Questions & Answers
Alternative Medicine and Your Pets

How does 'Alternative Medicine' differ from conventional medicine?
Alternative (or Complementary) Medicine is an umbrella term, used to embrace a number of different therapeutic options, most of which aid or stimulate the body in its own healing efforts. By and large, they use natural medicine methods, on 'holistic' principles. Some less extensive but useful therapies play a supportive role, e.g. massage, physiotherapy etc. Conventional drugs, on the other hand, are usually designed to counter symptoms.

Why might one prove more appropriate than another, in certain circumstances?
Conventional drugs are often effective at lessening or abolishing symptoms. This may prove beneficial, when symptoms are so severe that they become a disease force in their own right. The effect is temporary and, if the real cause of the disease is not addressed or removed, the symptoms will return, sometimes worse than before. There can be a danger of side-effects, meanwhile. In acute disease or in a chronic disease which has no cure, the palliative effect of drugs can be merciful. Such drugs cannot bring about a cure of chronic disease.
Alternative medicine generally attempts to address and rebalance the fundamental problem in the body, thus offering a chance of 'cure' of chronic illness. Relief of symptoms may not be as powerful as that offered by conventional drugs, depending upon the therapy and the situation. Acupuncture, herbs and homeopathy can all provide spectacular responses, leading to powerful relief of symptoms through the healing effect, rather than through the direct action of the prescription.

Can Alternative Medicine address infectious diseases?
Properly prescribed Alternative Medicine can treat many infectious diseases and wound infection, often without the help of antibiotics. Furthermore, the problem of stimulation of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is not a feature of Alternative methods.

As 'drugs' are not used, can anybody treat animals?
The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) precludes the treatment of animals by anyone other than a qualified vet, except in the case of one's own animals. This applies to Herbs, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Bach Flowers etc. In the case of manipulative therapies (e.g. chiropractic, osteopathy, massage, physiotherapy), a non-vet may carry these out, upon referral and supervision by a vet.

Are vets trained in Alternative Medicine?
There are well-established courses in veterinary homeopathy and in veterinary acupuncture. There is an examination for vets to 'qualify' in veterinary homeopathy.

What conditions may respond to Acupuncture?
Acupuncture, as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has thousands of years of tradition. If performed as an integrated and holistic therapy, including internal medicine, diet and lifestyle management, it can produce favourable results in most illnesses. It is in the treatment of injury, arthritis, back disorders, lameness, nerve damage, paralysis and disc disease that it ahs made its name in 'Western' society.

What conditions may respond to Homeopathy?
Homeopathy has a powerful capability, in the treatment of chronic disease, offering a chance of cure in many situation in which little or no hope has been offered hitherto. Diet and lifestyle management are also part of the methodology.

Such common disease as arthritis, colitis, hormonal problems, skin disease, epileptiform diseases, paralysis, cushings disease, aggression and nervousness can respond. It can treat all species, from pets to farm animals, from exotics to horses. In horses, navicular disease is one of its more remarkable fields. It can help survival in chronic kidney disease. It offers some hope for cancer cases.

Apart from this vital medical role, it offers the animal carer a home first-aid capability, which is powerful, wide-reaching in its scope and very effective. Injuries of all kinds, colic, acute disease and shock are effectively treated at home, but many carers who had taken the time and trouble to be well versed in its methods.

Can the different therapies be mixed?
If properly integrated, by one who understands each therapy, the combing of different Alternative therapies, in a given patient, can be beneficial. It is not, however, advisable to 'mix and match' with no proper understanding. There are many 'herbal' or 'natural' products on the market, enthusiastically represented on the label or in literature and advertisement, as having beneficial effect on certain disease. It is not always wise to purchase these, without professional and properly independent advice.

How important is the food my animal eats?
When treating an animal patient holistically, we take detailed account of diet and try to ensure that it is as healthy and as appropriate as possible. This usually involves feeding fresh, unadulterated ingredients, home prepared. It may include 'organic' food, especially in serious disease. Manufacture feed is not generally advised, as part of a holistic regime, since it is usually processed and may contain additives or unsuitable ingredients. Freeze-drying or micro-waving of food is unlikely ever to improve it and may remove its 'vitality'.

What useful homeopathic 'first-aid' medicines are available for home use?
This subject is very big but details of a few of the available emergency medicine will be useful. They can be obtained from health shops and many high street pharmacies.
- Arnica threats any injury or trauma, reducing bruising and secondary damage, reducing the likelihood of infection and speeding healing and resolution. It can be used alone or along with other medicine, in special situations (see below).
- Hypericum treats nerve injuries and painful grazes, in which many nerve ending have been disrupted. It is also valuable in injuries to extremities, such as toes or tails.
- Ledum treats puncture wounds, optimising blood supply and healing.
- Calendula, usually as a lotion, speeds wound healing and reduces the likelihood of infection.
- Colocynth is valuable in treating colic, especially in horses. If used when a vet is called, the condition may well have improved by the time the vet arrives.
- Aconite treats shock and sudden onset fevers.

Can homeopathic medicine produce side effects?
There is no such thing as a side effect in homeopathy. Sometimes there can be a 'worse before better' development, which is common to all natural medicine. This is usually transitory and not distressing.

Is Acupuncture painful?
Animals usually accept acupuncture extremely readily. Sometimes (but rarely) an uncomfortable sensation can be experience. Patient will usually tolerate this well, if they feel that the treatment is relevant to their problem.

Christopher Day, Veterinary Surgeon, Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre, Chinham House, Stanford in the Vale, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8NQ.
Tel: 01367 710324 Fax: 01367 718243 www.alterntivevet.org

Disclaimer
"Chris is entirely indepdent and therefore does nto necessarily agree with any views or claims expressed in advertisements"