| Recent years has seen a rapid growth in "Alternative | | | | include:o Acupunctureo Aromatherapyo Reikio |
| or Complementary" medicine, this has been evidenced | | | | Shiatsuo Hydrotherapyo Reflexologyo |
| by the increase in practitioners and clinics offering | | | | Homoeopathyo Osteopathyo Magnotherapyo |
| treatments in these various forms of Alternative | | | | Chiropractic Therapyo Kinesiology |
| Therapy. We have also seen the gradual acceptance | | | | The above range of therapies that are now being |
| by GP's within the NHS of these forms of therapy as | | | | used to treat our animals confirm the growth in |
| a genuine form of alternative to "conventional" | | | | popularity of these forms of treatment, this is |
| medicine. | | | | further reflected in the diverse types of animals that |
| The therapies that are available to animals have | | | | owners are choosing to receive treatment. |
| mirrored this growth and we now have a growth of | | | | Horse owners have probably been the pioneers in |
| practitioners offering complementary therapies for an | | | | this use of alternative therapy but there has been a |
| increasing range of animals. | | | | significant growth in the range of animals receiving |
| The veterinary profession has not been as quick as | | | | treatment these include dogs, cats, birds, various |
| NHS GP's in accepting Complementary Therapies as a | | | | other more exotic pets and animals from farms and |
| suitable alternative treatment for animals. However | | | | zoos. |
| vets, in their Guide to Professional Conduct have had | | | | If you are contemplating using alternative or |
| to recognise the importance of "accountability, | | | | complementary therapy for your animal it is worth |
| accessibility and transparency" in informing their clients | | | | bearing in mind that any sick animal must be taken to |
| about all the treatment options available to their | | | | a vet and any alternative practitioner working with |
| animals. | | | | animals will need a referral from a veterinary surgeon |
| A wide variety of clinics and therapists now offer | | | | in order to treat your pet legally. |
| therapies for animals, some of the more popular | | | | |