I am just curious of the number of people who use traditional medicine for their dogs and the number of people who use alternative medicine for dogs. I am wondering the best way to go with my dog.
A lot of people who use traditional medicine believe in lots of medication and taking the dog to the vet when something goes wrong. Many people who use alternative medicine believe in minimal amounts of medication for the dogs. They also have found side effects to certain vaccinations. They believe there are herbal remedies and all natural products for just about everything.
I would also be interested in knowing your opinions on the matter and why you believe the way you do.
Thanks in advance for all the information and advice.
Caitlyn
I'm middle of the ground too. (For both animals and people) I believe a lot of things can be treated at home with natural or traditional remedies, but there are somethings that do need modern medicines and a doc/vet. Common sense usually rules, and I'm pretty good at sensing what I can fix here at home and what requires medical attention.
Hi Guys, I am new to the board. Well, I have just graduated from studying Integrative Medicine (Oriental Medicine with Western Medicine) and would like to share with you all some information, if I may. I am a total believer that we have everything here on this planet to cure anything. I also believe that symptoms are a way for our bodies to tell us that there is something going on inside. A natural medicine approach would be to diagnose the root problem, treat it, and if diagnosed and treated correctly, the body should go back into balance. On the other hand, by always addressing just the symptoms, we go nowhere. It becomes a masking effect. It is not that Western Medicine is not good medicine; it is young medicine at only 200 years old. Eastern Medicine (Oriental Medicine, ayurveda, etc.) have been around for 4,000 years. It is simply that Eastern Medicine understands the body a whole lot better. It's main objective is to cure the root, not mask the symptom, or worse not to cut off/remove a part that is not functioning the way that it is supposed to anymore.
For my pets, I have an herbal formula that I decoct for their parasites. And, for flea and tick prevention, Only Natural has a good herbal spray that I use. Please be aware that with chemical flea repellants, you are not only exposing your friends to toxic pesticides, you are also exposing you and your human family.
Animals have always done perfectly fine without human intervention. And that goes for the planet too. If you keep your dogs healthy (mind, body, and soul), they should be strong enough to resist any outside attacks.
I would personally recommend a raw diet (barf) and Cesar Millan's methods to ensure that dogs are healthy in all three areas.
I hope this helps.
 My mom is kind of the same way. But, she goes one step farther. We don't even do herbs. She gives us each the opportunity to choose what we want to do, though. She doesn't force her beliefs on us. We can go to the doctor or we can just wait it out or we use herbs. It's all up to us.  I don't use the doctor for myself although I do use the vet quite regularly. But, Nikaya's next appointment isn't until next April. When we first got him, we spent so much time in the vet's office and emergency animal hospitals that I think I've had my share of vet visits for a lifetime. Nikaya had some health complications when we first got him.  When it comes to Nikaya, I like to depend more on others right now than myself because I feel as though I should let an experienced individual fix him. I am unexperienced when it comes to caring for a dog. When Nikaya is sick and I decide to do something myself, then his life is in my hands. He is too close a friend for me to be able to hurt him in any way intentional or unintentional. I could not stand myself if something were to happen to him and I would be responsible. I cry when he has runny poop because I think I'm feeding him wrong. LOL! Â
Middle of the road here too; for both dog and human medical issues. My mother is an alternative medicine type person and we greatly believe in medication through natural herbs, etc...(e.g. garlic).
If I ever get sick with let's say the flu or cold, I never go the Doctors; just take natural herbs, and get over the sickness...I also don't believe in immunizations through shots.
I also don't take my dogs to the vet for every little scratch, just like Kristen. If the dogs have a cut, I fix it myself.
And of course if there is something I do not know about or beyond my control, I DEFINITELY believe in taking dogs to the vet!
I am much like you in the matter. I don't want to over-medicate but I feel as though if I do away with all medications for him, I am neglecting his health.
I am a bit overprotective of Nikaya, meaning that every time he looks ill I want to make an appointment to go visit the vet. But, I never get there because right now my dad is paying for much of his maintenance right now as I have no job. But, I still pay for the majority with a small income from my parents. I do all the housework and cooking and cleaning, etc. Thanks for the response.
Good Sledding & Happy Trails,
Caitlyn
I'm middle of the road. I believe that sometimes medications ARE needed, and a vet sure knows more than I do about some things. On the other hand, I don't want to go to the vet for every little scratch, and I don't want to over-medicate the dogs. There are superbugs forming now in hospitals that are resistant to many of our medications due to over-medicating.
I'm not middle of the road at all. My vet is a holistic vet and I try to take a holistic approach - using the method that is most likely to succeed based on the best available current information. Sometimes that is alopathic, sometimes homeopathic, sometimes chiropractic, sometimes it is psychiatric and more often than not it is a combination of medical disciplines. No one discipline can offer all the answers to all the ailments that can afflict either dogs or humans.
Swanny