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Medication Finder
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on commonly used
medication for your pet
Ever wondered if you could
use aspirin? Common
over-the-counter medicines
that can be used safely.
A recent report from the National Institute of Health
found that 7 out of 10 adults and 1 in 9 children receive
some form of complimentary or alternative medicine
(CAM). More and more people are wanting to offer the
same therapies for their pets. This includes
acupuncture, chiropractic procedures, and homeopathic
medicines.

CAM is a relatively unfamiliar area for many
veterinarians. It requires hundreds of hours of additional
education for a doctor to become certified in a particular
field. It is very important to research and find a
veterinarian in your area that is certified, rather than
trying your own modalities. The vast majority of the time,
your holistic veterinarian will use a treatment that
complements what your existing veterinarian has already
implemented.
The most common conditions that are treated with CAM are cancer, skin allergies,
back pain, intervertebral disc disease, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and any
illness that can cause chronic pain. However, just about any illness may benefit from
CAM. Some veterinarians already implement supplements into their practice: fatty
acids for skin allergies, glucosamine for arthritis, probiotics for diarrhea. Acupuncture
has been shown to greatly improve chronic pain associated with disc disease and
arthritis, and even has reversed paralysis in some cases. Many owners state that
after starting supplements for liver, kidney, or intestinal disease, they have been able
to decrease the amount of steroids or antiinflammatories they were giving. Cancer
patients are less nauseated and much more comfortable with CAM.

Many insurance companies recognize how helpful CAM can be and are now covering
the treatments in some policies. Contact each individual company to address each
policy and premium.

If you are using any supplements in your pet, it is extremely important to disclose
them to your veterinarian. Many treatments should not be used with the conventional
medications that are commonly used. Do not think because the label states it is "all
natural" means that it is completely safe and has no drug interactions.

To find a certified CAM veterinarian in your area, visit the following websites:

American Holistic Veterinarian Medical Association  www.AHVMA.org
Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy    www.theAVH.org   
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society   www.ivas.org