Ancient healing techniques color modern alternative veterinary medicine

This year marks the 250^th anniversary of veterinary medicine, as the world’s first veterinary school opened in Lyon, France in 1764. However, veterinary medicine has been around since people and animals have coexisted, and there are many ancient techniques in veterinary medicine that have been used for thousands of years.  Those ancient techniques are reaching the forefront once more as clients demand all available treatment options for their pets and veterinarians start to consider the staying powers of antique methods.

According to Dr. M.A. Crist, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), alternative veterinary medicine is best described as a term for a group of treatments or modalities that lie outside of the conventional or mainstream treatment of veterinary medicine. Occasionally, the terms “alternative veterinary medicine”, “integrative veterinary medicine”, and “complementary veterinary medicine” have been used as synonyms; therefore, veterinarians now use the acronym CAM to reference all three terms.

“Holistic veterinary medicine considers all aspects of the animal’s life in the context of its environment, behavior, medical and dietary history, emotional stresses as well as a comprehensive physical examination, and other factors that may play a role in the animal patient’s life,” explains Crist. “In other words, diagnosing and treating the animal patient in the context of the ‘whole’ patient.” Read More…