A holistic approach towards your dog’s health is the need of the hour. It encompasses a multifaceted approach in treating your dog. Not only can they be cured of their specific illness, but a holistic approach ensures the future well being of your dog as well.

There is no doubt that we cannot do away with the traditional approach but we can surely reduce our dependence on them for our dog’s care. In the case of traditional approach, only the illness per se is taken care of and cured whereas the associated factors are ignored.

Well, that is what has been happening all these years. It’s the tried and tested way that works, you might insist. That’s where we might need to modify our perception, for we often don’t see the complete picture. As a result of which we overlook many underlying factors that might lead to more serious problems in our dogs.

Holistic approach to dog care takes care of this aspect. Here the vet analyses the problem in its entirety with the help of a thorough insight of all internal as well as external factors that might lead to such complications.

How Does It Help?

Holistic vets are no doubt a good bet as far as your dog’s health is concerned. Their multi pronged approach enables them to plan an effective schedule of treatment, including their diet, etc. leading to strengthening of their immune system.

Long-term health benefits can be assured with holistic healthcare whereas that is not always the case in traditional approach. As the root cause is not taken care in traditional approach, the same illness can recur innumerable times with absolutely no relief for your dog. You will end up visiting your vet more often and return with a hefty bill.

A Holistic Choice…

Thus adopting a holistic approach might be a better choice than sticking to traditional approach.

In the holistic health care, the vet begins the treatment taking into account the severity of the illness. There can be either a short-term or long-term treatment plan. Eventually your dog is cured and is now stronger with a better immune system.

Yes, at the same time one has to accept that in case of real emergencies, traditional approach of medication will bring faster relief. In fact in many cases, a judicious mix of both kinds of treatment will work wonders.

The Main Focus

The main aspect on which the holistic vet focuses his treatment includes the nutritional aspects of your dog as well as the environmental condition in which he lives. He will also take into account the emotional and psychological state of your dog. This helps him to get an idea of the medical condition in its entirety.

The Wide Array…

Holistic medicine has in its ambit a wide array of treatment for you to choose from. Each one of them unique in its own way. Ranging from Homeopathy to Acupressure, from Color and Music therapy to Magnotherapy, from flower essence treatment to Ayurveda. These kinds of natural treatment therapies are gaining popularity due to the minimal risk involved.

What about Vaccinations?

This is yet another area which should be given due importance. We often tend to give blindly all the recommended vaccinations as some annual ritual. And we end up putting our dogs to risk.

The Reality…

According to holistic vets, the antibiotics, steroids and the vaccines used in dog vaccinations and treatment prove more harmful in the long run as the dog loses its ability to develop its natural immunity. As a result, it becomes more addicted to a vaccine, which is a dangerous trend.

Research has shown that as dog vaccinations usually follow a multi dose pattern, it results in the infusion of massive amount of vaccine (which is in fact live or dead form of the disease causing virus) at regular intervals year after year. This makes your dog more or less addicted to the yearly booster dose for maintaining its immune response.

This is dangerous as it can even lead to weakening of immune response if vaccinations are stopped midway. At times it can also lead to allergies and more serious complications. If you have already vaccinated your dog you need not be unduly alarmed.

There are certain essential vaccinations, which have to be given irrespective of what we think. It is always better to consult your holistic vet before rushing to vaccinate your dog. In this way we can at least eliminate the non-essential vaccines.

Believe me, our dogs have a stronger inherent strength in them to heal themselves than we can imagine. Yes, at times they do need external help, which we can no doubt give them in a holistic way. Keep this in mind, a little puppy Shih tzu at three months of age, which might weight 4 or 5 pounds, get the same vaccination dosage as a Great Dane, puppy, which we all know weights a lot more at the same age. I asked my traditional veterinarian the why of it, and his response was that is the way it is.

So trust in your instinct and give the best care to your dog.

When you adopt a holistic lifestyle for your dog, you will find it a lot easier to train him or her with love than by coercion.

The First Step

You are the proud owner of a new dog. Your first concern is to make the initiation into your family as easy for him or her as possible. The breeder from whom you have bought him has assured you of his sociable nature. But you still don’t want to take any chances.

You just hope he doesn’t misbehave with anyone. You expect him to accept you, your family and the environment you provide him without much fuss. Frankly, it is a bit of too much of wishful thinking.

True, you can try and get a fair idea of what your dog is thinking, but believe me it is a tough task understanding what they really want, especially in the initial stages. While you address your dog’s behavior, it would pay to look at their individuality. Especially, the factors that lead to a particular behavior in your dog (e.g., aggression), and the consequences of such a behavior.

Know Your Dog Better

You should have an idea of the socialization history of your dog. So when you take the first step in knowing your pet, do it without any inhibitions. Animals can easily find out when you are not sincere. To help them develop trust in you, you must have unstinted trust in them. A few pointers that might help you:

• Don’t rush them into learning too much at a time.
• Give them time and space to learn at their own pace. Give them time to settle down.
• You can gauge their responsiveness by observing their behavior towards you.
• Their reaction towards their food and the way they look forward to praise/ reward.

Once you get an idea about their motivating factors, the job is easy for you. Your dog will start enjoying the training session and that is what is essential.

