Traditional Chinese Medicine For Pets
Pet owners generally want to do everything they can to promote their pets' well-being, so it's no surprise that more pet owners are seeking out alternative therapies to boost their pets' health. Traditional Chinese medicine is one method that many pet parents are using to give their pets a boost. If you're interested in doing everything you can for your pet, read on to learn what traditional Chinese medicine entails.
Acupuncture
The most common form of traditional Chinese medicine for pets is acupuncture. Many pet parents have started having their pets treated for acupuncture, especially to control pain. Accessing acupuncture for pets is easier than ever, as many veterinarian offices now offer acupuncture, either performed by a licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a vet.
Acupuncture is designed to help stimulate your pet's natural ability to control pain by triggering the release of serotonin and endorphins in the body. For pets who have arthritis or other chronic pain conditions, acupuncture can be a good thing to add to their overall health regimen.
Herbs
In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs are often used to help stimulate the level of qi in a person or pet's body, and to nourish organs. As such, many pet owners use herb formulas crafted by trained acupuncturists or herbalists to help their pets.
Herbs cover a wide variety of ailments, ranging from digestion problems to kidney failure. However, it's important that you consult with your veterinarian and only choose herbs that are carefully selected for your pet. Some medicines can be toxic to animals, so giving a pet a formula designed for a human is inadvisable.
Massage
Lastly, traditional Chinese medicine massage can be very useful for pets. In addition to simply feeling good, TCM massage is designed to help open the qi channels and stimulate the body to heal itself. TCM massage can help to offer the benefits of acupuncture without the need to place needles in your pet's skin. While acupuncture is a safe therapy and pets rarely feel any discomfort from the needles, if the idea of puncturing your pet makes you anxious, ask about traditional Chinese medicine massages instead.
While regular vet checkups are still a necessity, there's no harm in seeking out additional support for your pet's health. If your pet is struggling with a chronic condition or traditional veterinary medicine isn't able to cure their problem, see if traditional Chinese medicine can help. For more information, contact local professionals like Downing Center For Animal Pain Management.
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