Health 101: Veterinarians - Holistic vs. Traditional?

Photo courtesy:  www.speakingforspot.com

In thinking about how we approach living a healthier lifestyle, there are so many different opinions and suggestions on how best to achieve optimal health.  Some believe a holistic or integrative approach is best and other look for a more traditional western medicine approach.  Both of us work in the healthcare industry and are intimately involved with how a healthy lifestyle impacts us.  We also both have dogs at different life stages.  The health needs of a senior dog are very different from that of a 2-yr old pup.

With that in mind, this past year we have had more trips to the veterinarian for our 10-yr old Japanese Chin, Joey, than in any other year prior.  Although, we are fortunate he has been very healthy his entire life, he has experienced some significant health issues this year...many due to him aging.  So, as a way to ensure we are providing Joey the best care; it is essential for us to be informed about our options and treatment plans.  As part of this information gathering, we find ourselves asking...do we take a holistic approach, traditional medicine approach, or a combination?

It may be easier for us to clarify the difference between holistic veterinary medicine and the traditional veterinarian.

Holistic veterinary medicine, also known as integrative or alternative veterinary medicine.  It focuses on utilizing natural and homeopathic treatments in lieu of pharmaceutical and diagnostic therapies used in traditional western veterinary medicine.  Holistic veterinary medicine has a goal of looking at the animal as a whole and using minimally-invasive techniques to enhance the animals well-being.  Common integrative medicine treatments are acupuncture, herbal remedies, organic diets, massage therapy, and nutraceutical incorporation.

Photo courtesy:  www.chatfieldvet.com
Acupuncture can also be helpful for your pooch!

Traditional veterinary medicine focuses on incorporating common and conventional medical practices that have stemmed from academic,evidence-based institutions.  Traditional veterinary medicine incorporates pharmaceutical therapies, diagnostic testing (x-rays, EKG's, and MRI's), surgical intervention, and focuses on a specific diagnosis.

Photo courtesy:  www.scientificamerican.com
Recently, our dog, Jack, had to receive an MRI so we could probably diagnose his invertebral disc disease

In summary, both of these approaches to healing have the same goal of treating, curing, and promoting optimal health for our pets.  Advice from many veterinary experts supports a combination of both schools of thought.  If your dog is suffering from a non-life threatening ailment, then a less invasive, holistic solution would be best to try first.  If the health issue is more severe and has a potential life-threatening risk, a more invasive approach would be the best.

Happy Healing!

Love,

A & A

Puppy Zen: The Benefits of Chammomile

So as part of our wellness routine, we are working to improve not only our bodies, but our mind as well.  To achieve this goal, we have incorporated meditation and herbal teas into our regimen.  While we haven't figured out how to teach our dogs to meditate, we can incorporate the benefits of chamomile to infuse more calm into their life.

The chamomile flower is a member of the daisy family and has been used in medicinal remedies for centuries.  Due to its safe and versatile properties, it is no wonder this is a highly popular herbal ingredient.

Photo Credit:  www.herbalremediesinfo.com

So, how can chamomile benefit your pup?

Chamomile is highly beneficial in creating a "calming effect" on dogs (and humans).  The herb has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe upset stomachs.  So, if your pup has a sensitive tummy or is not feeling well, this is a great way to help relieve this discomfort.  In addition, chamomile can also act as a mild sedative helping nervous pups to relax and remain in a state of zen.  We have a friend who always packs chamomile tea packets with her to use when she is travelling with her pup.  This way she can easily brew a little bit of tea to help calm his nerves when he is hopping around from airport to airport.

Ways to incorporate chamomile into your dog's diet...

Brew a pot of chamomile tea and add enough tea to make the solution a bit stronger than you would normally brew.  This would be approximately 3-4 bags of chamomile tea.  Don't worry too much about the strength of the solution as chamomile is mild and quite safe.  Then allow the tea to chill in the refrigerator until cool.  Once appropriately cooled, you can add the tea one tablespoon at a time into a water dish, pour over food, or simply give on its own.

Photo Credit:  www.betterhealthliving.org

Namaste,

A & A

Juicing for Your Pup!

Prep of fruits & veggies before we make our Mean Green Juice!
www.rebootwithjoe.com

To continue with our series on health and wellness at The Upper Paw; we wanted to share a creative and resourceful way for using ALL of your ingredients when juicing.  Just like many of you out there, we are increasingly more concerned about living a healthy life and one major way we have changed our diet for the better is by incorporating juicing into our daily routine.  One downfall of juicing is all of the leftover pulp in your juicer.  Some of us may be extremely resourceful and use these leftovers in some creative way like composting, but I'm guessing the vast majority chuck the excess in the garbage…much like us…until now!

Check out this creative way to allow both you and your pup to enjoy the benefits of juicing!  This recipe is adapted from one of our favorites!  Life and Dog Magazine!

Juice-Pulp Treat Recipe:

2 cups of leftover juicing pulp
1/4 cup of chia seeds
1 egg

Combine all 3 ingredients into a bowl and mix together with your hands.  

Spread the mixture out as flat as possible on a baking sheet.  Then place in the oven at 200 degrees for 2 hours.

Enjoy the final product!

Happy Juicing!!

Love,

A & A