Dog Illness and Injury: Using Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic Veterinary Medicine Provides Dogs with a Holistic Approach to Healthcare

For many pet owners, finding natural and alternative medicine approaches to treating disease and illness is always a welcome health consideration to not only improve the balance and health to the family pet but also alleviate the associated financial burden of some veterinarian services when traditional medicine services are utilized.

Once such medicine approach, Osteopathy, is growing in popularity among dog owners, in both preventative medicine and when required to treat a dog's illness or injury, especially those with chronic or debilitating emotional complications. It is the osteopath's approach to treatment, provided for by a licensed and trained osteopathic veterinarian, which provides the family dog with a more holistic approach to health care.

During osteopathic care of a dog, the osteopathic veterinarian will use a hands-on approach to address the health of the dog as a whole. Interested in the mind and body connection, analyzing the abnormalities of the dog's muscular-skeletal system, and devising a holistic treatment plan, with limited use of prescription medications, is the ultimate goal of the osteopath. It is the through the osteopathic veterinarian's use of manipulations and therapy that many dogs are able to avert the need for surgery to treat injury and disease. Following the osteopathic treatment, the dog owner is usually advised to require the dog to rest for two or three days with re-examination and, possibly, repeat manipulation and therapy, by the osteopathic veterinarian, once or twice following the initial visit. So, where do you find a veterinarian who performs osteopathic and holistic services?

While The American Veterinary Medical Association, in 1966, began acknowledging chiropractic treatment, in dogs, as a therapeutic benefit, especially to dogs who are involved in athletic events, such as dog racing they have yet to organize and collaborate the effectiveness of osteophathic medicine. However, in Britian, great strides have been made in networking osteopathic health of canines through the Association of chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy.