These days, more people are taking a holistic, natural approach to their life. Exercise, switching to organic foods and products, and the addition of natural supplements to your daily routine—these are all positive and holistic approaches to health. And there’s no reason why your pet can’t take advantage of this healthy lifestyle too!

Here are a few essentials you should know about if you’re thinking about improving your pet’s lifestyle.

Holistic Diet

Holistic dog foods are balanced—they contain whole ingredients that are GMO and pesticide-free, offering necessary nutrients for the body to heal and recover, and support overall well-being. These types of diets are made for a dog’s specific health concern—these can include high levels of fatty acids or more digestible proteins. Since every dog has different nutritional needs, there are many types of holistic dog food blends.

Changing to this type of diet can help pets that have cancer, arthritis, diabetes, digestive and autoimmune diseases.

Supplements

A wide range of holistic supplements are available through veterinarians and pet stores. Here are just a few of the most popular types.

Digestive Enzymes: These proteins are essential for food digestion, and ensure that nutrients are absorbed properly. A healthy digestive tract health means overall good health—which is the goal of holistic medicine.

Probiotics: This super powerful supplement goes right to your pet’s gut. Probiotics are good bacteria used to restore the normal balance of gut microflora. All pets, both young and old, can use benefit from probiotics, especially those with chronic digestive problems.

Fatty Acids: Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, most commonly found in fish oils, are an important part of a healthy body. Your pet’s body can’t produce them, so it’s essential to supplement these polyunsaturated fats into your cat’s or dog’s diet.

Glucosamine: Keep joints healthy the holistic way—with glucosamine. This supplement helps to maintain and regenerate healthy cartilage in joints, which is important if your pet is reaching his golden years.

Coconut Oil: A tasty treat or a topical treatment on dry, itchy skin, coconut oil is a wonderful supplement. In fact, you can share this one with your pet because it has plenty of health benefits for both of you!

Veterinarians

A holistic veterinarian uses a mix of traditional and alternative medicine to treat animals. They look at the bigger picture, taking into account all aspects of an animal’s being (physical, mental, and environmental) to diagnose health problems and to determine the ideal treatment. Holistic vets use lab tests and prescription drugs to help treat their furry patients, but prescribe acupuncture, massage, and herbal remedies to keep pets healthy. The holistic approach is a lifestyle change, so they also encourage changes in pets’ diets and lifestyles to help ward off illnesses like obesity, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.

Holistic veterinarians favor minimally invasive techniques, focusing on methods such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, ethnomedicine, chiropractic, and homeopathy. But, if there is a need, these vets will treat pet health problems with prescription medications and surgery.