Integrative Pet Care Resources
Integrative medicine is the concept of using the most appropriate combination of conventional and holistic therapies. This approach to pet health involves looking at the pet as a whole, not focusing on symptomatic treatment of ailments. Our job is to help support the body’s innate tendency toward wellness. The interaction of informed nutrition choices, appropriate supplement selection and judicious use of vaccines are some of the areas where pet guardians can influence wellbeing of the mind, body and spirit.
These links will be updated regularly, so check back often.
Nutrition
Every day we affect our pets’ health when we feed them. Nutrients, ingredients and supplements all contribute to either supporting a state of well-being or challenging it. Unfortunately, there’s nothing simple about pet nutrition. The choices at the pet supply stores can be overwhelming. Advice given by vets, friends and sales people can be contradictory. These links were selected to help support you in making informed decisions about pet food.
- CatNutrition.Org
- Feed Your Cat – Know The Basics
- The Whole Dog Journal
- International Foundation for Nutrition and Health
- Pet Diabetes
- Nature’s Variety Pet Foods
- Susan Wynn DVM
Supplements
Whether dealing with supplements for yourself or your pet, it is important to know if the products you are interested in have undergone regulatory testing. For pets, look for the National Animal Supplement Council seal or current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) on the label. ConsumerLab reviews both human and companion animal products. Species-specific product choices and veterinary supervision are key to safe and effective use of supplements.
Vaccines
Immunizations save lives. However too much of a good thing can tragically turn into a bad thing. This issue is growing ever more controversial. And sadly, concerned pet lovers are caught in the middle, as are our beloved pets. Again, we owe it to them to try to make the most informed decisions possible.
- Dr. Jean Dodds’ Recommended Vaccination Schedule
- Canine Health Concern
- The Pet Whisperer
- The Truth About Vaccines
Wellness
Nutrition. Supplements. Vaccinations. It all comes down to doing all we can to help our pets achieve and maintain health. Integrative veterinarians are less focused on battling specific diseases or microbes and more concerned with supporting the pet as a whole, so the immune system can function optimally. Wellness is not the suppression of symptoms. It is a dynamic state of balanced energy.
- The Lavender Cat – Cats and Essential Oil Safety
- Animal Reiki Source
- Animal Wellness Magazine
- Dr. Do More – For Animal Health
- Pet Cancer Awareness
- Dr. Ihor Basko DVM – Holistic Veterinarian Services
- Dr. Marty Goldstein – Where Natural Healing Begins
Local (Hudson Valley, New York)
The scenic Hudson Valley of New York State is a great place for natural pet care and greener living. From farm fresh local produce to the ecclectic shops of Sugar Loaf, making healthy choices can be fun for you and your pet.