Perhaps you have heard about holistic veterinarians; maybe you are considering trying a veterinarian who uses a holistic approach. In either case, a part of you wonders what it really means to be holistic. If you choose this route, does it mean you abandon standard veterinary medications and technology in favor of massage, acupuncture needles, and herbs?
The answer is quite the opposite. Any good holistic veterinarian has a grounding in Western science. Whether you are interested in alternative approaches or set against such things from the start, you might be surprised to learn what holistic truly means.
Holism Defined
Being holistic means including the “whole” range of possibilities (the “w” is missing because the word comes from Old English, “hol”). This begins with education. Like any other veterinarian, holistic veterinarians earn degrees from one of the country’s 28 veterinary colleges or universities. After completing their traditional education, holistic veterinarians add extra layers of knowledge – various methods or “modalities” such as acupuncture, acupressure, massage, chiropractic, or the use of herbs. They add these layers over many years, as they develop a widening view of potential treatment options.
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