Services Offered by Alternatives for Animals
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is the placement of needles into acupuncture points on the surface of the body. This form of medicine has been used by the Chinese for over 3000 years in the treatment of diseases ranging from musculoskeletal problems to internal medical conditions. It can be used to treat pre-existing ailments or can be used to
prevent disease. There are a number of techniques, including dry needles, electro acupuncture, hypodermic needles, aquapuncture and gold bead therapy. Treatments are typically non-painful and very peaceful. The initial consultation is one hour and repeat treatments are thirty minutes. The number of treatments and length between treatments varies depending on the severity of the disease, the age of the patient and how long the disease has been present. It is a very safe modality when done by a veterinarian with training in acupuncture. It may be combined with other forms of holistic or conventional medicine. Some of the diseases we treat at Alternatives For Animals are arthritis, allergies, paralysis, cancer, diarrhea, vomiting, asthma, behavioral disorders, kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine disorders and many others. Acupuncture appointments can be made by calling the office and making an intake appointment with Dr. Rettig.
Chiropractic: Chiropractic is a drugless form of therapy based on manual manipulation of the spine, extremities and skull bone junctions called cranial sutures. In vertebrates which includes dogs, cats and horses, the brain communicates with almost every cell in the body either directly or indirectly through the nervous system. The goal of chiropractic health care is to re-establish normal biomechanics and movement in the spine thereby freeing the nervous system to restore and maintain the body's health. It can be helpful for issues ranging from neck, back, leg and tail pain to muscle spasms, limping, pre and post surgical care, sports injuries, disc prolapse, paralysis and arthritis. Chiropractic can also help with internal medicine conditions such as urinary incontinence, constipation, seizures and behavioral disorders related to pain. We offer clients a free inital first chiropractic appointment. If you are interested in a chiropractic appointment and you are an existing client, please call the office and ask to make a Chiropractic appointment with Dr. Holiday. If you are not an existing client you must first make an appointment with Dr. Rettig for evaluation and then an appointment with Dr. Holiday. We can set up the appointments consecutively.
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Chinese Herbal Medicine is typically used as an adjunct to acupuncture. As with acupuncture, we assess the patient based on tongue and pulse diagnosis, acupuncture point activity and clinical signs. Once an imbalance
has been determined, the Chinese Herbs are scripted out to bring the animal back into balance and provide healing. Chinese Herbs can be used as an adjunct or replacement for medications and are used to treat a variety of conditions including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid disease, paralysis, seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, behavioral disorders and many others. They can also be used as a form of preventative medicine as changes in tongue and pulse will precede clinical disease. So by treating the imbalance with acupuncture and herbs, we can prevent disease. Alternatives For Animals has a full pharmacy of Chinese Herbs, both as powders, teapills, tinctures and salves. If you are interested in having your animal assessed for Chinese Herbal Therapy, please call the office and make an appointment with Dr. Rettig.
Pulsed Signal Therapy: PST is a procedure that restores the body's regeneration of tissue processes. It has been used on humans since 1992 and animals since 1994 and there are no known side effects. Once bone fractures and cancer have been ruled, treatments can begin. It involves daily treatments for 9 days. The treatments each last 30 minutes and are non painful and relaxing. Results are seen in 4-12 weeks. We have portable machines and once owners are trained, patients can be treated by their caregiver in their own home to ensure uninterrupted daily treatments. PST works by sending signals via pulsed magnetic fields to stimulate the damaged cartilage in joints to regenerate, reversing the inflammatory changes in the joint fluid and reduce inflammatory mediators that cause pain. To schedule an assessment appointment and see whether PST would be appropriate for your special family member, call and schedule an assessment appointment with Dr Rettig.
Homeopathy: Homeopathy is the use of diluted preparations to treat many diseases. Practitioners use highly diluted preparations which cause the same symptoms as the patient is exhibiting (treat like with like). Homeopathic remedies are prepared by serial dilution with shaking by forceful striking (succussion) after each dilution. Each dilution and succussion increases the potency of the remedy. This is called potentization. Homeopathic remedies are determined by symptoms and the patients physical and psychological state. For a homeopathic consult, call the office. If you are a client already, you will need to make an intake appointment with Beth Murray. If you are not an existing client you will need an assessment with Dr. Rettig and then schedule an intake appointment with Beth.
Bioresonance Therapy: Bioresonance Therapy is the use of a bicom machine to help the body achieve healing. The machine can diagnose and treat ailments that are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, heavy metal toxicities, chemical burdens and parasites. As many of these are in the tissue and not in the blood it is difficult to detect them via bloodwork, fecal samples, urine samples and in some cases even via biopsy. As every pathogen, chemical and heavy metal have their own energetic "fingerprint," we can identify them via their frequency pattern with the bicom. Once identified they can be removed from the body by sending the body the inverted sign wave of its particular energetic pattern and provide complete healing. For appointments contact the office and ask for an appointment with Dr. Rettig.
Laser Therapy: Therapeutic Laser Therapy is the use of specific wavelengths of light to heal unhealthy tissue. Laser Therapy has been used in Europe for over 40 years and was FDA approved for use on animals and humans in the past 8 years. It has widely gained acceptance as a valid and helpful form of treatment for pain, arthritis and assistance in healing unhealthy tissue. Laser Therapy works through the use of certain wavelengths (typically in the 680-970 nanometer range). The infra-red light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, resulting in an increase in metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This in turn increases the production of cellular energy (ATP) improving cell healing times, reducing inflammation and assisting with pain control. As laser therapy increases circulation, this in turn brings additional blood and oxygen and nutrients to the area and helps to flush out toxins and inflammatory mediators that are causing tissue destruction and pain. Laser therapy is effective in the treatment of osteo-arthritis, ligament strains, muscle sprains, edema and congestion, chronic pain, wound healing, paralysis and post-traumatic injury. Treatments are peaceful, non-invasive and non-painful. To schedule a consultation to see if laser therapy would be appropriate for your pet, please call the office to make an appointment with Dr. Rettig or Dr. Luna.
Massage, Acupressure and Cranio-sacral modalities are based on a focused and intentional series of touch and strokes to aid the needs of our pets’ physical and emotional well being. These modalities are used to compliment Holistic and Traditional veterinary care. These can be used as individual techniques or as a combination to facilitate the needs of your pet.
Massage & Acupressure: Encourages a deep sense of relaxation and trust by reducing emotional tension and stress by using strokes and light palpation. The intention of these skills is to stimulate the circulation of blood and Qi flow within the body to provide the tissues with the blood, nutrients and oxygen they need to function. Massage and Acupressure promote muscle tone, function and joint mobility by relaxing muscles, easing muscle tension and breaking down muscle adhesions. This may assist in reducing the effects of postural imbalances and abnormal gaits.
Cranio Sacral: Uses a very gentle touch to relax the body, release tension and allows blocked energy to flow freely. It focuses on the cranium, spine sacrum and parasympathetic nervous system (emotions). It restores the natural rhythm of the body. By releasing these bones to their natural movement we can restore flexibility to the spine, alleviate pain and restore free movement of limbs and joints.
Reiki: In Japanese, Reiki means universal life force, it’s a tool to support physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Reiki is done as a series of hand placements on the receiver’s body, sending this healing energy to where it is needed. This energy may feel different for everyone and has been described as a healing warmth felt throughout the body.
These techniques are intended to correct imbalances, working towards the harmony of all the body systems, thus creating a sense of overall health and wellbeing.
telephone: (925) 283-6160 e-mail: alternativesforanimals@gmail.com