Customer Reviews

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A good sized book, with good binding & paper. The printing is clear, font type & size well selected & adequate.

Dr. Hamilton begins by explaining how as a veterinarian, he grew he grew increasingly frustrated with the limitations `modern' veterinary care; of how he was often only able to provide temporary relief, with ailments returning time and time again. He tells of his exploration into alternative veterinary medicine and how by the mid/late 90's, he had become convinced of the benefits of natural/homeopathic sustenance, prevention & treatment.

The book is essentially divided into 2 sections:

a) The 1st Section contains a reasonably detailed summary of the history of homeopathic care & sustenance, its nature, philosophy and development. Dr. Hamilton carefully explains the theories and principles behind homeopathic care, of how it deals with the entire being (pet or human), seeking always to identify and treat root causes of ailments and diseases. He expresses his concerned that 'modern' medicine is too often symptom oriented, and drugs are prescribed to suppress symptoms without curing the ailment itself. With symptom suppressing medication, relief is temporary and over time, ailments often reappear in even more virulent forms.

Dr. Hamilton cautions the reader of common pitfalls faced by beginners and emphasises that proper homeopathic care requires much careful & systematic observation.

He tells how homeopathic care is deeply rooted in human civilisation and quickly dispels any notion that homeopathic remedies are 'quack' remedies based on old wives' tales.

(b) The 2nd Section consists of a series of chapters which carefully details common disorders and diseases afflicting our dogs and pets. From skin disorders to bloat, from cuts & scratches to death-causing diseases (and practically everything else in between). The author explores causes and effects, and suggests homeopathic preventive care and remedies. Potencies & dosages of homeopathic medicines are explained.

The chapter on vaccination is particularly interesting. This issue is dealt with in some detail and Dr. Hamilton is openly critical of the current vaccination practice.

An extensive list of further reading & references is provided.

This book requires careful reading & concentration. This is definitely not the book for a quick introduction on how to use aromatic scents & oils ... but, I suspect will be invaluable reference for anyone seriously wishing to learn homeopathic care, diagnosis and treatment.

I know I'm going to have to re-read this book several times ... The book leaves no illusion about me being ready to prescribe any but the most simple of homeopathic remedies ...

I have read just about every book on veterinary homeopathy and this one is the best! In fact, because of the excellent chapters on the nature of disease and vaccinations, I recommend this book even for dog and cat lovers who have no interest in homeopathy.
This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in treating their dog or cat with homeopathic remedies. Unfortunately too many people, being unaccustomed to a holistic concept of health, use homeopathic remedies in a decidedly allopathic manner; i.e., they choose a homeopathic remedy the way they would choose a drug, without taking into account the totality of the patient's symptoms and conditions. Dr. Hamilton tells you what you need to know to treat acute and minor health problems homeopathically (chronic illness needs to be treated by an experienced veterinary homeopath): how to take a case, choose a remedy, handle and administer remedies, select potency and repetitions, and recognize signs of a cure or partial cure as well as the signs of suppression or a noncurative aggravation (contrary to popular belief, not every aggravation signals a positive healing crisis). He also covers the very important subject of eliminating obstacles to a cure (e.g., low-quality processed foods, vaccinations, unnecessary stress).
Dr. Hamilton also includes a Materia Medica that, while brief, is very accurate. Those with a serious interest in homeopathy will probably want to invest in at least one comprehensive materia medica and repertory though.
Like the previous reviewer, I disagree with Dr. Hamilton's views on purebred dogs. IME, it's simply a myth that mixed breeds today are inherently healthier than purebred dogs. Our German Wirehaired Pointers are naturally reared and in excellent health!

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs is a comprehensive overview of homeopathic treatment of acute conditions that affect cats and dogs. Much more detailed than other such titles on my shelf, this book addresses each aspect of homeopathy, from its philsophical underpinnings to how to administer a dose.

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs is a must-have resource, if only for the section on vaccination, an issue that ought to concern all pet-owners, whether or not they have an interest in homeopathy. The study of vaccinations often leads to interest in alternative healing modalities, in which case, the buyer will have a great resource already to hand!

The Materia Medica provides a less-detailed overview of remedies than a does true MM, but this hardly limits the book's value as a homeopathic resource. Most readers interested in homeopathy no doubt already own one or MMs. No one book on homeopathy can address in-depth every aspect of this fascinating healing modality; Don Hamilton covers well those areas defined by the title of his book

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs clearly delineates the divide between the opposing philosphies that drive conventional and homeopathic approaches to health.

I highly recommend this book.

This is probably the best homeopathic veterinary book for pet owners/guardians in the market.

In the first part, Dr. Hamilton explains the basics of homeopathy and how the rules apply to home caring for a sick animal. He even gives instructions on how to medicate your animal, since the administration of homeopathic remedies differs from allopathic ones.

The second part is a detailed and easy to follow Repertory, meaning that conditions by system are presented and remedies are suggested according to symptoms. This is followed by special conditions, such as pre surgery and after surgery care, heat-stroke etc. The section ends with a Materia Medica adapted to the animal symptoms.

This book has been a great resource for my cats. It does not replace the veterinary care of a trained homeopath, but it can be vital in cases of emergency. I used it at least on two occasions with my younger cats, and the both recovered in a matter of hours. One of them, my younger kitty had been ill for months, and both my homeopath and my allo vet had not been able to help him. Fed up by the failed attempts, I went through the pages of this book, until I stumbled on a remedy that seemed to fit perfectly. And it worked! My boy has been healthy ever since.

