Over 400,000 copies of this treasured classic have been sold since its original publication more than 20 years agoThe book that is the definitive guide to a natural lifestyle for dogs and cats is now completely updated and revised--for the first time in 9 years. Writing with the warmth and compassion that have won them a national following, veterinarian Richard H. Pitcairn and his wife Susan Hubble Pitcairn, noted specialists in chemical-free nutrition and natural healing for pets, show dog and cat owners how to provide the very best in companionship and lifelong care.
They now cover environmental matters, including pollutants both inside the home and out, as well as recent hot-button topics, such as Mad Cow disease, Lyme disease, and the West Nile virus. They've updated dozens of recipes for delicious and healthful pet food and treats. With a guide to handling emergencies and an in-depth "Quick Reference" section, they give specific instructions for prevent...
Customer Reviews:
0 of 0 found this review helpful:
The Sun Maid should not be feeding your dogs: No raisins for Fido, 2008-06-20
I know that this book is very popular, and that is troubling considering that the author suggests feeding raisins to your dog. Raisins are, along with chocolate, grapes, avocadoes, gum with xylitol, cooked chicken bones, etc., BAD to feed to your canine. Just because your dog might not die right away from raisins, does not mean that his kidneys are not being ruined.
This book is so popular, and now many people think that it is beneficial to feed their dogs raisins because this book says so. Cross referencing is always indispensible to any research. The raisin suggestion makes me question the validity of everything else in the book. I consider this a "soft" health and medical book...like a mainstream health magazine in comparison to a conservative medical journal.
People need a more no nonsense approach to natural dog health, along with exact information, especially considering the onslaught of vaccinations that are slowly killing our canine companions through the cancer and allergies that natural authors are trying to address with these natural practices. They should go straight to the reasons why most dogs are suffering and start suggestions from there, as in don't start off by destoying your canine's health potential in the first place, don't vaccinate your dogs...
Only rabies is required by law. And your dog should be at least one year old and in good health without any stress when he receives it..and boosters are not scientifically supported. Don't believe me though, go research with some REAL books and articles.:)
0 of 0 found this review helpful:
Dissappointed - Too complicated and simply not backed up by evidence, 2008-06-12
Given the number of positive reviews on this book, I was expecting alot. unfortunately, this book didn't fulfill my most basic expectations.
Compared to what most people know and the way most people raise their dogs, the method explained in this book is orders of magnitude better in terms of healthfulness. The author is clearly trying to create an optimal nutrition profile for animals, and he hits on alot of very important points, but unfortunately falls short in the most important dimension of all: credibility.
Even though I was ready to trust the author (vetenarian, PhD), I was expecting at least a nominal level of backup for his arguments, but it really seems almost everything in his book is based on his subjective feeling about it. Not only is here clearly hypothesizing theories out of thin air at times, he comes up with the most detailed nutrition, supplement, and feeding "recipes" based on the most vague and unsupported justifications. This is important to me, as a person pursuing a graduate degree in biology I came ready to critically analyze every word of this book, but there really is not much substance behind the verbal "fluff."
Some of Dr. Pitcairn's suggestions are not in line with nutritional advice i've heard from in my mind more respected sources (famous breeders of show quality dogs): to feed a diet of raw meaty bones (RMBs) while minimizing or eliminating grain. Pitcairn asserts that in his opinion, dogs need grain, but doesnt really back it up. Other sources also say dogs dont need that much in the way of supplementation, but Pitcairn would have me spend more on my dogs vitamins than my own. No real evidence, no biological mechanism proposed, rather simplistic.
For most, an excellent introduction to many aspects of dog training. For those looking for a quality, authoritative work on canine nutrition, look elsewhere.
0 of 0 found this review helpful:
Absolutely the best book on pet care I've found!, 2008-05-15
I live in a small town where there is no homeopathic care, and I have three cats that have had the occasional health issue. I went the traditional veterinary route for many years, but the problems never really went away, and in some cases even got worse. I have always had better luck when I used natural remedies myself, so I bought all kinds of books and did a lot of research online to try to find ways to help my ten year old cats get over their skin allergies and bladder infections. I wanted to know more about the food they should be eating too after our big pet-food scare. Luckily there is a lot of good information out there from credible sources and I have totally changed my approach to what my kitties eat, what supplements they get, and I have noticed a big change. This is the best book I've found to date. Dr. Pitcairn shares very specific information about a wide variety of things, and this will remain my go-to guide for many years to come.
2 of 2 found this review helpful:
A reader from Michigan, 2008-05-11
My vet, who specializes in alternative veterinary medicine, recommended this book. I have a 13-year-old dachshund that has had ear infections and severe skin allergies since she was 9-months-old. Over the years, the vet bills have been staggering. I began home cooking for her using this book, and her skin is completely clear after a couple months and her ear infections are much improved. I also have a yorkie puppy (7 months) and I'm following this book to give her a good start and, hopefully, she'll avoid developing allergies. I've been especially interested in what this book says about vaccines. We've been over vaccinating our dogs and many suffer serious side effects. The book is well written and organized. It's the most helpful book I've read on the subject of caring for a dog. I recommend it to all dog owners.
1 of 1 found this review helpful:
Wonderful Read, 2008-04-12
This book is extremely helpful if you are looking for alternative foods for your cat or dog.
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