Holistic care is the treatment of the whole pet, considering nutrition, environment, genetics, behaviour and medical history. Holistic thinking is centered on love, empathy, respect and looking at an animal as an individual.
A holistic vet will determine the best combination of conventional and alternative therapies for a given individual, this is also known as an integrative approach. The word “(w)holistic” means considering the whole picture of the patient including the environment, the disease process, the diet, and developing a treatment protocol using a wide range of therapies to heal the patient.
Many patients present in a state of “dis-ease.” We need to ask “why?” rather than just treating the symptoms. One symptom may have several layers of causation. When one area of the body is ill, it can manifest in many ways. Successful and sustainable recovery relies upon finding the true cause of an illness and treating it. The most effective and least harmful path to healing is selected.
Examples of treatments used in an integrated approach are herbal vet medicine, acupuncture, low level laser therapy, nutrition (including microbiome testing), physiotherapy and use of a chiropractor.
The benefits of using these treatments include fewer side-effects than conventional treatments, increased patient safety, stimulation of the body to self-heal and individualised treatment plans.
