Alternative medicine has become popular among humans in recent years, but it is only relatively recently that it has had the same effect for dogs. Conventional medicine is by no means inferior to holistic remedies, but sometimes alternative methods of treating canine ailments prove to be more effective.

It is widely agreed that alternative medicine should be sought after the failure of conventional methods, but there is nothing to say that complimentary medicine cannot enhance the effects of traditional western medicine and vice-versa.

The term ‘alternative’ in the context of medicine means that the medical benefits are as yet, scientifically unproven.

This does not mean that they do not work, it means that the controlled scientific tests have not been carried out to the extent which satisfies the AVMA (American veterinary medical association) although they have all but given their seal of approval to the use of holistic medicine.

One of the most common forms of alternative medicine is acupuncture. This has been used on horses and dogs successfully in the past and will be in the future. It is always necessary to consult your vet before any type of complimentary medicine is performed on your dog. This is because certain practices, particularly those which involve spinal manipulation, can be dangerous.

Many pet owners have been using floral extracts in order to assist the treatment of all types of ailments. Crab apple is a popular method of ridding the body of toxins and impurities, whereas olive is very good for aiding recovery after a long illness. There are many ways of incorporating floral extracts into an already existing course of treatment. Studies performed at the university of Pennsylvania indicate that the effects of conventional medicine have been enhanced when used concurrently with other forms of treatment.

It is important to remember that conventional medicine is developing at a huge rate and there are many significant advances being made daily, like those for the treatment of localised cancer. The essence of alternative medicine is to try and use unconventional methods of treatment to enhance the effects of other types of medicine and to exploit natural remedies in order to treat illness.

An Alternative Way To Treat Aggression

Many natural canine reactions can be misinterpreted as ‘aggression’ by uneducated humans. This is generally the main problem with dogs and their owners, when a situation arises in which the dog feels threatened his natural response is to defend himself. To the untrained eye this seems like unmitigated aggression, but anybody with an ‘untrained eye’ own a dog anyway?

There are many conventional ways of treating this aggression, but a lot of the time they are ineffective due a lack of understanding of canine behaviour, If we took a step back and reviewed each and

every situation in which our dogs showed aggression we would probably find that we would react in much the same way. However, there are some dogs who demonstrate various degrees of aggressive behaviour which we as dog owners need to understand and then deal with.

It is essential to understand what is likely to make a dog react aggressively. This is quite simple, if it would make you or me react aggressively then it would probably make a dog do much the same. So the first step in dealing with aggressive behaviour is to eliminate as many situations as possible where a dog may want to bare his teeth or growl. It is important to understand your dog and how his mind works to the point of knowing which dogs or other pets he would not wish to associate with.

For example, it would not be advisable to leave two dominant, male dogs together unattended if one or both of them was not used to company from other dogs. This boils down to common sense. Dogs should be able to interact with other dogs, but this needs to be done over time if you have an ‘aggressive’ dog.

Gradual introductions to other dogs should help Rover feel more at ease in the presence of Fido and Scout. But this is not to sat that there will not be problems involving aggression, because there could be. This is why it is important for dog owners to know how to read body language.

Just like humans can demonstrate aggressive body language like pointing and staring, dogs often initiate confrontation through body language. Tell tale signs include ears becoming pricked up, raised hackles and bared teeth. These are definite signs of aggression and should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

There are many methods of treating this problem in dogs, one of the more radical yet effective ways involves the use of complimentary medicine. Holistic remedies such as the use of flower extracts offer alternative methods of correction. Used along side conventional behaviour modification techniques cherry plum extract offers an effective alternative to chemical drugs.

It helps curb aggressive behaviour and is often effective alongside a dedicated behaviour modification programme. There is however, no substitute for a good well disciplined training regime to help control the behaviour of your dog.

If your dog does not respond to conventional methods of correction it is important to look at what causes his aggressive tendencies and attempt to remove the problem at the source. A dog is very sensitive to his environment, any tension or fluctuation in atmosphere will be sensed by the dog. If he feels uneasy he could turn that feeling into aggression. Monitor his behaviour to see if there is anything causing him irritation or bother.

Trial and error is often the only way to detect the root of the problem, if this is the case and still you cannot find any cause of cure for the aggressive behaviour consult your vet who may be able to refer you to dog behaviourist.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective. A lot of dogs are effected by their diet. Once again trial and error could reveal the root of your dog’s unwelcome behaviour. Certain foods trigger certain reactions in dogs. Allergies can cause your dog to become aggressive. Other symptoms of allergy include hyperactivity, loss of appetite and stamina.

If your dog is feeling run down or generally ill this may cause aggression. Echinacea is an excellent supplement to boost the immune system and is readily available from many health food shops.

Your dogs exercise routine may be agitating him. Does he appear exhausted or even hyperactive after exercise? Is he receiving too much or too little exercise? Once again vary his exercise and diet in order to eliminate causes of aggression.

Holistic remedies, although effective are no substitute for a well trained dog. They are most effective when combined with other behaviour modifying measures.

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