Alternative treatment options can be particularly beneficial for managing your senior pet’s health problems. Holistic and alternative medicines complement traditional Western medicine for pets and can help support pharmaceutical treatments, or act in place of medications. Because senior pets often have organ diseases, such as liver or kidney disease, their bodies cannot handle medications as well as their healthy counterparts. For example, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for pain relief in a pet suffering from kidney disease and osteoarthritis may not be safe, or a pet may be maxed out on their medication dosage because of a poorly functioning liver.

No matter the cause behind your senior pet’s inability to handle pharmaceutical treatment, holistic and alternative therapies are excellent treatment options on their own, or as part of a multimodal treatment plan. Here are six of the most common alternative treatment options for senior pets.

#1: Acupuncture for senior pets

During an acupuncture session for your senior pet, hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body, known as acupressure points. These points are often located where bundles of nerves and blood vessels meet and, when stimulated, encourage the nervous system to release natural pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory substances. While highly effective for battling arthritis and other painful, inflammatory conditions, acupuncture can also aid in alleviating anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, and degenerative conditions. Acupuncture is based on the belief that the therapy relieves stagnation and promotes total-body wellness by restoring balance, and is highly likely to help your senior pet’s medical condition.

#2: Chiropractic care for senior pets

Chiropractic care helps realign abnormalities in pets to promote a return to normal function. The nervous system is realigned with spine manipulation, restoring correct circulation. Like acupuncture, chiropractic care works well for painful and inflammatory conditions, including arthritis and degenerative issues. 

#3: Laser therapy for senior pets

Laser therapy, often referred to as cold laser or low-level laser therapy, functions on a different wavelength than cutting surgical lasers. Laser therapy benefits are numerous, and include:

* Improved circulation

* Nerve regrowth 

* Endorphin release

* Muscle relaxation

* Decreased inflammation

* Faster healing and repair

This treatment modality is ideal for senior pets who do not tolerate acupuncture or chiropractic care, as laser therapy is non-invasive, drug-free, and does not require sedation or anesthesia. The therapy has many useful applications, including arthritis, slow-healing wounds, skin infections, gingivitis, and neurologic issues.

#4: Ozone therapy for senior pets

Ozone therapy is a treatment where easily soluble oxygen is delivered to damaged tissues to promote self-healing. This healing is the result of reducing inflammation, stimulating the body’s immune system, and inactivating viruses, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Ozone therapy can be implemented in many ways, with intravenous administration the most common. Ozone therapy also can be used in a wide variety of applications, including chronic inflammation associated with autoimmune disease, cancer, infectious diseases, dermatitis, and renal failure.

#5: Massage therapy for senior pets

Massage is an alternative hands-on treatment that can relax your pet’s stiff muscles, relieve anxiety, loosen aching joints, improve circulation, and provide pain relief by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to various body parts.

#6: Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) for senior pets

Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine has been practiced for thousands of years and often uses herbal medicines in conjunction with other holistic therapies, such as acupuncture. Many herbs can be used to alleviate pain and inflammation and promote healing, but you must take care with these products. Some herbs can interact negatively with traditional Western pharmaceuticals, so always contact your family or holistic veterinarian before using herbal medicine to reduce pain, soreness, or inflammation.