This is a sponsored guest post.
There is something that both traditional and holistic therapists agree upon — prevention is better than cure. Rather than curing one symptom, holistic medicine focuses on treating the root problem.
In the eyes of holistic therapists, a symptom is never an ailment in and of itself, but rather an indicator that something in the whole being is out of balance (be it physical or emotional). Holistic practitioners believe that every part of our psychophysical well-being is interdependent, which means that a problem with one part affects the whole well-being.
This does not mean that a holistic approach is reserved to one method only. It is rather an attitude, philosophy, or principle that can combine both conventional and complementary methods.
There are, however, some complementary methods that are usually associated with holistic treatments; we’ll name some of them which you can apply yourself in your own home.
Nutrition
Recent research has been focusing more and more on the connection between the gut and the brain. Microbiome has been shown to have a great effect on our mental health, causing depression and even more severe neurological problems when in disbalance. Finding a good food supplier like Visionary Pet can be very helpful.
A healthy diet is a prerequisite for normal functioning and lots of dog foods can be quite detrimental to their health.
Generally, pre-made food should be avoided and their diet should be based on proteins.
Herbs such as corn silk, cranberry, and milk thistle should be used for detoxification. Your local holistic vet should tell you how to apply the natural remedies to your pets.
Massage
Harlow’s study with monkeys shows how great and important the power of touch truly is. We shouldn’t, therefore, underestimate the potential of such pleasures as massages and should cultivate them in our own households.
There are, however, benefits to massages that exceed the emotional and mental well-being. Although it is effective when it comes to overcoming fear and anxiety issues, it also helps with swelling and boosting blood circulation.
In any case, a massage is sure to strengthen the bond between you and your dog, promoting the comfort, companionship, and love needed both for human and animal healthy development.
Of course, if your dog has pains, a simple massage won’t suffice, so you might consider going to a physiotherapist, chiropractic, or try veterinary acupuncture.
Aromatherapy
The sense of smell is deemed the most primitive of senses, meaning that it helped us survive in various ways. This is why smell plays such an important role in memory, mood, and emotion.
A dog’s sense of smell is about 100,000 times more acute than it is with humans, which obviously makes it a much more important aspect of their life. You can use essential oils to help improve their mood and emotional state, but it is important to know which oils are safe to use. You can also try CBD oil for dogs, another holistic option gaining popularity.
The sense of smell is also linked with memory, and it can trigger emotions connected to those memories. That is the reason why owners of dogs with separation anxiety are advised to leave worn laundry in the house, to make the dog feel their presence when they’re not around.
Sound Therapy
Music can affect the nervous and cardiovascular system, not only in humans but in dogs as well. Most of the research on this topic has been conducted by the animal behavior psychologist Deborah Wells. She found that dogs reacted positively, barking less and spending more time in a resting state when listening to Beethoven, Brahms, Vivaldi, or Bach.
In general, dogs tend to take comfort in slower rhythms, fewer instruments, and simpler melodies. Due to being able to hear much higher frequencies than we do, you should play music in a low volume to calm them down.
There are also free downloadable sound therapy programmes with corresponding how-to guides that are especially helpful with puppies that need to get accustomed to certain environmental sounds.
Bottom Line
Because dogs are not in their natural environment anymore, a number of different stressors arise in their city life, and they should be accustomed to it in a different fashion. Even though your dog might not have an evident problem, there are invisible stressors in their surrounding, and this is a good way of helping promote their growth and overall vitality.
