Monday, September 29, 2008

Do You Need a Dog Health Diagnosis?

By Geraldine Dimarco

Holistic dog health care is becoming a natural way for pet owners to provide a dog health diagnosis so their cherished pets are always at their healthiest.

Nutritional needs are perhaps the most important aspect of dog health, and of course a dog's nutritional needs are completely different to members of the human species. Dogs need a certain balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to make sure their digestive systems as well as the skeletal system, joints,and organs are kept as healthy as possible. Holistic dog diets usually require proteins, vegetables, and a small amount of grains. They do not need fillers and over-processed foods that are so often a feature of commercial dog foods.

Once you have a dog health diagnosis, you can go the conventional treatment way, or use a combination of various essential oils, flowering essences, plant extracts, and certain herbs. You can consult with a holistic veterinarian, or you could do your own research on holistic dog health care and run your ideas past your vet before embarking upon a holistic treatment regime. These ancient healing practices have in recent years found their way into pet care and are now becoming increasingly popular as more and more dog owners are looking for safer, healthier, and less invasive alternatives to treating their pets.

Calendula and chamomile may be recommended for promoting the healing of wounds, with the latter often being used for the treatment of respiratory ailments also. If your dog is suffering from constipation or a bowel disorder, crushed flaxseed mixed with plenty of water may be helpful. Dry, itchy skin, can be soothed with oats, and if your dog is having trouble sleeping, you may well find that lavender essential oil may help your to relax fall asleep just as well as it will work for yourself if you suffer from insomnia.

Your vet can provide valuable input and recommendations in relation to holistic dog health care, but if you have a vet who is not interested in discussing alternative health methods with you, you should do your own research, as well as consider finding another vet who is willing to listen to your views about the use of alternative treatments for your dog.

There are an increasing number of veterinarians these days who are putting great stock in holistic dog health, making it a large part of their practice. A veterinarian who practices holistic pet care treats animals as a whole, rather than identifying a certain problem and prescribing one type of treatment related to that specific injury or illness.

As an example, if your dog presents with a skin rash displaying symptoms like itching, irritation, redness, and possible infection with concomitant fur loss, a presciption from a "traditional" vet would certainly include an antibiotic and maybe an ointment for the itching.

While a "regular" vet would probably prescribe an antibiotic to treat most skin irritations and infections, as well as a topical ointment to address the itching, a holistic veterinarian will probably place more emphasis on finding out what could have caused the rash to occur in the first place, which, of course, was the root of the infection. With holistic care, the dog's indoor and outdoor environment, his daily lifestyle, eating habits and nutritional intake are all taken into consideration before attempting to diagnose or treat the animal.

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