Alternative health for pets

According to new research on alternative medicine for pets from Direct Line Pet Insurance, more than 750,000 of the UK’s dog owners – that’s 14% – use alternative or complementary treatments, with 30 % doing so on recommendation from their vet. Our guide to alternative healthcare for pets can tell you more.

The Direct Line report on alternative pet care, carried out in 2006, showed that the market for complementary treatments for pets had certainly taken off, with dog owners shelling out a collective £29.6 million in the past two years on alternative methods of pet healthcare. This comes on the back of increasing trends for alternative healthcare for humans, plus organic, natural and environmentally friendly foods and products.

The report showed the main reasons for using alternative healthcare for dogs were to tackle ailments, to relieve pain and as a stress-buster. Some even used alternative methods to address the bad behaviour of their dogs where the Barbara Woodhouse school of thought had failed.

While alternative healthcare for pets is still in its infancy and subject to strict laws and conditions, pet owners who have tried it seem to be applauding its success. Nearly half of those interviewed said that it had made their dog physically better and 23% said it cured their dog’s symptoms. Another 37% claimed it made their pooch calmer.

Looking to the future, 89% of owners said they would use these alternative methods again, with 15% saying they would use them in preference to traditional methods. So what alternative methods of healthcare are available for your pet and how do you know that your choices are safe?

Methods of alternative health for pets

A scour across the Internet reveals that there is an increasing number of alternative health options offered and advertised for pets. The label ‘alternative’ or ‘complementary health’ usually refers to those treatments that do not involve pharmaceutical drugs or accepted scientific veterinary practices, but which use more ancient or traditional methods and natural products. The treatment is usually holistic in essence, aiming to treat the whole animal to locate and treat the cause of trauma, as opposed to a particular symptom – it’s often prevention over cure. The treatments already on offer for pets appear to include:

• acupuncture
• aromatherapy
• Bach flowers
• chiropractic
• crystal therapy
• herbalism
• homeopathy
• magnetic therapy
• naturopathy
• osteopathy, and
• therapeutic touch.

Of these, homeopathy, acupuncture and osteopathy are the most common and scientifically accepted alternative practices for treating pets. However, where humans go, pets tend to follow and if crystal therapy has appeared to work for a pet owner then they may ask why not for their feline friend? So who knows what the future holds!

Observing the law

On a more serious note, the UK laws that currently govern what can and cannot be administered to your pet in terms of alternative healthcare are there for your benefit and your animal’s. In general terms, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is quite explicit about who can and cannot undertake treatment of animals – whether using accepted or alternative methods of medicine.

For example, according to the Veterinary Surgery Order of 1962, physiotherapy can be carried out on an animal, provided that a vet has first seen the animal and a diagnosis and referral made. This law covers types of physiotherapy such as osteopathy and chiropractic but not acupuncture or aromatherapy.

It is illegal, under the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966, for any other lay practitioner in alternative health, no matter how qualified, to treat animals. All other forms of complementary therapy for animals – including homeopathy, nutritional advice and herbalism – must therefore be administered by a trained veterinary surgeon.

Finding an alternative practitioner

It is therefore advised that you steer clear from obtaining contacts from the Internet so as to avoid confusion and run-ins with bogus practitioners. If you want your pet to try out or benefit from alternative treatments of healthcare then speak to your vet direct. He or she should be able to advise you further, and may even be qualified to offer the treatment you want for your pet.

Direct Line Pet Insurance is also designed to cover your cat or dog for a range of veterinary treatments including some alternative practices and therapies offered by a qualified vet. We have two types of pet insurance – Essential and Advanced – and you can find out more about these from our summary of cover and pet insurance policy documents. You will see that both our policies also include a ‘Find A Vet’ helpline.

For new customers, it’s also quick and easy to apply for a Direct Line Pet Insurance quote online. Buy online today and not only will you benefit from cover for alternative treatments for your pet, but we’ll also give you an instant discount.