Is there any difference between alternative medicine and complementary medicine?
Are there any specific governing bodies?
Are there any practitioners of any 'alternatives' that aren't qualified vets? If so how does that work? I thought it was against the law for anyone other than a vet to treat dogs? I know for eg that GPs would get into trouble for treating a pet but a vet can technically treat people.
Are there any 'alternative' therapies that lay people can study and provide?
Jane Thomas, Reading
Only speaking from human knowledge here, but complimentary means as an adjunct to mainstream medicine, and alternative means replacing mainstream. Animal medicine is very different to human (eg chocolate is poisonous to dogs) so you would need veterinary advice on non-mainstream things to be absolutely safe. I know nothing about alternative medical practitioners for animals!
ReplyDeleteThis also applies to the role of a Dog Behaviourist. Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) Members have a strict code of practice requiring them to only take behaviour cases on Veterinary referral. It allows the Vet to investigate whether or not a medical condition may be affecting the dog's behaviour. Often, a dog that is in pain can behave differently, showing fear or even aggression, for example. Many owners do not realise how difficult this can be to assess but a Vet will do thorough checks. This means that the APBC behaviourist can then work in conjunction with the Vet and I believe it leads to the best and most ethical solution for the owner and their family pet.
ReplyDeleteI studied Canine Massage with Galen Therapy Centre and I can treat dogs even though I am not qualified as a vet as long as I get prior consent from the dogs vet first.
ReplyDeleteIt is against the law for a massage therapist (or anyone other than yourself) to treat your dog without getting full veterinary consent prior to treatment. The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 states that only veterinary surgeons can treat disease and injury in animals. However, the Exemptions Order of 1962 states that manipulative therapies can be offered by persons other than a vet providing that the dog’s vet firstly completes the diagnosis and gives consent for massage treatment to take place.
With regards to pet nutrition the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) states that pet foods are not medicines and cannot treat disease/conditions but may be useful in their management. Therefore, you do not have to be a qualified vet to be able to give nutritional advice to pet owners. However, training/knowledge of nutrition is of course necessary!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThe Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 states that only registered members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons can practice Veterinary surgery.
This is defined as surgery and medicine as well as diagnosing, treating or giving advice on conditions.
Exceptions include: -
Veterinary students and Veterinary nurses
Farriers
Animal Behaviourists
Complementary Therapies eg.
Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Chiropractic are allowed when a vet has diagnosed the condition and decided that this treatment would be appropriate.
Faith Healing
permission must be sought from a vet before healing is given by the "laying on of hands"
Other complementary Therapies
"It is illegal, in terms of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, for lay practitioners however qualified in the human field, to treat animals"
So, apart from the manipulative therapies, behavioural treatment and faith healing, all other forms of Complementary Therapy are illegal in the treatment of animals unless performed by a vet who is adequately qualified.
I am a physiotherapist with a diploma in canine massage, so I can treat animals as long as I have consent from the vet.
Hope this helps
Lou
You are though at liberty to treat your own animal, as long of course as you do not hurt it. So if you have done a course in animal massage, say, I believe you could treat your own pet without a referral. I'm quite sure you would, anyway!
ReplyDeleteI often treat my own dogs with homoeopathic remedies, and many people add eg glucosamine or herbal supplements to their dogs' feed - but these are all things available without prescription.
What you can't do though is "treat" other people's animals, though you might advise them what you would do if your own had a similar problem.
If your dog requires, say, chiropractic manipulation or massage, you will need a referral from your vet. My dogs have regular chiropractic checks due to ongoing conditions, and it is stated on their vet notes that this is the case.
I understand though that anyone can set up in practice to treat humans with no qualifications whatsoever...