Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and gastrointestinal disease

Gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatic diseases provide a significant challenge to the veterinary practitioner. Specific causes and effective therapies can be elusive and sometimes frustrate both the animal caretaker and the veterinarian. The therapeutic options of a conventional veterinary practice are frequently limited and may come down to a decision of which is worse: the disease or the side effects of the treatment. This article provides information for the veterinary practitioner to consider for expanding his/her options. Acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathy are not newly discovered modalities. They are old practices that are getting a fresh look from Western medicine as we seek new ways to better serve our patients and clients. The goal of this article is to provide the reader with many ideas and sufficient solid information to consider the use of these options. Specific therapies are suggested for numerous gastrointestinal and liver problems. Many of these may be used in conjunction with conventional therapies to aid in the healing process.