Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians (Paperback)

by Martin Zucker (Author) "Simply put, it's an approach that bypasses the Western medical obsession with disease and symptoms and instead focuses on health and healing..." (more)
Key Phrases: mix into the food, general dosage guidelines, many holistic veterinarians, Nancy Scanlan, Rescue Remedy, Alfred Plechner (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
You probably feel like you know everything about your cat and his needs, but chances are there's a lot you aren't aware of. For example, did you know that the food you feed him every day has nowhere near enough nutritional value, or that he may have chronic tooth decay? Have you ever been told that the essence of the flower holly can help him be less jealous, or that a massage can lessen his arthritis pains?

The Veterinarians' Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats is an introduction and a guide to the vast world of natural methods, treatments, and foods that are now available for cats. Veterinarians from around the country offer information and opinions to help you determine what's best for your cat. In addition to showing you how to develop a healthy diet for your pet, these doctors will tell you about alternative treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and herbal medicine.

From the Inside Flap
You probably feel like you know everything about your cat and his needs, but chances are there's a lot you aren't aware of. For example, did you know that the food you feed him every day has nowhere near enough nutritional value, or that he may have chronic tooth decay? Have you ever been told that the essence of the flower holly can help him be less jealous, or that a massage can lessen his arthritis pains?

The Veterinarians' Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats is an introduction and a guide to the vast world of natural methods, treatments, and foods that are now available for cats. Veterinarians from around the country offer information and opinions to help you determine what's best for your cat. In addition to showing you how to develop a healthy diet for your pet, these doctors will tell you about alternative treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and herbal medicine.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (January 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609803735
• ISBN-13: 978-0609803738
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,493 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Veterinary Medicine > Small Animal Medicine
  #3 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Veterinary Medicine > Small Animal Medicine
  #3 in	Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Cats > Care & Health

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book- a must for people who love their cat, May 19, 2001

By	"mirajia" (Apopka, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

I can not say enough good things about this book. I refer to it more times a day than I can count. It contains vital information that all pet lovers should know, from the quality of foods we feed them to the treatments for illnesses they get. I unfortunatly got this book after I lost my beautiful Ragdoll cat to fatty liver disease. Had I gotten it while he was alive I believe there could have been hope to save him. I still have three other cats though and this book is my "Bible" when it comes to their care. My other Ragdoll was on a "prescription" diet that was supposed to be good for her. After 4 months of diarrhea (that the vet kept giving pills for which did no good), I found this book. I changed her diet, gave her milk thistle, some probiotics (for one week), and she made a 100 percent turn around. This book also contains many telephone numbers where you can order herbs if you aren't lucky enough to live in an area where pet health stores (or people health stores) are available. I highly recommed this book. It is informative, thorough and will really open your eyes to your pets health.

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garlic for Cats?, July 20, 2005

By	Jean C. Hofve "Jean Hofve, DVM" (Boulder, CO, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As one of the veterinarians who contributed to this book, I was interested to see some of the comments, especially about garlic.

Garlic is in the onion family and does contain a small amount of the onion's toxic ingredient (thiosulphate). While I have seen red blood cell damage from as little as one meal of baby food containing onion powder, I have not seen such problems with garlic. In fact, garlic is a common ingredient in many pet foods and supplements, usually in small amounts as a flavoring agent. For instance, I have recommended Missing Link for my feline patients for many years; it contains garlic, but I haven't seen any damage from it. Cats being cats, they are far less likely than dogs to eat a food that contains too much garlic.

The article from TC Instincts actually says: "*continued* use of garlic or onions can *eventually* result in hemolytic anemia." This suggests, as has been my experience, that it takes long-term feeding of a significant amount of garlic to cause anemia. As with most things, the old saying "Moderation in all things" is well heeded in this case. (The reviewer also states that dogs can handle garlic and onions; that statement is dangerously false. Dogs are also susceptible to toxicity from these plants; onion toxicity is quite common in dogs.)

In holistic medicine, the fundamental principle is to tailor treatment to each individual animal. It still requires you to watch your pet closely, and to be alert to any changes in its condition. The holistic veterinarian depends on the person who sees the animal every day, to monitor each treatment for any positive or negative effects. This goes for any modality, including herbs and homeopathy, both of which can be very harmful if not used properly.

Anitra Frazier's book is terrific, but bear in mind it is 15 years old. She recommends 20% of the diet to be grains; today, we know that cats do not handle grains well, and a high grain content (such as is common in dry foods) contributes to obesity, diabetes, bladder problems and other diseases. She also highly recommends garlic as a supplement. So while her book contains much good advice, you shouldn't just follow it blindly without balancing it against other sources of information, and constantly assessing your animal's response to each change.

In the same way, this book contains a great deal of valuable information. As new information becomes available, some bits may become outdated. However, to dismiss the entire book because of one (controversial) item is really throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome addition, February 15, 2000

By	Jane Johnson (Maine) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Veterinarians' Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats is a welcome addition for those who wish to pursue natural remedies for their cats. It gives the reader a variety of choices in each section, so that one is able to select one thing, and if that does not accomplish all that one hopes, one is able to make another choice. Many modalities are mentioned including homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and herbal medicine. There is discussion of a healthy diet as well. Mr. Zucker interviewed a number of holistic vets from around the country and compiled their suggestions into this much awaited volume. I can recommend it highly.