Depending on the individual, the term ‘holistic’ often has hippy-dippy connotations that may not put holistic pet care practitioners in a good light. However, to have a more holistic perspective on pet care simply gives your pet a better chance to achieve good overall health. A holistic approach incorporates many different tools and techniques with the aim of improving your pet as a whole. Here is a short guide to holistic pet care to help devoted pet parents look after their animals.
What is Holistic Pet Care?
Holistic pet care takes into account the mind, body, and spirit of an animal instead of just treating a specific issue. By treating an animal as a whole, holistic pet care aims to prevent illnesses, pains, and diseases. A holistic approach incorporates natural tools and techniques to provide absolute wellness to your pet’s entire being.
Key Benefits
Advocates for holistic pet care will attest to the many benefits it can have for all-around health. By exploring unconventional methods, pets can experience a plethora of positive changes. For example, altering their lifestyle and diet can help pets maintain an ideal weight, achieve a healthy skin and coat, and even fight serious illnesses like diabetes and joint disease. Furthermore, a holistic approach can boost the immune system, relieve stress and pain, and improve circulation.
Complementary Holistic Approach
Although more and more research is being carried out on holistic approaches, traditional veterinary care should always be your first point of call, and you should speak to a vet before implementing any approaches. Easyvet employs qualified veterinary staff, and they have clinics across the United States. Veterinarians at the Liberty Park Vet can help you decide if a holistic approach will benefit your pet.
Holistic Tools and Techniques
When integrated with traditional healthcare, a holistic approach to pet care can offer many benefits for your beloved companion. Here are a few tools and techniques you can use to improve your pet’s health.
Feed Your Pet a Nutritious Diet
As with human food, packaged pet food is often made with artificial ingredients that have little nutritional value. Feeding your pet, a balanced diet filled with natural, wholesome ingredients is a good way to begin your holistic journey. For instance, the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods) diet consists primarily of raw meat, bones, and offal, and small quantities of vegetables, berries, and seeds. People who are pro-BARF suggest that this diet mimics the food dogs originally ate thousands of years ago; therefore, it is the best diet for their health.
Calm Your Pet with Soothing Sounds
Research into sound therapy and animals suggests that certain sounds and music can have a soothing effect on pets. In particular, classical music with the right tempo can help calm a dog in a stressful environment, while heavy metal and hard rock could agitate a dog.
Improve Overall Health with a Massage
It might sound silly, but a therapeutic massage can be beneficial for both you and your pet. In fact, some studies have linked a combination of acupuncture and massage with improved mobility and pain relief for dogs. Before trying out any holistic approaches, it is important that you do your due diligence to ensure your pet is safe and well at all times.