Peachy Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Whilst looking at a prospectus for distance learning, I found this. Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Animals We have been asked many times why we do not offer courses on complementary therapies for animals as some other colleges do. The answer is simple, most complementary therapies are illegal, in terms of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962. In addition, there is no legal alternative to veterinary medicine. Despite this many practices exist and carry out their therapies daily, often unaware that they are breaking the law. It is true to say that it is not illegal to teach these subjects but we feel that this would imply that students would be able to legally put their new knowledge into practice. In the majority of instances this is not the case. An extract from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Guide to Professional Conduct 2000 states: .Treatment by acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy or other complimentary therapy may only be administered by a veterinary surgeon who should have undergone training in these procedures. At present it is illegal for them to be given by practitioners who are not veterinary surgeons.. As I currently have Ronnie in hydrotherapy, which seems to be exempt from this, I was also going to consider acupuncture but it looks to be 'illegal' when practiced by anyone other than a vet. In my experience, vets don't undertake anything like this and refer to others. Does that mean the vet is then referring an illegal service? I'm confused. Has anyone else come across this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebob Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 I can't speak for any other than my experiences. One of the vets at a local practice offers acupuncture treatment and, in fact, treated one of my collies for a while. My next door neighbour is a qualified acupuncturist but although she will treat animals if the owners insist, she is not covered by insurance and therefore if anything should go wrong, she can't be held liable. She is not legally permitted to offer acupuncture for animals as a treatment. Another neighbour is a qualified homeopath but again, not allowed to treat animals, although she will help with remedies as a favour. She won't take payment though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 One of the vets at a local practice offers acupuncture treatment Same here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 (edited) Double post. Edited December 31, 2007 by mum24dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple_mog Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Hey there - any "invasive" therapies such as acupuncture are limited to administration by vet only. However most hands-on therapies such as massage/physio/acuPRESSURE etc are fine but you MUST have permission from the vet, preferably in writing. Vets should only refer to other vets for acupuncture legally - I'm a human and dog massage therapist and there really is so much more to learn when treating animals rather than humans. Acupuncture trained vets here: http://www.abva.co.uk/ I take my dogs for acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine as needed and I would strongly suggest making sure your chosen practitioner has good experience in any therapy. The basic training is fairly simplistic, if possible find someone who uses eastern as well as western theoretical frameworks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal....entNodeID=89642 F. Treatment of Animals by Non-Veterinary Surgeons 1. The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Section 19) provides, subject to a number of exceptions, that only registered members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons may practise veterinary surgery. 'Veterinary surgery' is defined within the Act as encompassing the 'art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine' which includes the diagnosis of diseases and injuries in animals, tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes, advice based upon a diagnosis and surgical operations which may not necessarily form part of a treatment. These restrictions are in the interests of ensuring that animals are treated only by people qualified to do so. 2. A veterinary surgeon must be aware of the exceptions which allow non-veterinary surgeons to treat animals, in particular: Veterinary students Veterinary nurses Farriers Physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors Other complementary therapists Faith healing Animal behaviourism Pathology Physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors 15. The Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 allows for the treatment of animals by physiotherapy, provided that the animal has first been seen by a veterinary surgeon who has diagnosed the condition and decided that it should be treated by physiotherapy under his/her direction. 16. 'Physiotherapy' is interpreted as including all kinds of manipulative therapy. It therefore includes osteopathy and chiropractic but would not, for example, include acupuncture or aromatherapy (see Part 1I, paragraph 2, Your responsibilities in relation to the treatment of animals by non-veterinary surgeons). Other complementary therapists 17. All other forms of complementary therapy in the treatment of animals, including homoeopathy, must be administered by veterinary surgeons. It is illegal, in terms of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, for lay practitioners however qualified in the human field, to treat animals. At the same time it is incumbent on veterinary surgeons offering any complementary therapy to ensure that they are adequately trained in its application. Back to top Faith healing 18. Faith healers are required in terms of the Code of Practice of the Confederation of Healing Organisations, to ensure that animals have been seen by a veterinary surgeon who is content for healing to be given by the laying on of hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAD Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Benji gets acupuncture and homeopathic treatments by a vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Thanks everyone It's a bit worrying really because one of the young vets at my surgery said she wasn't able to recommend a vet that does acupuncture because she doesn't know anyone who does it but said that there was a someone who does physio and she thought she would help with acupuncture. Now I know what I know, I would have hoped the physio lady would have put me straight but it was a bit misleading of the vet to suggest that route and not refer me to someone 'legal'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menage_a_trois Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 my local vet group has a vet who`s also a trained acupuncturist - it doesn`t seem to be that unusual now. And I`ve taken my dog to a qualified chiropractor who is also trained with animals - I think that`s rarer. I would alway look for proper training in these therapies because an `amateur` could do tremendous harm. It may be worth travelling for these treatments - we found them really helpful with a dog who was almost crippled with spondylosis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rotties Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Thanks everyone It's a bit worrying really because one of the young vets at my surgery said she wasn't able to recommend a vet that does acupuncture because she doesn't know anyone who does it but said that there was a someone who does physio and she thought she would help with acupuncture. Now I know what I know, I would have hoped the physio lady would have put me straight but it was a bit misleading of the vet to suggest that route and not refer me to someone 'legal'. Is this guy not near you? Christopher Day ( Chris Day ) ( Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre ) Chinham House 43 High Street Stanford in the Vale Faringdon Oxfordshire SN7 8NQ 01367 710324 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General information about this Surgery The Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre (AVMC) is world-renowned for veterinary holistic, complementary and alternative medicine, with more than 35 years of experience in the field, accepting referrals and second opinions from UK-wide. We co-operate with veterinarians around the world and have visited patients in Ireland and various countries in Mainland Europe. Christopher Day is a holistic vet, homeopathic vet, herbal vet and acupuncture vet and provides veterinary expertise in Veterinary Homeopathy (homoeopathy), Veterinary Acupuncture, Herbs (Veterinary Herbal Medicine), Chiropractic manipulation, LASER, Ultrasound and other natural therapies, for ALL species: dogs (canine), cats (feline), horses and ponies (equine), cattle, sheep, pigs and other farm animals, goats, donkeys, camelids, birds (avian), wild or exotic animals. He provides lectures, with a good range of visual aids. He is involved in teaching and in clinical research. He is also actively involved in animal welfare issues. He has published many books on veterinary homeopathy and natural veterinary medicine. He consults at the practice and will visit ANY species, anywhere in the UK. He operates according to RCVS guidelines and Faculty/BAHVS Code of Practice (Veterinary Homeopathy). Chris Day's Blog: http://chris-day.blogware.com - for an alternative view. homeopathic vet - homoeopathic vet - holistic vet - acupuncture vet - herbal vet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Species treated This is a mixed practice surgery We treat all animals, farm, equine and pets. While not claiming special expertise in 'exotic' species, we do often treat a variety of cage pets, reptiles, birds and others.. We regularly treat all types of horses and ponies, including racehorses, dressage horses, eventers and happy hackers. We also treat donkeys. We treat all farm species, including llamas and other camelids, deer and poultry. We treat large wild animals and we have treated various zoo species, when called upon to do so. We treat indigenous wildlife without charge. Wish he was near me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Oooh Kelly if you can get to see Chris Day you'd be doing very well, he's one of *the* holistic vets and is very highly thought of. One of the best from everything I have heard By the way, if you ask for a referral to a different vet for homeopathy, acupuncture etc. your vet is obliged to do this p.p.s Reiki does not have to be carried out by a vet. It is not invasive - no massage or manipulation of any sort involved - and it does not involved the practitioner making a diagnosis (unless they are also a qualified vet of course). It is also not intended to replace veterinary care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 Yes he is and thank you for posting. I also found his website earlier so have saved it to my favourites. He is a stones throw from where I take Ronnie to hydro I'll give them a call because I'd like a proper 'MOT' done to check Ronnie's hips and to understand more about the way he compensates for his HD, how the other joints are doing and how his muscle development is coming along. This vet sounds perfect! Sadly, my vets have so far failed to even fill in a simple form that the hydro pool wanted them to complete to say Ronnie was fit and healthy for swimming. I'm just pleased that I have his x-rays so I can pass the information on to someone who is willing to consider options other than treating him with painkillers as he gets older. The poor lad is only two years old so preventative measures can surely improve his quality of life, despite his current apparent lack of pain or discomfort. Oooh Kelly if you can get to see Chris Day you'd be doing very well, he's one of *the* holistic vets and is very highly thought of. One of the best from everything I have heard Well, with comments like this, I can hardly not call the surgery now, can I? Oh, I just wish I could get insurance but I knew what I was getting into when I took Ronnie on and what Ronnie needs, Ronnie will get. I luffs my boy and I have already promised him that I will always do the right thing for him. He's such a calm lad and I think that holistic approaches will sit very comfortable with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 By the way, if you ask for a referral to a different vet for homeopathy, acupuncture etc. your vet is obliged to do this I never knew this. I'm sure having three dogs and three cats doesn't make me the largest pet household registered with my vets surgery but I've got to be in the top 10% or so, seeing as they don't work with any local sanctuaries or farms. With this in mind, I need to make a call to their Practice Manager because, although they are pleasant people, I really don't feel that I'm getting continuity of care with any conditions and the knowledge seems to be not as it once was. I've been with them for over ten years with dogs, cats and rats. All of my favourite and very experienced vets have left; some have moved away and some have gone to other specialist practices. As I've said on here before, it's now made up of very young and somewhat inexperienced vets and that doesn't sit too well with me. I know everyone needs to build up experience but I don't believe they have the balance with experienced vets to pass on their skills or knowledge. I need to find out if things are likely to change with them. There is only one other surgery in my town which has one senior vet, who is good, but also has lots of younger vets (they actually look like teenagers, but obviously I know they can't be). Am I getting older or are policemen vets getting younger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebob Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 If it's any consolation, after the initial consultation, the cost of acupuncture wasn't particularly expensive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted January 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 I've spoken to Chris Day's surgery and have an appointment for next Monday. It's £120 for the initial consultation and then, if Chris recommends it, the acupuncture is £60 per session at ten day intervals. Ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts