Your dog is your best friend and companion, and you naturally would do almost anything to promote their health and enrich their life. When your best furry buddy is in pain, whether the discomfort comes from an injury, recovery from surgery, the effects of aging or some other cause, you will search high and low for the best option that will bring relief and hopefully restore your pup to full health. Although strong medications are sometimes a necessity and you should always consult your vet before beginning any course of analgesic treatment, the good news is that there are also natural remedies that you can use to treat your dog from the comfort of your home.
Reasons for Seeking Drug-free Pain Options
Just as there are many different breeds and temperaments of dogs, there are several reasons why you might choose to explore pain relief options that do not involve administering medications. These include the following:
- Your dog may have just had surgery and is doing a pain relief regimen that does not seem to be working as well as you would like.
- Your dog has a condition that causes chronic inflammation and pain and may or may not be taking prescription solutions. Alternative remedies can often supplement other interventions while simultaneously providing more concentrated, targeted care to specific parts of the animal’s body.
- Your veterinarian has told you that your pet cannot tolerate strong medications or has said that there is nothing available that could be helpful.
In all of these cases, there are less conventional, non-invasive holistic paths that you can explore to enhance the quality of life for your canine companion.
Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (TPEMF) therapy is a painless form of treatment that involves focusing currents of electromagnetic signals directly on the parts of your dog’s body where the damaged tissue is located. When TPEMF is administered, it elevates levels of nitric oxide in your dog’s body that help to lower inflammation, soothe pain and speed the healing process. This type of treatment has been used in physical therapy sessions for humans for the past four decades and can be equally effective for dogs.
Assisi LOOP and LOOP Lounge
With the help of these systems, you can harness the benefits of TPEMF from the convenience of your own home. Regardless of which type you choose, you can use this modality to gently lessen your dog’s pain and promote healing while they are asleep or resting.
The Assisi LOOP is a ring that can encircle a particular part of your dog’s body or lie on top of a painful area. The treatment field extends from inside the loop outwards in a field that goes 10 inches above and below the applicator coil. Depending on your dog’s requirements, you can get the loop in one of two sizes. The 10 cm loop works well for smaller areas such as paws, eyes, mouth or leg whereas the 20 cm version works well for larger regions. Both sizes can accommodate any bandages, casts or wraps your dog may be wearing.
If your dog needs the same soothing, noninvasive treatment for their entire body, the Assisi LOOP Lounge® can provide comprehensive therapy. Available in four sizes to meet different requirements, the Assisi LOOP Lounge® treats inflammation and speeds healing similar to that which occurs with the loop. In addition, it can be used to provide relief to dogs with conditions such as intervertebral disc disease.
Acupuncture
Like the modalities described above, acupuncture relieves pain by focusing on specific parts of your dog’s body. It works especially well in minimizing discomfort from hip dysplasia, ACL injuries, allergies, osteoarthritis, immune system issues, gastrointestinal and bladder disorders. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles into parts of your dog’s body where nerves and blood vessels are close together. As a consequence, the dog’s body will produce cytokines. These signals help to reduce inflammation and pain. In most cases, this analgesic treatment is used in combination with other methods to provide relief to your dog.
Not all veterinarians are qualified to administer acupuncture. Look for a professional who is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. If you want to find someone who can come to your home, consult the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncturists for referrals.
Hydrotherapy
Various methodologies of water therapy can provide pain relief for your dog just as they can for humans. If you have access to an animal rehab center, your pooch might be able to get into a pool or walk or run on an underwater treadmill. If you have a pool, lake or even a kiddie pool nearby, you can also work closely with your companion to provide a supervised swimming or hydro-walking experience that will help to strengthen and condition weak muscles. Although water therapy is excellent for strained or atrophied muscles, however, it does not provide the same benefits that acupuncture and targeted electrical stimulation do.
Massage
Massage is a great way to relax tense muscles and increase circulation. In fact, you may already know this through direct experience of your own. Not surprisingly, the same general techniques can provide a great deal of relief to your pup, especially if they are experiencing arthritis or muscle pain. You can either pay a trained canine massage therapist to do the job or learn the techniques yourself, leading to a totally relaxing experience that will further strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.
Interested in Trying a Holistic Treatment for Your Dog?
The interventions we have described above offer you a variety of non-invasive, drug-free ways to promote healing and reduce pain and discomfort for your pet. In many cases, you can do them yourself or hire someone to come right to your home to lavish your pup with the extra attention and relief they deserve. Just be sure to consult with your veterinarian before beginning a new pain relief or healing regimen to ensure that this is the best plan for your pet’s overall well-being.