Now I keep it close to my bed for easy access.

I had been looking for a detailed guide to homeopathy for help for the itching one of our dogs had. Wow - talk about excellent guide. The introductory chapters on homeopathy are excellent.

The real help came when my same baby started having serious liver problems and I didn't know why. With an ALT of over 500, it wasn't looking good. I wasn't comfortable with giving her the special dog food containing Ethoxyquin(pesticide in dog food?? - don't think so). The book recommended Milk Thistle. After talking to the vet, my husband and I began a natural diet and milk thistle immediately. Within a month the ALT was down and in another 2 weeks she was back to normal. Mind you, my little girl is 14 so I can say this book has been a lifesaver. This book along with consulting your vet is definitely worthwhile. You can't go wrong getting this book for your furry friends.

It's now April 2003 and now she has a bad heart murmur. After consulting the book and doing more research, found that CoQ10 has been very helpful in alleviating (and in some cases reversing) heart disease in humans. I've given her 1 10Mg CoQ10 tablet a day and after a week, she is showing improvement. One sign of a heart murmur is a hacking cough. Her coughs are not as frequent now. This book was certainly worth buying :-).

One of the most impressive pieces of evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy comes from their clinical use in animals and a small number of research studies in which animals with several maladies have been helped with this form of treatment.

The author of this very useful book followed a route familiar to many of us: he came to homeopathy after being frustrated by some of the limitations of conventional medicine. He also describes his inability fully to explain the problems of the animals that he was seeing unless he started seeing them as something more than little machines that needed fixing. He also began to see that homeopathic principles enabled him not only to understand what was wrong with the animals that he was seeing, but also to predict effective courses of treatment and outcomes.

The book is well organized and well written.

After an initial introduction to the principles and practice of homeopathy, he gets straight into a discussion of how and when to use remedies. He also gives some pointers as to when to seek help from a veterinarian and how homeopathy and conventional medicine can work well together.

This is followed by nine chapters dealing with systems: skin, ears, eyes, digestive system and so on. The final sections list a number of conditions that may be helped, and the book is rounded out with a discussion about vaccination in dogs and cats and an appendix containing a glossary, homeopathic suppliers ad holistic and homeopathic organizations.

This is an extremely practical book, and for its size and scope, remarkably inexpensive.

Even as an experienced homeopath, the book taught me a lot. It is also perfect for the complete beginner. No one book will turn anyone into a Master Homeopath, but this one is quite enough to get you started and to consider some new options for treating the whole animal.

If you love your animals, you may well find that homeopathy could be a simple, inexpensive and non-toxic way of keeping them fit and healthy and for dealing with simple complaints. And if they do need to see a vet, then the remedies may provide a wonderful support for any other treatments that they may need.

If you read nothing in this book but the chapter on vaccination, it's worth the price. A clear explanation of why homeopathy works, and how modern care is not helping our pets. The only negative comment I could make concerns Dr. Hamilton's views on purebred dogs, but he clearly states this as his opinion, then does not continue to belabor the point. I'm sorely tempted to move to New Mexico just to have him for my Saluki's doctor.

I was looking for a materia medica on animal homeopathy similar to "Homeopathic Medicine at Home" by Maesimund B. Panos which is the ultimate guide to diagnosing and treating symptoms that I've been using for over 20 years. I ordered a number of books including this one and ended up returning the others. This offers a quick reference to symptoms and remedies along with dosage guidelines and also includes an in-depth reading on using homeopathy with animals opposed to the typical veterinary care/ western approach which is centered around targeting specific bacteria with antibiotics, which I have found tends to clog the liver over time and weaken the overall immune system. However, you can skip the reading and go right to the symptom/ remedy section if you prefer.

My hat's off to Don Hamilton. His book does an excellent job explaining the problems with vaccinations and the reasons not to give them. He successfully walks the line between suggesting remedies for specific conditions and clearly teaching people that it is much better to work with an experienced homeopath. He explains the underlying philosophy and principles of homeopathy clearly and interestingly. Don's deep respect for animals and his integrity shine forth in every chapter. Finally, there is a book on homeopathy for animals that is a geat introduction and also corrects common misconceptions. Kudos to Don.

I've read dozens of animal care books, and this particular book--which was highly recommended to me by a holistic vet--is among the finest. Hamilton's explanation of the concept of homeopathy is one of the most cogent and understandable that I've ever seen, yet his prose is sufficiently infused with detail so that the reader walks away with more than just a surface understanding of this beautiful practice. Hamilton shows great responsibility and care with ensuring the reader is adequately informed on when it's critical to consult with a holistic vet and not try figuring it out on one's own. Finally, his detailed discussion of the risks of vaccination and the consequences of a poor-quality diet raise the level of the usual "zealot versus non-zealot" debate over these crucial issues to animal health. If nothing else, any loving animal guardian would do well to read even just those chapters in his book to gain a greater appreciation for the relationship between diet/vaccinations and overall health. I might have been skeptical of these concepts before I had switched my own cat over to a totally fresh, raw diet and seen first-hand the remarkable change for the better that ensued. Hamilton deserves high praise for this work, which I suspect will remain a staple "must-read" for years to come.