Alternative and Holistic Medicine

Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. Veterinary Science is vital to the study and protection of animal production practices, herd health and monitoring the spread of disease. It requires the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge in multiple disciplines and uses technical skills towards disease prevention in both domestic and wild animals. Veterinary care may include surgery, obstetrics, dentistry and all other specialties, including the newer area of holistic medicine. Animals nowadays often receive advanced medical, dental, and surgical care including insulin injections, root canals, hip replacements, cataract extractions, and pacemakers.

Holistic (or Integrative) Veterinary Medicine is the examination and diagnosis of an animal, considering all aspects of the animal's life and employing all of the practitioner's senses, as well as the combination of conventional and alternative (or complementary) modalities of treatment. When a holistic veterinarian sees a pet, besides giving it a comprehensive physical examination, he/she wants to find out all about its behaviors, distant medical and dietary history, and its environment including diet, emotional stresses, and other factors.

It focuses on resolving the cause and the problem, not just on alleviating symptoms. Overall improvement of the health and quality of life is the goal. In addition to western approaches such as antibiotics (drugs) and surgery, holistic approaches include acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs and nutritional therapy.