Alternative Medicine for Dogs

Any alternative medicine that is practiced on humans has probably been adapted for use on dogs. The terms complementary therapies and holistic medicine may also be used in reference to alternative medicines.

  1. Therapies

    • Alternative therapies you can look for to help your dog include acutherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, physical therapy and trigger point therapy. Acutherapy includes acupuncture (applying pressure to points on the body, usually with a needle), acupressure (applying pressure to the points with your fingers), moxibustion (burning a specific herb by the point) and aquapuncture (injecting a solution into the point). The point of all of these acutherapies is to fix flows of energies in the dog's body.

      Chiropractic is the practice of manipulating parts of the body to correct issues. In massage therapy, the therapist uses his hands to work the dog's muscles to improve the muscles themselves and the dog's circulation. A physical therapist uses noninvasive techniques other than chiropractic to help dogs recover from injuries.

      The therapist you choose to work with should be able to show you techniques you can use at home to help your dog yourself, but these will probably not be able to replace regular visits with the therapist.

      Your veterinarian may be able to perform these therapies or may provide you with a referral. If not, The Original Dog Bible recommends that any therapist you choose have the appropriate licensing. For example, a chiropractor should have a Doctor of Chiropractic, and a massage therapist should have graduated from a massage therapy program.

    Herbs and Nutraceuticals

    • If you want to try herbal medicine or nutraceuticals (food supplements), work with your veterinarian to make choices about what your dog should take. Even herbs and supplements can be toxic, have side effects or have bad interactions with other supplements or prescription drugs. You also should not put your dogs on any herbs or supplements just because a study has found it to be "good" for dogs. Herbs and supplements are not regulated by any organization, so research any brands you try before purchasing as the quality varies. Dosages on packaging may not correspond with recommended therapeutic dosages from researchers.