Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog (Howell Reference Books) [Kindle Edition]
Author: Wendy Volhard | Language: English | ISBN: B00DNL3J6A | Format: PDF, EPUB
Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog
Download electronic versions of selected books Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog (Howell Reference Books) [Kindle Edition] for everyone book with Mediafire Link Download Link A complete revision of a ground-breaking reference.
Download electronic versions of selected books Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog (Howell Reference Books) [Kindle Edition] for everyone book with Mediafire Link Download Link A complete revision of a ground-breaking reference.
Designed to provide updated information found in the original book, as well as lots of new topics, and a new organization—this second edition is more user-friendly than ever!
Readers will get the latest on:
- Healthful diets for dogs of every age and activity level
- How to modify your dog's diet to best meet seasonal needs
- Natural ways to keep your dog healthy throughout all stages of life
- How to care for a dog in poor health
- The vaccine controversy—the pros, the cons and how to sort them out * Homeopathic remedies
- Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, chiropractics and use of medicinal herbs
- File Size: 3106 KB
- Print Length: 336 pages
- Publisher: Howell Book House; 2 edition (May 5, 2008)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00DNL3J6A
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,601 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
This is another one of those books that I recommend to everyone interested in holistic care for their canine companions. It's somewhat more technical and scientific in its approach than the equally superb books by Pitcairn and Levy, but that shouldn't put anyone off. Volhard begins with several excellent chapters on canine nutrition which include a very detailed section on supplements. For those determined to feed a commercial food, she provides info on how to read labels, which ingredients to look for and what to avoid. Next she addresses the common problems of allergies and toxins in our dogs' environment, foods, and water, as well as drug and vaccine reactions. Instead of providing the reader with possible alternatives to vaccinating (such as homeopathic nosodes), she recommends a modified vaccine schedule using killed vaccines only for diseases endemic in the area in question and doing titer tests instead of routinely giving annual booster shots. While this is certainly superior to the traditional veterinary practice of needlessly subjecting dogs to potentially very harmful annual combo vaccines, I much prefer Dr. Pitcairn's vaccination schedule for those uncomfortable with using nosodes.
Next, Volhard explains the basics of the canine digestive tract and thyroid and adrenal gland function. This is followed by a chapter on laboratory tests and how to figure out if your dogs' lab results are within normal parameters. After this very technical chapter, Volhard dives into the rather controversial subject of kinesiology which is basically a form of biofeedback. If (like me) you're the skeptical type, this will sound like a bit of hocus pocus to you.
This book is NOT just for people who believe holistic is the only way to go! So although many reviewers write from that perspective, I strongly suggest that people who love traditional medicine consider it because it provides clear explanations of how a dog's system works, the functions of the organs, and what the various nutrients do in and for the dog. It also provdes an excellent explanation of each section of a blood test or urine test and what the results *mean.* And, it has simple but very complete charts in the back which cover various things from *both* the traditional and the holistic points of view in causes and treatments.
What made me respect this book was that they offer traditional medicine causes and effects, tests and medications, treatments and solutions ... as well as holistic ones. So, both "sides" can get plenty out of it, and perhaps learn something from the beliefs of the "other side" too to get a much more balanced picture of what is going on with their dog.
It is not as simple as most of the consumer oriented books, but it is also not as complex as reading the veterinary medicine web sites. It definitely provides more detail than you may be accustomed to in a "pet health" book.
It provides a good base to research from so you can go look at traditional and alternative medicine web sites and know what the heck you're looking for.
If you don't care for the diet they recommend, or any other "holistic" parts, you can easily ignore them. It's a good reference book, and if you are the type who wants to be really involved in your dog's care and want to know more than what the vet told you, then get this book.
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