Frequently Asked Questions
Should my pet get vaccines?Regulations for vaccine protocol vary between states, countries, and veterinary clinics based on the disease prevalence and treatment.
Holistic veterinary medicine can be employed to detox the body before or after a vaccine if there are any lumps or reactions at the injection sites. We also recommend bringing your pet in for acupuncture to help with detox, during the treatment we can personalize other detox recommendations. When applicable we recommend drawing blood for titres to show your pets' antibody levels. This helps to determine if they need a vaccine; instead of vaccinating based on a standardized schedule. We do recommend that your pet receive a rabies vaccination as it is required by state law. The distemper and parvo vaccine is recommended for puppies under 6 months of age who are still developing their immune system to fight off pathogens. We do carry those vaccines at our clinc. What should I do if my pet has fleas?
Many holistic remedies can assist in combating fleas, but sometimes an infestation is too strong not to use chemicals. Holistic options for pets include: Parasite Dust, flea soaps and shampoos, repel sprays, and essential oils when used with caution. Options for treating the home include: Diatomaceous Earth, beneficial nematodes, Borax. Prescription flea control suggestions include: Capstar, Revolution. For more information on fleas, click here to check out our handout or visit our blog. |
How can holistic medicine help my pet's cancer prognosis?Acupuncture, herbs, supplements, and nutritional changes are often recommended when a pet is diagnosed with cancer. However, many checks and balances have already been overrun when cancer is found in a pet, making adjunctive therapy a common treatment option.
For more information on pets, cancer and medicine, read our article here. To learn more about the role of the immune system and muramyl peptides in combatting strong diseases, like cancer, read this scholarly article here. Should I feed my dog or cat a raw diet?
As with human diets, freshest is always the bestest, meaning a non-processed meal is going to offer more health benefits to your pet than a processed one. Nowadays, many brands of commercialized kibble are stocked with a long list of filler foods, "leftovers," and non-essential nutrients. While raw food is one option for obtaining fresher nutrients, it isn't the only option. Home-cooked or home-prepared diets can also be part of the meal plan. Many opponents to raw food diets believe the risk of bacteria to be too high, but as we discussed in our blog post on raw dieting, that is often a misled claim--even despite recalls making headlines of late. Sometimes pet guardians attempting to do good do not schedule a consult with a veterinarian prior to a diet change, especially one involving raw or home-prepared foods. This can result in nutritional deficiencies. Just like with humans, dieting is individualized for animal patients. Food therapy can be hugely beneficial for allergies and other ailments. Sometimes that includes a raw or home-prepared diet; sometimes it doesn't. Schedule a veterinary visit to discuss nutrition before attempting any diet change, raw or not. For more on the pros and cons of raw and home-cooked diets, check out Dr. Dodd's unbiased run-down here. |
What vegan or vegetarian supplements do you have for my pet?While humans can make the choice to be vegan or vegetarian, dogs and cats don't have that option. Many mammalian bodies can make taurine, an amino acid. The feline body cannot autonomously produce taurine, though it is an essential amino acid for cats. Because of this, cats are obligatory carnivores. They cannot survive long-term on a vegan or vegetarian diet.
While the domestic dog is known to be an opportunistic omnivore, this is only because canines have evolved alongside humans for the past 10,000 years. Wolves, their direct descendants, are strictly carnivores. Dogs only evolved a few enzymes to break down carbohydrates due to their close proximity to humans and often heavily carbohydrate-based diet. However, dogs require meat protein for proper body function and overall health. They are not as efficient at utilizing vegetable proteins as humans--though fruits and veggies offer excellent benefits as additions to a meat-based canine diet. Additionally, unlike humans, dogs don't grind their food; they chop. For more on the evolution of the canine diet, read here. To better understand the role of vegetables in a carnivorous pet diet, read here. Read up on the vegetarian debate for dogs here. Ancient Arts recommends nutritious diets catered to your pet's individual needs and fed in moderation to promote optimal well-being. Nutritional consults are included in our Holistic Exams. |