CHAPTER MENU
| Acupuncture, 920 Auricular Diagnosis and Therapy, 921 Acupressure, 922 TellingtonTTouch, 922 Chiropractic, 922 Kinesiology, 922 | Herbal Remedies, 923 Herbs as Supplemental Therapy, 923 Possible Problems with Herbs, 923 Bach Flower Remedies, 924 Homeopathy, 924 References, 925 |
Goats make especially charming pets while performing the useful function of supplying milk or fiber for the family.
They have become popular with Americans who seek a return-to-nature or homesteading lifestyle or who believe in alternative or holistic therapies for themselves and their animals. In some other parts of the world, modern veterinary medicine is not available to the small farmer. Instead, traditional medicines and folkloric techniques are still used to treat and prevent illness in goats. This appendix is not meant to either teach or endorse the various methods discussed. Instead, it is included to make veterinarians better able to communicate with the goat owner who believes in or is experimenting with various forms of holistic medicine. A comprehensive veterinary textbook discusses many of these techniques in depth (Schoen and Wynn 1998). An annotated bibliography of traditional veterinary medical practices from around the world, nowadays referred to as ethnoveterinary medicine, is also available (Martin et al. 2001). A more recent text describes the role of natural products and remedies in treating animals (McGaw and Abdalla 2020).Some veterinarians may become curious about the topics discussed in this appendix and consult the references for further information. Others will not be convinced until double-blind clinical trials have demonstrated treatment efficacy (Angell and Kassirer 1998; Margolin et al. 1998). In many instances, alternative and conventional methods can be employed simultaneously. It is critical to perform a thorough physical examination with appropriate scientific diagnostic tests before offering complementary treatments. Maintaining an accepted professional standard of care avoids overlooking problems that endanger the patient or the rest of the herd. It also decreases the risk of a malpractice suit.