Sylvana Miller is a certified Bowen Therapist for equine and small animals and has a Bachelor of Science in Biological and Environmental Science. She has done course work in energy healing, crystals, cranial-sacral therapy, neuromuscular stimulation and homeopathy and uses natural and complementary therapies in a holistic approach to treating the physical ailments and behavioural issues of animals. In her first OUTinPerth column, Sylvana explains how to look at the whole picture when dealing with your animals…
I have always believed in treating animals as a whole and looking at each animal as an individual as you develop a treatment plan to suit the animal’s ailments and the environment in which they live. I have worked with a number of animals with physical issues, such as bad backs, sore shoulders and hip problems; behavioural issues, such as aggression, barking and digging; and emotional issues, such as separation anxiety and fear.
In upcoming columns, I plan to explain the types of natural and complementary therapies that are available for your animals as well as how these therapies might benefit your animal, drawing on examples from my own experience in treating creatures.
For the first column, however, I thought I would share some simple tips that I always suggest to clients to help them keep their animal healthy and happy:
Learn to observe and monitor your animal’s behaviour and how they are feeling physically, as you are the first call in observing when something is wrong.
Always make sure you talk to your animals. You may think they don’t understand, but animals are very sensitive to your body language and the tone of your voice. As a result, they are very in tune with you and your family members. Make the effort to tell your animal when you are leaving the house, how long you will be gone and when you’ll be back. It is something simple and is especially useful if your animal is prone to barking, digging and separation anxiety.
Dogs are pack animals. You and your family become its pack in the domestic world. When animals have behavioural issues, such as digging, make sure they are not getting bored. Give them and yourself some exercise with a long walk together or use big marrow bones to keep them occupied and clean their teeth at the same time.
Cats are very territorial, so make sure your cats are secure in the environment. If your cat is peeing on your clothes, bags or furniture, think what are they trying to tell you. Make sure your cat litter is clean, and if necessary, use two trays instead of one. Also, check that other cats are not coming into your cat’s territory and harassing your cat.
Remember the saying ‘you are what you eat.’ The same applies for your animals. It has been shown in studies that there has been an increase in diseases in domesticated animals as owners move away from natural feeding. Consider introducing more raw vegetables, bones, and raw meat into your animal’s diet and make sure they are getting the correct balance of minerals.
Be aware and don’t be afraid to research. The best way for you to help your animals is to be as educated as possible. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion, and when in doubt always listen to your gut intuition.
