Wellness Guide - Article 2

Nourishment over Medication. Let Food Therapy help your Pet Maintain a Balanced, Healthy Constitution.

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Do your pets make frequent trips to the vet, taking heaps of medication, only for their symptoms to ease briefly and then return? Do your dogs or cats often seem lethargic and lose their appetite whenever the weather is too hot or cold, or during seasonal changes?

Here’s the good news: besides medication and vet visits, there’s another way — food therapy!

What is “Food Therapy”?

Food therapy uses the natural properties of food to promote health and, in some cases, support healing.

In human Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of food therapy has a thousand-year history. It is a dietary approach passed down through generations that emphasizes achieving health through food. By leveraging the qualities and effects of different foods, food therapy aims to balance the body and address various discomforts, making diet a key part of preventive care. It can help reduce the risk of illness and support immune system regulation.

Can Food Therapy Be Used to Treat Pets?

Absolutely! In recent years, pet owners have become increasingly conscious of their pets’ health. In addition to conventional treatments, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) also promotes food therapy.

Food therapy for pets is similar to that for humans, by adjusting their diet and incorporating medicinal foods, it can achieve effective therapeutic results and sometimes even help prevent certain illnesses. Using food to balance the body and maintain a pet’s health is a treatment approach closely aligned with TCM principles.

Nutrition is the most fundamental need for all living beings. By starting with what pets eat, we can build a strong foundation for their health. Compared to repeatedly visiting the vet due to discomfort, this approach can significantly improve their quality of life!

What Issues Can Food Therapy Address in Pets?

Essentially, many health problems that Western medicine treats, such as digestive issues, skin conditions, allergies, immune system concerns, liver and kidney function, and heart problems, can be alleviated or addressed through food therapy. However, food therapy requires long-term application, and pets must be evaluated by a professional veterinarian to ensure its effectiveness and safety.

Dr. Kuo Ching Yi from National Taiwan University, who has used food therapy clinically to support pets’ physical and mental health for over ten years, explains:"Many pet owners bring in animals whose immune systems have weakened due to irregular schedules or late nights, leading to chronic inflammation or reliance on long-term Western medications with unavoidable side effects. In such cases, food therapy, applied over time, can help reduce the side effects of medications, lessen the burden on the liver and kidneys, support recovery, and alleviate various internal discomforts, addressing root causes rather than just symptoms."

Common Ingredients Used in Food Therapy

Mung beans and radish: Help reduce heat in the body, ease skin sensitivities, and assist in eliminating excess internal dampness.

Yellow vegetables: Support digestion and improve nutrient absorption.

Seaweed: Has properties that soften hardness and dissolve masses; many anti-cancer supplements are derived from seaweed.

Beef: Strengthens the heart and nourishes the blood.

Turkey: Boosts energy while supporting yin.

Pork: Nourishes yin, hydrates dryness, and helps ease internal heat brought on by modern lifestyle factors.

How to Get Started with Food Therapy?

Food therapy offers many benefits, but it requires long-term commitment. Many pet owners find it difficult to maintain due to time constraints and convenience. Fortunately, there are now fresh pet food brands on the market offering veterinarian-developed food therapy formulas tailored to different needs of dogs and cats. These products make it easier to incorporate food therapy into daily life, helping pets maintain physical and mental well-being and reducing the need for frequent vet visits and medications.