Acupunture for animals is one of the alternative therapies to be covered at upcoming expo.
Interested in getting your dog a massage? How about chiropractic treatment for your horse? Or animal communication treatment for your cat?
According to supporters, these treatments and others are more available for pets today than ever before. They say alternative, or ?holistic,? care is making inroads in the animal population, just as it has for humans.
This year, Dr. Judy Jasek founded the Colorado Natural Pet Care Association, a nonprofit. The group is putting on the Colorado Natural Pet Expo on Oct. 8 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The expo was first held last year.
The group says the goal of the event is to inform attendees about the benefits of holistic treatments for animals.
The driving force of this is Jasek, a veterinarian who owns Belleview Animal Clinic in Englewood.
She says the event will be an opportunity for pet owners to come and learn about treatment modules and talk to holistic practitioners.
?There?s some wonderful people going to be there,? she adds.
A holistic approach to pet health and wellness involves the whole animal ? body, mind and spirit.
?By creating balance is these areas, pets will experience a higher quality of life and increased vitality,? says Jasek.
Expo attendees will have the opportunity to learn about many aspects of holistic pet care, including:
- Natural options to traditional medicines and vaccinations.
- Alternatives to commercial pet foods, such as natural products and supplements.
- Gentle response training methods that focus on stress management, diet and environment.
- Therapeutic methods to improve a pet?s physical abilities.
- Treatment that helps with relaxation and the release of a pet?s negative emotions, plus helping people better understand their pets.
Alternative treatments in the field also include aromatherapy, Bach flower remedy therapy, energy therapy, low-energy photon therapy, magnetic field therapy, orthomolecular therapy; veterinary acupuncture, acutherapy, acupressure and veterinary homeopathy.
Dr. Jasek understands that some people are skeptical about alternative treatments. In fact, skeptics are her main target.
?I want to get the skeptics to attend more than anybody else,? Jasek says. ?People need to learn to open their minds.?
Skepticism seems to center around the perceived lack of scientific evidence that the alternative treatments work. There are also questions about training and use of herbal remedies not reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Where does the traditional veterinary community stand?
The American Veterinary Medical Association?s policy, last revised in 2007, says: ?The AVMA recognizes the interest in and use of these modalities and is open to their consideration.?
It cautions that ?all veterinary medicine (including alternative) should be held to the same standards. Claims for safety and effectiveness ultimately should be proven by the scientific method.?
As for training, it says: ?The AVMA believes veterinarians should ensure that they have
the requisite skills and knowledge for any treatment modality they may consider using.?
The policy continues: ?The quality of studies and reports pertaining to (alternative treatment) varies; therefore, it is incumbent on a veterinarian to critically evaluate the literature and other sources of information.?
And it says: ?Veterinarians should be aware that animal nutritional supplements and botanicals typically are not subject to premarketing evaluation by the FDA for purity, safety, or efficacy and may contain active pharmacologic agents or unknown substances.?
Jasek says she gets questioned on these types of issues. But she stands her ground.
?There?s a tremendous amont of clinical evidence,? she says. ?There are research studies done but they don?t get published because they?re not mainstream.?
Jasek says herbal medicines are natural and plant products with fewer chemicals and don?t have as many side effects.
As for training, she says there are excellent resources available to learn basic alternative modalities.
Jasek?s own education was mainstream. She graduated from veterinary school at Colorado State University, one of the top schools in the country.
How did she begin holistic treatment?
?A horse I owned had an injury and I went to a chiropractor,? she says. ?I was skeptical. But it completely turned that horse around. So I started learning a very valid way of treating animals.?
She says her current practice is ?integrated,? featuring both holistic and traditional tratment.
?In my practice I?m seeing seeing more demand for (alternative care),? she says. ?People are a little more open to it.?
Jasek adds that some traditional animal clinics are practicing aspects of alternative care, such as acupuncture.
?The big benefit I see in these types of therapies is that they?re not just treating the symptoms, they?re treating the whole body,? she says.
Where doe she see holistic veterinary care in 25 years?
?I see it becoming more available,? Jasek says. ?There will be an increase because pet owners are asking for it.?
Expo information: Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. In addition to information about holistic services and
products, the Expo will feature pet adoptions, agility demonstrations and door prizes. Admission is $5 for adults, $8 per family and free for children under 12. Expo proceeds will benefit three participating animal rescue organizations.
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ANIMAL TRACKS - The nonprofit Harmony Horseworks sanctuary in Conifer, which rescues horses from abuse and neglect, is facing a threat to its existence due to a major decline in donations, according to a spokeswoman.
?We?re experiencing what so many animal welfare agencies are currently undergoing: a serious drop in donations despite best efforts in fundraising,? says director Barbara Wright. ?(We) have turned away 22 horses in the past two and a half weeks.?
The organization is run entirely by volunteers, and counts on financial donations to support and maintain its herd. For more information or to donate: www.harmonyhorseworks.com. . . .
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PET CALENDAR
October ? Foothills Animal Shelter will be hosting Dogtober Fest for the entire month of October. Adoption specials and giveaways will be offered during the month. $25 will be given off all dog adoptions. There willbe free rabies certificates, a $10 off coupon on the Shelter?s 6-week dog training session and all dog adopters will get a pet-themed goody bag.
October 4 - The Dumb Friends League is holding a Blessing of the Animals from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It will be at the Denver shelter at 2080 S. St., where a brief ceremony will be held in the Sheilagh R. Malo Pet Memorial Garden. Admission
is free, and refreshments and snacks will be served following the ceremony.R.S.V.P. by calling (303) 751-5772, Ext. 7307.
October 8 ? Colorado Service Dogs is holding an open picnic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Daniels Park, 1315 Welch Street, Lakewood. Attemdees can find out about the organization, meet and ask questions of the co-founders, trainers and foster homes and find out about volunteer opportunities. Information: Lija Day (home) 303-622-9382 (cell)-
303-669-5916, or coservicedogs@hotmail.com
October 9 ? Tails of Woe, a nonprofit dedicated to providing veterinary care for pets whose owners are in financial difficulty, is partnering
with Cebiche Peruvian Restaurant to raise funds. Cocktails for Cats (and dogs, too) will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at at the restaurant, 7000 W. 38th Avenue in Wheat Ridge. The cost is $20 per person (reservations required). Information: www.tailsofwoe.org
Reach John Davidson at JeDavidson@denverpost.com
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