(NaturalNews) Most Americans don't even know what animal naturopathy is, much-the-less that it is a choice they have for their pets' health care. Animal naturopaths are often mistaken for holistic veterinarians and while they do complement each other their roles are quite different.
Holistic veterinarians are all initially conventionally trained and then later seek out the additional training in holistic modalities. Many offer a variety of services while some focus entirely on a modality of choice. Both holistic veterinarians and conventional veterinarians diagnose, prescribe and treat disease although holistic veterinarians choose to utilize natural, holistic methods of treatment.
Animal naturopaths are focused on promoting health rather than treating disease by teaching and following the laws of health mandated in nature. We do not diagnose, treat disease, prescribe medications or perform surgery. Our role is to guide, teach and empower people on how to care for and make decisions for their pets themselves.
The way naturopathy views illness, particularly an acute illness is the body is working to remove any of the "morbid matter", clean house, and get things back into harmonious working condition. Modern medicine tends to look at all germs as the enemy to be eradicated. But germs are all around us. If we try to eradicate them we're killing off ourselves and our animals as well. However, unless the body is properly supported according to its species needs, then eventually the body wears out and surrenders to the dis-ease.
Sadly, most people seek out animal naturopaths only after exhausting all other avenues that most often further debilitate their pets
health and well-being. As a result, animal naturopaths must also focus on assisting the animal's body back into homeostasis (or balance) but it can be very challenging after the conventional drugs, vaccines, and food have wrecked their havoc on the body.
People have come to believe that their health and that of their
animals isn't a daily lifestyle but something you surrender to your doctor who then tells you what to do when you do get sick. That is not health nor is it health care. That is disease care.
Animal naturopathy is a proactive approach; a daily investment in the health of your pets by honoring the lifestyle each species was designed for in order to thrive. It approaches health or disease with the whole animal in mind, not just the symptoms of disease being the determining factor on whether or not an animal is well or sick; mind,
body, and spirit being the integral, interdependent parts that make up the whole animal. Animal naturopaths use the symptoms as a road map to the underlying cause of the imbalance.
For us, nutrition is the cornerstone of health for all animals. What we feed our pets is critical to keeping their bodies in balance and that always needs to be a species appropriate diet.
Animal naturopaths also understand that as the animal's body
purges itself of toxins - right down to the cells - that symptoms may manifest in the form of a fever, cough, hotspots, etc.
Rather than suppress the toxin elimination the consultant/practitioner seeks to support the animal's body naturally without the assistance of synthetic drugs, but rather they use nature and its modalities.
Animal
naturopathy is founded upon the laws of health: nutrition, fresh air, sunshine, pure water, exercise, proper rest, temperance and trust in divine power. Animal naturopaths will use (when needed to help assist the body's innate healing ability) supplements, essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, acupressure, massage, etc., depending on their preferences and the extent of their individual additional training.
Animal naturopathy
respects the animal as a whole, and seeks to support the animal as mind, body, and spirit, in totality rather than as parts of that whole; it empowers people to be responsible for the health of their animals rather than surrendering that power.
Our hope is that many will become versed and knowledgeable about this proactive approach to animal care.
About the author:This article is for educational purposes only. The decision to use or not use any information is the sole responsibility of the reader.
Dr. Kim Bloomer and Dr. Jeannie Thomason, certified veterinary naturopaths, are the Founders of the
American Council of Animal Naturopathy and host the weekly internet radio show
Animal Talk Naturally. Both formerly worked in traditional veterinary medicine as technicians for many years. Their articles have appeared in various publications including Animal Wellness, Dogs Naturally, and Natural Horse Magazines.
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