The Holistic Approach

Pam Rosenberg

Shawn Dolan

Five modalities

Massage Hydrotherapy Chiropractic Aromatherapy Homeopathy

Massage Therapy

Improves circulation Increases range of

motion Preventing injury Reduces inflammation Relieves tension

Massage Therapy

Stimulates lymphatic system

Eliminate toxins and promote healing

Improves animal disposition

Treat body as a whole

When not to massage

Shock– Lowers blood pressure

Fever– Speeds up metabolism

Cancer– Could spread

Massage Programs

Equissage– One week course in

VA Certified with the

(IAESMT) International Association of Equine Sports Massage Therapists

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is taken to mean the treatment of disease by, or in, water.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy

Improve general fitness

Improve muscle tone Helpful in recovering

from injury or operation

Bone are not put under great stresses as on land

Hydrotherapy’s unique features

Thermal effects– Warm for dogs, cooler

for horses

Buoyancy– For weight bearing

problems

Increase hydrostatic pressure– Edema

Cohesion– Resistance moving

through water

Turbulence

Therapy for animals

Weak, unbalanced animals

Animals that can’t bear weight on their joints

Arthritis, fractures, CNS problems

Hydrotherapy is NOT for:

Animals with heart and/or respiratory dysfunctions.

Animal Rehabilitation Center of MI

A tank of approximately 4 ft x 6 ft– Cleaned every 10 days

Run about 8 dogs through a day

$50 to $100 a day Annette swims with

frightened dogs

Chiropractic

A back problem is almost always secondary to a primary cause.

Ie: shoeing, badly fitting saddle, injury

What is Chiropractic?

Joint manipulation aka adjustments– One fixed joint causes

excess movement of surrounding joints.

Deals with the entire body as a whole

When to use Chiropractic

Pain– Last thing to come and

the first to go Changes in animal’s

– Attitude

– Performance Signs of stiffness,

soreness, muscle spasms

The Story of Bones

Bones’ History

3 yr old Appendix Green broke, off the

track Injury to right hind in

July of 2001– Caught in a fence?

Abandoned

Bones’ Butt

Lowering of hip on right side

Can not physically stand square

How did this happen? How do you fix this

without chiropractic?

Aromatherapy

The art and science of using essential oils from plant sources for the health and well being of the patient.

Essential Oils

Life force of plants Affect the patient on both

mental and emotional planes

Act through the resonance principal

Many uses– Massage, Candles

– Ingested, Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

Quick acting Oils are inhaled Stimulate olfactory

nerve Send messages to

limbic area of the brain– memory, learning,

emotion

Homeopathy

The natural pharmaceutical science that uses various plants, minerals and vitamins in very small doses to stimulate the body’s natural defenses.

Homeopathy

Body cures itself, homeopathy creates/facilitates conditions so healing can take place

Giving small doses that cause symptoms– 1:9 – 1:30

– Allergy injection

Homeopathy

No clear scientific explanation

Scientific research Becoming more and

more popular– OTC

Why Integrate Complementary Healing and Conventional

Veterinary Medicine?

• “There are more options to animals healing than we ever imagined…” (Allen Schoen, DVM)

• Western practitioners respond, “because I am tired of not being able to help.” (Particularly in managing chronic illnesses.)

Why Integrate Complementary Healing and Conventional

Veterinary Medicine?• There is a difference

between treating and healing. Treatment comes from the outside. Healing comes from within. (Dr. Andrew Weil).

• Practice builder –

You’ll be unique in your area!

Three Examples:An Integrative Approach to:

Managing Seizures

Upper Respiratory Infections

Bladder Problems in Cats

An Integrative Approach to Managing Seizures ( in small animals)

If possible, eliminate the cause:– food allergies?

– neurotoxic insecticides?

– over vaccination?

An Integrative Approach to Managing Seizures

If the cause is unknown, some management options include:

Supplementation:

– Eg. Antioxidant combination of Vitamin C, E and Selenium along with B-6 or magnesium

• Dose by weight of the animal

An Integrative Approach to Managing Seizures

Acupuncture: – To be discussed in

another presentation. Minimize the animal’s

stress: - Eg. Herbs: valerian

root, skullcap, oatstraw, kava

- Be aware that you might need to lower the dose of other anticonvulsants when using herbs.

An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections

(in cats) PREVENTION!

– Vaccinate against common causes of URI’s:

• Feline rhinotracheitis• Feline calici virus

– A holistic approach to vaccination:

• Follow vaccine with a homeopathic remedy to reduce the likelihood of a reaction

• Don’t over vaccinate (boost vaccine every 3-10 years, depending on exposure and risk)

An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections

PREVENTION!– Suggest

isolation of new cats before they are introduced into a household with cats

An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections

If prevention wasn’t enough…

– Bacterial culture and sensitivity

• followed by appropriate antibiotics

An Integrative Approach to Upper Respiratory Infections

If the infection is not bacterial in origin or is resistant to antibiotics:

ADD supportive measures to the antibiotic treatment to help boost the immune system:– Vitamins– Western or Chinese Herbs– Immunostimulant homeopathic remedy– Acupuncture– Interferon– Chicken soup (no joke!!)

An Integrative Approach to Bladder Problems

(in cats) Diagnostic Tests:

– Urinalysis

– Blood chemistry

– Radiographs

Treatment:– If the problem is acute:

• SURGERY to remove blockage

• Followed by diet change and/or antibiotics (depending on the cause)

• Close observation to detect reoccurrences

An Integrative Approach to Bladder Problems

Treatment– If the problem is chronic, a more natural

approach may help prevent reoccurrences:

• Increase water intake– Add extra water to canned food

• Feed a low ash diet

An Integrative Approach to Bladder Problems

Treatment– If the problem is chronic, a

more natural approach may help prevent reoccurrences:

• Nutritional Supplementation

– Vitamin C and E– Cranberry juice capsule

for cats

• Chinese Herbal Formula (“polyporous combination”)

– The formula includes herbs specific for treating both crystals and bacterial infections

• Acupuncture

Some Caveats to Integrative Therapy

Natural DOES NOT mean safe and/or effective!

Don’t combine Western and Chinese herbs at the same time.

Use herbal formulas from quality companies. (It is best not to create your own formulas unless you receive training as an herbalist.)

Study homeopathy before you apply it, or REFER to a specialist.

Some Caveats to Integrative Therapy

Be aware that clients might try to “self” medicate their pets. Ask!

Remember that hydrotherapy is contraindicated in animals with cardiovascular or respiratory depression.

Offer clients options (conventional, alternative or complimentary).

There is a lot of opposition to integrative veterinary therapy – if

you are going to do it… be really good at it!

In Conclusion…

A quote from Michigan Veterinary Conference

(2001),“Use the best medicine that

is effective on that day, for that condition, and is

least invasive.” Keep in mind that might

range from improving saddle fit to surgery.

(Joyce Hatman, DVM)

To Learn More About Holistic Veterinary Medicine:

Talk to Dr. Deborah Wilson here at MSU (Anesthesiology)!

Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (www.AHVMA.org)

Love, Miracles and Animal Healing – Allen Schoen, DVM

(www. Drschoen.com)

To Learn More About Holistic Veterinary Medicine:

Kindred Spirits – Allen Schoen, DVM

Four Paws, Five Directions – Cheryl Schwartz, DVM

Animal Rehabilitation Center of Michigan, Inc.

(www.unionlakepets.com)

QUESTIONS????

Thank you!

Equine Acupressure Meridian Chart

Thank You for your help:

Dr. Wilson Dr. DeCamp Jenny Kohn Cari Blind Nicole Dingwell Jeanette Furlong Annette Liendo