Holistic Care for Birds [Hardcover]

David McCluggage (Author), Pamela Leis Higdon (Author), Pamela Leis higdon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Howell reference books | Publication Date: December 15, 1998

Birds are ideal subjects for holistic care. They are especially sensitive to emotional and physical stresses. Based on what we have learned from wild birds and studies completed in the last 10-20 years, this book will help you provide your bird with a longer, healthier life. Each beautifully illustrated chapter is written from two viewpoints, one from the leading holistic avian veterinarian and the other from a bird owner's viewpoint. Holistic care is defined and the value of this type of care in relation to conventional western medicine is discussed. Other interesting topics include the physical bird, the emotional bird, nutrition and special holistic therapies.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Holistic Care for Birds: A Manual of Wellness and Healing is an exploration of both commonly used and alternative treatments for birds, as well as a comprehensive manual for bird care. With this book, you will learn how to offer optimum daily care for your bird, and what to do in case of illness or emergency. Learn how to improve your bird's overall quality of life and general state of health.

Read what everyone's squawking about: proper habitat and environment, acupuncture, herbal therapies, nutrition, stress reduction, holistic daily care, homeopathy, Bach flowers, choosing an avian veterinarian, recipes for you and your bird, and much more.

About the Author

DAVID MCCLUGGAGE, DVM, is a nationally recognized expert in avian medicine. He is a past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, a past columnist for Natural Pet Magazine, is on the Board of Directors of the Natural Pet Products Association and has lectured widely in the United States, Canada and Europe on the topics of avian medicine and holistic avian medicine. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, as well as Chairman of their publications committee and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the AHVMA. He runs a holistic veterinary practice in Colorado.

PAMELA HIGDON is a freelance author and editor with a special interest in birds. She is the author of three Happy Healthy Pet books for Howell Book House on Lovebirds, Quaker Parrots and Bird Care and Training. Higdon taught elementary school in Saudi Arabia, where she developed and maintained a hands-on science room and an outdoor animal refuge for the elementary school. Her focus was to educate young people and their families about the care of animals. Higdon enjoys bird watching and caring for her birds at home.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876055668
• ISBN-13: 978-0876055663
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Birds

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and helpful....., April 10, 2004

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Holistic Care for Birds (Hardcover)

In HOLISTIC CARE FOR BIRDS, authors McCluggage and Higdon address preventative care as well as spiritual and emotional healing. They begin with a brief overview of `bird keeping' - Different birds have different needs..Not all birds like to be petted while others may become miserable without constant affection. Sometimes the difference is species specific, other times it is related to the bird's treatment by previous owners.

Obvious physical problems may send you scrambling to the vet, but there are remedies you can keep on hand to deal with life's stresses and less serious physical injuries. For example, according to the authors, mild camomile tea in the bird's water bowl offers a soothing aperitif following a bad "out-of-cage" experience with the family dog or as a palliative for feather picking. Aloe juice used to treat human skin problems as well as Vitamin E and C can also be used to address bird wounds inflicted by cage mates.

The authors address a range of treatments for ailments as diverse as sore feet and broken feathers to heart disease. They do not eschew veterinary care, indeed McCluggage is a DVM as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Higdon has written a number of books on happy, healthy pets (Lovebirds, Quaker Parrots, etc.). The book includes a section on nutrition, as the best health care involves diet.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of them, December 28, 2007

By 

Kristine Fisher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holistic Care for Birds (Hardcover)

This is the best very informative, easy read book on birds I have ever read. Every bird owner should have it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have for Every Bird Owner!, January 11, 2008

By 

Mary K. Collins "Mary www.esparrotplatform.com" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holistic Care for Birds (Hardcover)

This book (written by a veterinarian) is excellent! I find the practical information wonderfully straight forward!