The Training Days…

Dogs is the most sociable of animal, but there is a common misconception that as he is sociable, it will be easier to train him. This is where we are often mistaken. Yes, most of them are very sociable but that shouldn’t make you take them for granted. Some of them can also be very aggressive.

Dogs will be willing students when you treat them with love and respect. Dog treats can also prove to be very good tool while training them. This encourages them to work harder. In fact the first few months will be very crucial in building up your relation with your dog. It will have the greatest influence on them as well.

Transforming Your Dog’s Behavior

It is quite possible to be at your wit’s end while training your dog. He might turn out to be quite a handful especially if he is aggressive. Just relax. You have to handle this issue sensitively or else you will end up damaging your relationship with him irretrievably.

If you use force or coercion trying to train him, he might not understand why you want to change him. You will have to patiently try and make him understand the acceptable social behavior. Lavish him with love and treats whenever he exhibits gentleness.

This will encourage him to accept the training and make him more obedient.

In case you want your pet to be in the competitive field, you have to ensure that he still retains a measure of aggressiveness that can be controlled. Or else you will lose the competitive advantage.

Some Handy Tips…

1. You have to try and spend maximum time with them at the same time should not let them be too dependent on your presence. Otherwise, the moment you go out they will start getting anxious for your return.

2. It is better to let them get used to a routine. Pets love routine and discipline.

Try not to confuse their routine with unexpected scheduling of activities.

3. Show them your confidence in their abilities. Nothing works better than a well-meaning appreciation. They will never forget what they have learnt.

4. Don’t be too hard on them if they mess around. Be strict but with love.

5. Try and use as much of natural alternatives such as herbs, flower essences, aromatherapy and homeopathic remedies for their health needs.

6. Allow your dog to mingle with other pets. Don’t let them live a life of seclusion.

7. Consider giving them a natural diet, which will increase their immunity. A healthy dog will always have a cheerful disposition.

Of late, following a holistic lifestyle has become the buzzword for a healthy life. What is true for you holds true for your pets as well! Sadly most of us consider this option only when we reach a dead end concerning our pets’ health and by then sometimes…it’s too late.

Your pet is never going to demand a holistic lifestyle. It is you who has to take the initiative and learn about the ways to provide them with a holistic lifestyle, which they rightly deserve. That doesn’t mean you have to end up with a PhD in the field nor does it involve heavy expenditure. In fact you wouldn’t find a simpler and hassle free way to enjoy life with your pet.

Give them the Right Food

Nutrition plays an important role in healthy living and forms the base for a holistic lifestyle. You might insist that you had been feeding your pets with the best of ‘premium’ high dollar pet foods. Then why aren’t your pets healthier?

Unfortunately, these processed foods have made your beloved pets more prone to human-like diseases like cancer, diabetes, allergies etc. They have become lethargic, smell badly, have a dull coat…and exhibit all the other characteristics that are undesirable. And you keep wondering what is wrong with them, whereas the answer lies right in front of you.

These cans and bags of processed pet foods are full of byproducts, preservatives and other constituents, that are unsuitable for your pets.

Besides whatever little nutrition is available is also lost due to the way it is cooked – at high temperature and pressure. This kind of diet leads to severe depletion of both macronutrients and micronutrients in your pets and lays the foundation for chronic health disorders.

According to a paper published in the British Journal of Small Animal Practice, way back in 1995, processed pet foods suppresses their immune system and leads to liver, kidney, heart and other degenerative diseases.

We definitively want to avoid any of these medical conditions for our pets. So the next logical step would be to do away with processed pet foods.

A Healthy Diet…A Healthy Pet

The best healthy diet for your pet is a raw food diet. It might be inconvenient as well as repulsive, but then you do love your pet…don’t you?

You can begin by giving them (in case of dogs) a balanced diet of raw meat and bones and also include some variety like raw eggs, some vegetables, raw cheese, yogurt etc. You can supplement them with dietary enzymes, vitamins and minerals as deemed appropriate for your pets.

Here again you have to take care that you don’t overdo it. It’s better to evolve a feeding plan based on the nutritional requirements of your pet or still better would be to get professional guidance from your vet. The worst thing that can happen would be to let the pet suffer due to owner's ignorance or carelessness.

Make them feel at Home…literally

Once their diet is taken care of, the next best thing you can give your pet is a stress free environment to live in. Ask yourself, if left on their own, where would they love to go? It is not difficult to guess. Obviously we wouldn’t send them back to their natural habitat. So the next best thing would be to recreate it.

Allow your pets to get the experience of running, playing, hunting in the kind of environments they have evolved. You won’t realize it, but these small aspects are crucial for your pets’ well being.

Some of you may find this a bit of asking for too much in our concrete jungle. If that is the case, at least avoid taking them to crowded places where they are bound to get nervous. Also it would be better to avoid polluted city roads especially amidst traffic.

At the same time it would be criminal to confine them inside flats. Take them to a nature trail at the outskirts of the city. They would love it. Just ensure that they have their daily exercise running, climbing, chasing, tumbling etc. They act as great stress relievers.

More than anything else, be there for them, as they are here for you…so give them the emotional belongingness. They would remain your beloved companions for a lifetime.