The Natural View
Natural Healthcare For Your Pets: An Overview

In today’s world there are a variety of natural healthcare products and services available for your pets. Some of these include herbs, aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, homeopathics, energetic healing, animal communication and specially prepared diets made without fillers or preservatives.

Humans have used all of these modalities for years to maintain a better quality of life which have now, over the past several years, been adapted for use with our animal companions.

Natural (also known as alternative or holistic) healthcare has been growing in popularity over the years; and some products have now hit the mainstream commercial market. You can now find homeopathics, naturally prepared foods, and herbal combinations at pet supply stores in your area. There are also a few shops popping up that are solely for the purpose of providing natural products for your pets, such as Pets, Naturally in Sherman Oaks. This store, with its knowledgeable personnel, carries a variety of natural products and informative literature to help you with a specific problem or to assist you with your own research into this interesting area of animal care.

Veterinarians are realizing the numerous benefits available through alternative methods and are returning to school to improve their repertoire of healthcare knowledge. This expanded knowledge enables them to treat their patients utilizing both traditional and alternative methods. It is important to note that you should always discuss any alternative treatments that you are considering trying with your veterinarian. There are a few vet clinics in the area that specialize in both alternative and traditional medical care. Two such offices are the Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group, Nancy Scanlan, D.V.M and the Limehouse Veterinary Clinic.

As an animal masseuse I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand how this particular area of pet care can benefit animals on many different levels. Many of the natural modalities involve the pet and the owner working together to improve the health and well being of their animal companions. It crosses the human/animal bridge to bring a heightened awareness of each other as well as building a stronger bond.

The Natural View will be a monthly column in which, in upcoming issues, I will address, individually and in more depth, each area of natural healthcare mentioned in this article. If you have questions or would like specific information about a certain modality, contact The Pet Press by fax or E-mail and I will try to include it in a future article. Health and happiness.

There are several web sites on the internet that are also available for further research on alternative animals healthcare. The following are a few that have been found to be informative: