such as swelling or diarrhea. Some veterinarians may forego treatment altogether and recommend euthanizing the pet.

    Diet and Nutrition

    • One major part of holistic treatment involves improving the diet and nutrition of the affected cat. This includes using nutritional supplements along with higher quality holistic foods and fresh, clean water daily. Improving the quality of the nutrition helps to boost the immune system and an ideal diet should be high in protein, low in carbohydrates and contain moderate levels of fat.

    Supplements

    • Supplements and herbs are also used to help improve the overall health of the affected feline. Many times, holistic treatments are used in conjunction with traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy. Using herbs and supplements can help to reverse the side effects of traditional treatments, such as loss of appetite or lethargy. Herbs that are often used include milk thistle, reishi mushrooms, selenium and ashwagandha.

    Acupuncture

    • Acupuncture is a method that uses needles that are inserted into different points on the body to help relieve pain and inflammation. Acupuncture can also work to correct the imbalance of the body and can even help stimulate the cat̵7;s appetite.

    Homotoxicology

    • Homotoxicology is a holistic treatment option that involves a combination of homeopathic remedies which help treat symptoms and the internal disease process by detoxifying the feline body. Examples of homotoxicology include symptom treatments that are aimed at treating specific symptoms such as diarrhea or internal bleeding. Liver detox treatments and supportive treatments for the immune system are additional types of homotoxicology.

    Homeopathy

    • Homeopathy is an alternative form of treatment that is also used in humans. In homeopathy, there are no chemical side effects because homeopathy uses natural remedies rather than pharmaceutical remedies. For example, one type of homeopathic treatment for cancer involves using Carcinosin pellets over the course of a few weeks.