Nutritional therapies for animals can be approached in different ways.  This term can be used to specify certain diets, supplements, additives, or support for the body.  Therefore, it would be beneficial to describe some of the different modalities available for this type of therapy.

Nutritional therapy may be as simple as a diet that is best for your animal's physical condition and needs.  Commonly, the best diet for our pets is a home prepared one.  If you are considering a home prepared diet for your pet, we recommend the BARF diet outlined in Dr Ian Billinghurst's books "Give Your Dog a Bone" and "Grow Your Pups With Bones".  Also, some animals may have medical conditions that dictate what food is most appropriate.  For pets with allergies, the best diet would be one that is hypoallergenic, with a single protein source and no grains.

Often, animals are missing out on key vitamins or minerals that can help the body maintain optimum health.  To replace these, the doctor may recommend a vitamin/mineral supplement, such as Platinum Performance for dogs and horses, or prescribe a specific supplement.  The supplements typically prescribed here at Aulternatives are produced by Standard Process, a company that prides itself on the carefully engineered manufacturing process that maintains the integrity of the product.

Other methods of nutritional therapy includes the addition of probiotics and/or digestive enyzmes to the diet.  One of the most recommended digestive enzymes is a product called Prozyme, which helps animals digest and absorb their food more completely.  Colostrum is also beneficial in maintaining digestive health and reducing allergies.