The Natural Dog: A Complete Guide for Caring Dog Lovers [Paperback]

Mary L. Brennan (Author), Norma Eckroate (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

Full of real-life case studies and anecdotes, this book emphasizes a holistic approach to caring for your dog while providing the up-to-date and vital information every dog-owner needs, from adopting and training dogs to diet and grooming. Includes an A-Z guide covering over 40 common canine health problems. Line drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Brennan, a veterinarian who supports holistic as well as conventional treatments, and Eckroate (the coauthor, with Anita Frazier, of The New Natural Cat ) offer an unusually informative and candid compendium on dog care. Succinct discussions of how to choose and train a dog lead to details about grooming--including advice on how to find the correct brush, shampoo and method of flea control, and nutrition (homemade meals are best, the writers conclude, but commercial food can easily be supplemented; plastic food bowls can harm a canine diner). The standout sections, however, are those dealing with medicine. Brennan and Eckroate weigh the benefits of acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, lasers and other alternative methods, both as primary treatments and as supplements to standard veterinary care, and substantiate their claims for holistic approaches with case studies. They also provide guidelines for selecting qualified practitioners. Another welcome feature: Brennan, who practices in Georgia, pays particular attention to the conditions occasioned by Southern climates. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is another in a spate of herbal/holistic treatises that have recently been dreamed up by authors and publishers (e.g., Diane Stein's Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats , LJ 3/15/93; Angela Patmore's Your Natural Dog , LJ 10/15/93). Although the chapters on selecting and grooming your dog and the descriptions of canine diseases are excellent, some of the recommended treatments could actually be harmful. Using nux vomica (strychinine) for two weeks as treatment for poisoning is certainly risky, and feeding dogs raw meat ignores the possibility of bacterial infection. Scare tactics about preservatives, chemicals, etc., in processed foods are unwarranted, especially regarding antibiotics in eggs--laying hens are not fed antibiotics. Contradictory statements appear frequently; we are told in one chapter that bathing should be kept to a minimum but later that old dogs should swim daily. Some procedures for making diagnoses and selecting treatments can only be described as "far out." Because the lay reader cannot distinguish the good from the bad advice in this book, it is not recommended.
- A. Louis Shor, DVM, Veterinary Consultant, Mt. Laurel, N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Plume (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452270197
• ISBN-13: 978-0452270190
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shor's Criticisms are Unfounded, December 17, 2003

By 

C. Lee (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Natural Dog: A Complete Guide for Caring Dog Lovers (Paperback)

Shor's negative Library Journal review of this book cannot be taken seriously. A conventional vet, Shor obviously has a vested interest in dog owners not empowering themselves with a holistic approach to care. His criticisms are unfounded. Nux vomica, which Shor fearfully labels as strychinine is a homeopathic remedy that contains no measurable amount of the poison. His reluctance to feed dogs raw meat ignores the fact that dogs in nature consume raw meat, including carrion, bacteria and all. Let's not even consider what goes into most commercial dog foods. His final example of a contradictory statement concerning not bathing dogs yet allowing them to swim doesn't point out a contradiction at all: the last time I checked, dogs swim in water while they are bathed with water plus soap and/or chemicals that strip their hair of its natural oils.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful overview of holistic care for dogs!, February 1, 1999

By 

Lee Milteer ([e-mail]) (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Dog: A Complete Guide for Caring Dog Lovers (Paperback)

As the proud owner of a fourteen year old poodle named Murphy and a roaming tom-cat named Spencer, I appreciate a book with a holistic approach toward animal care. As with all older pets, my dog Murphy has experienced his fair share of medical problems and I don't like inundating him with prescription medication on a regular basis. The Natural Dog gives me a variety of natural and safe ways to treat Murphy's ailments, and provides methods to keep him healthy! This book is informative and entertaining, providing pet owners with an A-Z guide on common dog problems and their natural solutions. The Natural Dog will assist anyone who wishes to become acquainted with holistic medicine for pets.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Holistic Dog Care at its easiest, February 2, 1998

By 

vintage_clothing "vintage_clothing" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Dog: A Complete Guide for Caring Dog Lovers (Paperback)

After Dr. Pitcarin's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats came a plethora of natural guides for animals. This book followed its predecessor The Natural Cat. This book is an easy to read holistic care guide, of which I always recommend in conjuction with Dr Pitcairn's guide for new dog owners. It is easy to read for the pet owner overhwelmed by the detailed knowledge of Dr Pitcairn's guide. With both books paired together, I feel any dog owner seriously interested in holistic pet care will be highly informed and motivated.