by Lisa J. Donato, DVM, CVA, CVT, Chief of Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine, The Center for Specialized Veterinary Care
Alternative and/or Complementary Veterinary Medicine (CAVM) is the use of treatment methods or medications that are not considered conventional or what is often termed “Western” Veterinary Medicine. Although many therapies are considered “alternative” today, less than 100 years ago, many of them were considered part of conventional medicine. Included among CAVM is what is called Holistic Veterinary Medicine. Holistic Veterinary Medicine encompasses any modality that looks at the dog as a whole, taking into account the mind; body and spirit of the dog and his or her environment. Holistic veterinary practitioners may often integrate Alternative Veterinary Medicine with conventional veterinary medicine depending on what is best for the dog. These veterinarians and the modalities that they use can be found on the website of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, www.ahvma.org. Therapies used by these veterinarians can include acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, homotoxicology, massage therapies and other types of energy medicine.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a type of Holistic Veterinary Medicine which has 5 branches. These are Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tui Na (a medical massage or manual therapy), Food Therapy and Tai Ji or Qi Gong (energy exercises). TCVM can be used to treat any disease as well as to prevent disease. An integral part of the TCVM examination includes observing the dog’s tongue and palpating the femoral pulse.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the most common branch of TCVM used in the USA. This is the insertion of sterile needles (usually stainless steel) into specific points on the body (called acupuncture points) which in turn produce certain effects. Each acupuncture point is located on a channel or meridian of the body that connects internal organs to the body surface. These channels are where Qi (pronounced “chi”), the body’s Vital Energy, flows. Disease can occur when Qi flow is disrupted or becomes unbalanced. Acupuncture treatment aims to rebalance the body and maintain the smooth flow of Qi.
Many veterinarians who practice TCVM and who have studied at the premiere TCVM school, The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, can be found listed on their website at www.tcvm.com. Other veterinarians whom have studied TCVM may have done so through other schools or organizations including the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) and can be found listed on their website at www.ivas.org. These schools will award certificates in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA) and some of the other TCVM therapies to veterinarians who have met certain prerequisites of course study, testing and clinical experience. Veterinarians who are certified in acupuncture are listed as active members of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, located at www.aava.org.
Botanical Medicine
Veterinary Botanical Medicine is the use of plant-based medicine, which includes Chinese Herbal Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, and Native American Medicine. Veterinary practitioners using these therapies often have taken courses at veterinary colleges, TCVM schools and naturopathic schools. They can treat many different types of conditions including internal medical diseases, arthritis and cancer. These veterinarians may be found listed on the website of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association at www.vbma.org.
Chiropractic
Veterinary Chiropractic is a hands-on therapy that uses spinal manipulation to heal. This can be used to treat pain, muscle spasms and sports injuries, as well as for internal medical issues. Certified veterinary practitioners study at one of a few schools offering Veterinary Chiropractic and are found listed on the website of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association at www.animalchiropractic.org.
Homeopathy
Veterinary Homeopathy is based on the principle of “Similars.” This therapy uses extremely small doses of substances (often single remedies), which at higher doses, can create the same symptoms as the dog is showing. Many different diseases or syndromes may be treated in this manner. Veterinary classical homeopaths sometimes choose to only use homeopathy as their mode of treatment. They may be found on the website of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy at www.theavh.org.
Homotoxicology
Veterinary Homotoxicology uses the principles of homeopathy but has taken it one step further. It is based on the theory that diseases are caused by toxins (or homotoxins) and the body’s attempt to rid itself of them. Treatment is based on conventional diagnostics, but formulas (often multiple) rather than single remedies are used. These activate the body’s own healing process and work with the body, rather than against it (as in conventional medicine) to heal. These formulas can be given orally or can be injected into acupuncture points, thus integrating these therapies.
The veterinary treatments listed above are just a few of the many that are available for our dogs. While some dog owners or caretakers may seek medical help from non-veterinarians, doing so often can be risky since only veterinarians are fully trained in the anatomy, physiology and medical conditions of animals.
In some circumstances (and only in certain states), a veterinarian can work hand in hand with a non-veterinary health professional and provide proper care for the dog.
Moreover, it is also important for the dog to be physically examined by the veterinarian and not to be diagnosed and treated based on a phone consultation and/or just blood tests. This is a substandard and often illegal method used by some practitioners and should be avoided. On the other hand, conscientious Alternative Veterinary Medicine practitioners will want to take a more thorough history of your dog, get to know him or her personally and perform a more thorough examination than most conventional practitioners. This means that often the initial visit can be 1 hour or longer, and this could be reflected in their fees. To maximize this golden opportunity for your dog, always make sure you are properly prepared for the visit and take copies of your dog’s medical records, laboratory tests and results of any diagnostic procedures along with any x-rays that were taken. Also take any medications and supplements that your dog is taking with you. This will give the veterinarian as much information as possible to see your dog’s “whole picture.” Remember that Alternative Veterinary Medicine does not mean an alternative to a diagnosis but rather an alternative path to wellness.