Additional Lifestyle Recommendations

Dogs need quality nutrition, fresh water, fresh air, exercise and love to thrive.  Even when all of these things are provided, dogs still can get sick and there are many other avenues to explore before jumping right to medication or surgery.  Practices such as homeopathy, ozone therapy, acupuncture and crystal therapy have all been around for centuries and are based on the fundamental belief that the body has the power to heal itself by realigning and rebalancing the mind, body and spirit.  

This power to heal is called "chi" or "qi" and is a vital life force that exists in all beings and plays a critical role in health.  When the flow of "chi" is blocked, disrupted or unbalanced, sickness emerges.  These practices work to create balance and health.    

Treatment is individualized and dependent on the symptoms present (Read more here). They don't cause any negative side effects and have been around for centuries. 

Keep reading for more detailed information on each practice:

Acupuncture involves inserting tiny needs into the skin to stimulate different points on the body to produce a healing response.  "In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is said to restore the appropriate flow of chi, or energy, throughout pathways in the body. In Western medicine, acupuncture is believed to work by stimulating neural-hormonal pathways to release hormones that reduce pain and inflammation. The needles are also believed to improve blood circulation at the points of insertion" (Read more here).

Crystals have been used for thousands of years that were founded from Buddhism and Hinduism.  "Crystals are known to help radiate positive energy to a specific source.  There are many different types of crystals, each having a specific healing ability for the body, mind and soul. Crystals are known to promote good, positive energy and get rid of the negative energy of a person’s mind and body which can then aid to create both physical and emotional benefits". (Read more here)

Homeopathy is a medical system that was developed by a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann over 200 years ago, based on two unconventional, yet highly effective theories: 

• “Like cures like”—the notion that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people.
• “Law of minimum dose”—the notion that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness. Many homeopathic products are so diluted that no molecules of the original substance remain. (Read more here)

Ozone therapy has been used for the last century to increase oxygen in the body, which in turn reduces inflammation, pain, swelling and activating the body's immune system. Ozone contains three oxygen atoms, which react in the tissue as it breaks down to ordinary oxygen (O2) and a reactive singlet oxygen molecule that can combine with chemicals and other molecules, which helps to detoxify toxins that have built up over time (Read more here).

Each of the above alternative practices have been around for centuries and treat the  unique and individualized needs of the patient instead of doling out aggressive medications that are not effective and wreak havoc on the body.  Allopathic medication works to heal symptoms and not the root cause, which ultimately means the body isn't healed. 

The mind, body and spirit are interconnected.  When one of these three are compromised or is imbalanced, the other two are impacted. For example, when there is a problem in the physical body, this can manifest in the mind as anxiety or depression.  Each of these alternative therapies are effective because they work to create balance in the mind, body and spirit and restore "chi".  Balance of the mind, body and spirit is the foundation of wellness.  

If your dog has been chronically ill, using the treatment options above will absolutely help you, help your dog restore balance and heal.  Feel free to check out Bobzilla's Happy, Health Life Made Simple for additional support on how to help your dog heal.