[Homeopathy: a field of work for the veterinarian]

It is generally known that Homeopathy and other so-called alternative methods of treatment have recently been gaining acceptance. The profession of lay animal practitioner is no longer a rarity in Switzerland. For some, alternative medicine is one phenomenon among others in a saturated health market and thrives on the fact that classical medicine does not yet extend to all areas. For others, the search for alternatives corresponds to a justified demand by the practitioners and denotes an extension of the medical disciplines. The Workshop for Veterinary Acupuncture and Homeopathy (AGVAH) was founded several years ago by veterinarians in Switzerland. It represents the professional interests of its members and upholds their right to practice these forms of therapy. The ensuing debate between classical and alternative medicine questions not only the basis of Homeopathy and similar forms of medicine, but also that of scientific thought. The realization that any scientific approach has its limits can open a door to deeper understanding of traditional occidental medicine.