Holistic medicine for dogs in gaining popularity in the United States, especially in the treatment of cancer, which cannot always be cured with Western medicine. Many veterinarians recommend a dual approach, utilizing Western medicine for diagnosis and treatment and Eastern medicine for whole body healing.
Improving a Dog's Diet
Eastern medicine focuses on healing all aspects of the body when an illness develops since it is often stress, poor diet, lack of exercise or other such factors that leave the body vulnerable to infection.
One primary focus of holistic treatment with dogs focuses on the diet since so many dogs are fed poor quality food, resulting in compromised immune system and additional toxins in the body.
Many holistic veterinarians recommend a cancer-specific diet that includes:
- 4 ounces protein (pork, beef, chicken, turkey, duck etc)
- 4 ounces tofu
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 cooked carrots mashed
- 1 cup cooked spinach
- 4 tablespoons steamed green pepper
- 4 cooked broccoli spears
- 2 sardines
- 2 cloves crushed raw garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon dry yellow mustard
You can also add vitamins such as vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, gingko bilboa, green tea, omega-3s and coenzyme Q10.
Herbal Treatment
In addition to a healthy diet, there are specific herbs that can reduce the effects of cancer and promote a healthy immune system.
Pau D'Arco is derived from tree bark in South America and shows strong reactions to cancer with no negative side effects to the patient. Cat's claw is extracted from vines in South America and contains several antioxidant compounds that have shown to cause cancer remission. It is best used for tumors in the nervous system. Reishi and maitake mushrooms have been shown to attack cancer cells without destroying natural cells. Give 1/4 human dose for small dogs and half for larger dogs.
In addition, add echinacea and astragalus to your dog's diet to stimulate the immune system, which will help your dog's body fight off the cancer. Milk thistle is also a good addition because it helps protect the liver from toxin damage, which can occur from the Western cancer medication.
Additional Treatment
Exercise is an important part of any holistic treatment plan because it stimulates the blood and positive endorphins. Holistic veterinarians recommend beginning with 10 minutes of walking or swimming twice daily and building up each week until exercising for an hour a day.
In addition, there are some other traditional Eastern treatments that won't cure the cancer but may help relieve some of the symptoms, such as acupuncture. This will relieve pain and balance energy flow, which will give the body energy to fight off the cancer.
Static magnetic therapy is also used in treatment of cancer. It is thought that rolling the magnets over the tumor area for 20 minutes or more can help control the growth of the tumor.
Finally, Eastern medicine recommends using massage to reduce pain and stimulate the body in order to help it fight off cancer. There are many types of massage, and studies have shown that this type of contact can stimulate the immune system, reduce stress and lower blood pressure. This method can be effective with your pet as well as provide you with an opportunity to bond with your ailing pet.