BODY AND SOUL - ALTERNATIVE OPINION
From acupuncture and reiki to hydrotherapy and thermo-therapy, a host of non-medical treatments in the market gives owners gentler options when planning a wellness programme for their pets
From acupuncture and reiki to hydrotherapy and thermo-therapy, a host of non-medical treatments in the market gives owners gentler options when planning a wellness programme for their pets.
Every pet-owner wants to ensure their pet receives the best care, especially when they are suffering from debilitating chronic or degenerative afflictions. It is particularly during this time that treatment options which focus mostly on alleviating symptoms using narcotics can be frustrating. In recent years, besides conventional veterinary medicine, there has been a growing segment of alternative therapies designed to promote healing and treat anxiety specific to the unique needs of domestic animals. Most of these treatments stem from practices which have been around for decades and some have even evolved to complement modern medicine. Here are four which can be administered by professionals in Singapore:
Swimming woes away
First documented by Hippocrates around 500 BC and with references in Egyptian, Persian and Roman civilisations, hydrotherapy is an alternative treatment long recognised by both doctors and veterinarians for its healing effects. If one is familiar with Roman history, one would be familiar with image of public baths, which were extensive multi-purpose fixtures for socialising, hygiene and well-being. This treatment uses natural properties of water — buoyancy, viscosity, resistance and hydrostatic pressure — to enable patients to move his or her joints. The buoyancy on a body when submerged supports its weight and reduces stress on the joints, thus creating a much more conducive environment for recovery and exercise. Likewise for canines, hydrotherapy relaxes and rejuvenates your dog’s body, whether it is to speed up healing after a surgery — such as amputation, or slow down physical degenerative conditions — such as hip dysplasia and arthritis — that comes with age.
In Singapore, there are specialised rehabilitation venues which provide state-ofthe-art hydrotherapy solutions for canines. A forerunner in the industry is Canine Wellness Rehab Centre (www.caninewellness.com.sg), which boasts an indoor canine hydrotherapy pool in Singapore and a team of professional, UK-trained and certified hydrotherapists. Gentle ramps can be built for the pups’ easy entrance and exit from the pool, which is equipped with heaters, a built-in thermostat, UV steriliser and even an underwater viewing window for easy monitoring.
Other treatments available onsite include Hydro Treadmill for muscle strengthening, and Dead Sea Mud Spa or Infrared Light Therapy to take care of your fur kids’ skin and muscular pains. If you are simply looking to incorporate water activity in your dogs’ routines, the centre also provides fitness swims available for sign-up.
While inserting a needle into your pet’s body to help with pain may seem counterintuitive, acupuncture is actually a common and minimally invasive practice recommended especially for cats or dogs with muscular or skeletal discomfort. The roots of this holistic healing stemmed from China some 2,500 years ago and it is built on the belief that qi, an invisible vital force that flows throughout the body, travels along channels of energy flow called meridians. When one’s qi is flowing well, one experiences good mental and physical health. Conversely, if qi is blocked or deficient, that would result in illness.
Today, many holistic practitioners and pet owners stand by the benefits of pet acupuncture, which can help to relieve pain by increasing blood circulation, relieving muscle spasms and stimulate neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonins into the bloodstream. At The Animal Ark Veterinary Group (www.arkvet.com.sg), the yin yang theory – which is fundamental to Chinese medicine – is used to assess a pet’s discomfort before going ahead with the acupuncture treatment.
The length and frequency of each healing session then depend on the severity and type of affliction, though each session typically lasts no longer than 30 minutes. General conditions that may benefit from acupuncture include arthritis, post-surgical pain/healing, inflammatory bowel disease, seizures and nerve disorders.
Cold comfort
Less a standalone treatment procedure than one to complement other physical therapies, the use of extreme temperatures to stimulate recovery is growing in popularity for both humans and animals. The use of heat and cold is particularly effective post-injury, either during the breakdown period or the recovery period. Its primordial history can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, whose physicians used sun rays, mud baths, hot air caverns, ice and snow for healing.
Good vibrations
A Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation which also promotes healing, a reiki treatment is believed to feel like an uplifting, glowing radiance which flows in and around the subject. Also known as “palm healing”, reiki was developed in Japan in the 1920s by Buddhist monk Mikao Usui before being popularised by her followers in the next few decades. While evidence to support reiki as an effective form of treatment is still forthcoming, it has a dedicated fan base of proponents even in the field of pet or animal healing in Singapore.
A session is typically centered around the gentle, powerful energy channelled from the practitioner’s hands. Smaller pets such as birds can be held in open hands, as long as they are comfortable and the sternum can move freely. As not all pets enjoy being These natural methods to cure illnesses and diseases continued through the ages and were similarly popular in the Chinese and Japanese empires in the 16th century.
Scientifically, heat can be used to stimulate an increase in the range of motion, decrease stiffness in joints and encourage blood flow. Therefore this is typically employed before strength-building exercises and hydrotherapy to make the animal feel more comfortable. Cryotherapy, on the other hand, is a timetested method for reducing pain, swelling and edema. When used immediately after a surgery or injury, cryotherapy can decrease surface and deep tissue bleeding. Although ice, or ice packs, has been a go-to for vets for years, cold therapy systems are rapidly becoming a solid alternative due to its consistent therapeutic temperatures and a deeper, longer-lasting cold. Ra Healing Centre (www.holisticpetcentre.com) is one such pet rehabilitation centre offering both thermo- and cryotherapy to improve the quality of life and ease pain for the pets under their care. touched by a stranger, the practitioner may choose to perform reiki with his/her hands just above their body. When administered correctly, reiki will relieve stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, calm and clear blockages and negative energy for the pets. Even if it is a physical discomfort such as a painful joint, animals are believed to be able to recognise the healing power of reiki and absorb it.
Elaine Yang of Reiki Glow Singapore (www.reiki-glow.com) is a Usui Reiki Teacher who trained under the local Reiki Centre. While the centre’s clients are generally people rather than their pets, she also offers Pet Reiki healing for dogs and cats at clients’ residences upon request, with each session lasting no more than 45 minutes. Elaine also conducts reiki workshops for pet owners to support their pets’ healing on their own.