What is Dog Homeopathy?

You probably know what homeopathy is - the treatment of ailments using rubrics, natural ingredients, herbs and flowers instead of conventional medicine, but did you know that there's a growing trend towards dog homeopathy?

Interestingly enough, while mainstream human medicine often scoffs at alternative treatments and herbal remedies, dog homeopathy is of interest to veterinarians and dog owners alike, and you're as likely to find some herbal remedies in the vets' office as you are anywhere else.

What Exactly is Homeopathy?
Whether you're talking dog homeopathy or human, the basic principle is the same - that illness is a disruption in the body's normal life force, and that the administration of homeopathic doses, herbs and other natural remedies will result in the body being stimulated to heal itself. In a nutshell. It's a lot more complex than that, but that's the basic idea.

This is an attractive theory, because we all know how dangerous antibiotics and some other treatments can be, to humans and to animals, and the idea of stimulating the immune system, rather than overriding it, would solve a few of those problems.

How Does it Work?
Dog homeopathy, like that in humans, works on the principle that by administering minute doses of a substance that creates a similar symptom to the problem symptom, the body is coerced into activating its defenses. Sounds crazy, but apparently, it works, and homeopathy has a huge following to prove it!

Of course, because this kind of treatment is complex, and seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, if you do decide to try dog homeopathy, it's a good idea to visit a trained professional! Since the substances actually cause symptoms, in the effort to alleviate them, you don't want to get it wrong!

What Are Flower Essences?
Similar to medicines or rubrics used in dog homeopathy, flower essences are used to treat behavior. Probably the best known would be Rescue Remedy, a well known calming preparation, made from flower essences.

Like Rescue Remedy, which is used for human infants as well as grownups, puppies and other animals, many flower essences are gentle, but it's still wise to do some homework before using them.

What About Herbal Medicine?
Like dog homeopathy, and flower essences for dogs, there are several herbal remedies that can be used to treat a variety of ailments in our four legged friends. It's easy to add a specific herb to your dog's food, or to make a tea, and the chances of side effects are greatly reduced.

Whichever way you look at it, dog homeopathy and natural remedies are an attractive choice - they're effective, often less invasive than conventional treatments, and often natural, so they shouldn't do any harm, as long as you consult someone in the know. You could even speak to your vet, and maybe even try both conventional and holistic medicine to treat your dog's ailments, depending on their nature.

So there you have it - dog homeopathy - new age canine medicine for the new millennium.

Your dog's health means a lot to you, as well as your own. Keep yourself informed and learn more about dog allergies at CureDogAllergies.com, where you'll find everything you need to know to keep your dog, your home and of course yourself free of allergies, and in tip top shape!