Alternative & Holistic Methods

Compiled by Kathi Dvorak & Heidi Ponagai

Epil-K9 does not endorse any of the methods listed below. We offer them for your education only.

• Vitamins and Supplements
• Milk Thistle :Jeri Petz.
• Statement on Milk Thistle : Dr Roger Clemmons D.V.M.
• Suggested Milk Thistle Doseage for Dogs
• Chinese Medicine an Overview : Jeri Petz
• "The Medical Science of Homeopathy - History of Homeopathy"
  by Elise McCrea Fischbachner, Ph.D., D.HM.
• http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/about-homeopathy/what-is-homeopathy/
  What is Homeopathy?
• Epilepsy, Convulsions and Seizures, Holistic Approaches: Mary Wulff-Tilford & Gregory Tilford
• Distant energy healing for animals and pets

AHVMA Directory:

• http://ahvma.org/
  American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Directory.

Acupuncture:

• http://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_multi_veterinary-acupuncture-for-dogs-cats
  Acupuncture for pets.
• http://www.acupuncture.com/animals/dog.htm
  Acupuncture for Dogs Gaining Exceptance.
• http://www.theholisticvet.com/vet_acupuncture2.html
  What can you expect from Veterinary Acupuncture

Essential Oils and Aromatherapy:

• http://www.essentialanimals.com/articles/essential-oils-dogs
  Essential Oils for Dogs.

Flower Essences:

• http://www.thenaturalpetpantry.co.uk/bach-flower-remedies-for-dogs
  Bach Flower Remedies for dogs.
• http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pets-bach-flower/
  Bach Flower Remedies for animals.

Rescue Remedy is a human homeopathic remedy made by Bach Flower Essences, and can be obtained at any health food store. Many of the list dogs respond very well to 4 drops being placed in the mouth either before , during or after a seizure. Postictal (the aftermath of a seizure) in some cases, can be cut to only a few minutes. As with all medications and methods not all dogs respond, however enough do to make this a very useful tool. There have been no scientific studies as to the efficacy of this product.

Gold Bead Implants:

• Gold Bead Implant Article
  From "Veterinary Acupuncture" by Dr.Terry Durkes.

• Korie's Adventure with Dr. Durkes and the Gold Beads.
  by Kathi and Roy Dvorak.

Herbs:

• http://www.vbma.org/
  Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association.
• http://www.naturalark.com/herbpet.html
  Herbal Healing for Pets.

Massage:

• http://www.greyhoundrescueaustin.com/ttouch.php
  "The TTOUCH Training Method for Dogs" - by Jodi Frediani.
• http://www.ttouch.com/whatisTTouch.shtml
  What is TTOUCH?
• http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_8/features/TTouch-For-Dogs_20039-1.html
  The Tellington TTouch for Dogs.

Vitamins / Supplements:

• http://www.melatonin.com
  The complete reference center for information source for Melatonin.
• http://www.petcarenaturally.com/handouts/dimethylglycine-dmg.pdf
  Dimethylglycine (DMG) for Autism (for humans).

Reiki:

• http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/reiki-animal-healing.html
  Reiki healing for animals.

Reiki energy can relieve pain, reduce tension, and increase the life force of animal patients.

 

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Vitamins and Supplements:

In this day and age, it would be rare to see vitamin deficiency in our dogs. Individuals feeding a good quality commercial dog food to a healthy animal probably do not need to add vitamins to their dog's diet. However, many owners of epileptic dogs have discovered that vitamins may help. The following are vitamins often used and what role they play in our dogs health:

Vitamin B Complex - Important to the nerve tissue and cell functions throughout the body. The body does not store B vitamins and they are required daily. Excess is excreted by the kidneys so B vitamins are relatively nontoxic.

Vitamin C - (also known as Ascorbic Acid) - Assists in detoxification and is an antioxidant.

Vitamin E - Functions in the body as an antioxidant and is required for maintenance of cell membrane structure

Zinc (taken in part from a post to epil-k9 by Maureen Setter with approval)

Zinc deficiency might cause seizures in a dog. Dr. Dodman, from Tufts University, in his book entitled "The Dog Who Loved Too Much" discusses a compulsive/obsessive dog in chapter 6 that fits the previous statement. In 1990 an article by M. Fukahori and M. Itoh entitled "Effects of dietary zinc status on seizure susceptibility and hippocampal zinc content in the El (epilepsy) mouse" further noted that zinc deficiency caused convulsive seizures in the mouse. Zinc has also been recommended for people with epilepsy.

 

 

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Page last update: 02/07/2016