All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Tilfords' book introduces readers to hundreds of plant medicines that can be used in the daily care of animals. The authors, both herbalists, begin with a chapter on the principles and practices of herbalism, explaining the basics of herbal preparations and what they call the "ethical use of herbs." They discuss the connection between herbs and diet and give guidelines for feeding dogs and cats. The bulk of the book is a 191-page guide to herbs for animals. Each entry includes a description of the plant, its habitat and range, its cycle and bloom season, preparation, common uses, availability, and propagation and harvest techniques. Also included are a warning of its side effects--if any--and a photograph of the plant. There's a wealth of information here, enabling pet owners to select, prepare, and apply natural remedies, some of which may be growing in their own backyards. George Cohen

Product Description

This book is an indispensable resource for pet owners. This attractive, easy-to-read, yet comprehensive guide offers pet owners step-by-step instructions on how to find, prepare, and use herbs to treat common pet ailments.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: BowTie Press; 1st edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889540463
• ISBN-13: 978-1889540467
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,133,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Bowtie Press Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

120 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destined to be a classic!, January 22, 2000

By	C. Keith (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Herbs for Pets is a huge, useful, interesting, well-researched book, illustrated with gorgeous full color photos, and printed on high quality, glossy stock. At first glance it seems like a coffee table book, and the quality of the design and photography reinforce that impression. However, the content exceeds even the highest expectations.

Both authors are experienced herbalists, and this book is far more than a list of recipes for dealing with common health problems. It covers the principles and theories of herbal medicine, as well as ethical issues involved with using plants.

There are literally hundreds of plant medicines included in this massive resource. Each entry includes a plant description, information on cultivating and obtaining the plant, a guide to the preparation and administration of the herb, beautiful, large, clear, color photographs of the herbs, and information on contraindications and side effects. There is easy to understand information about what common maladies can be treated by each herb contained with the description of each herb. The herb guide alone is almost 200 pages long, but the book includes more than that. It is followed by an excellent encyclopedia of ailments, with practical care suggestions as well as references to appropriate herbs.

There is even a comprehensive section on nutrition, utilizing the holistic approach that sets the Tilfords apart as herbalists. They cover nutrition and herbal care for many species of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, and reptiles. They describe Western, ayurvedic, and Chinese herbs, and give information on how to grow many useful herbs in your own garden. The Tilfords explain different fields of complementary and alternative medicine, including acupuncture and homeopathy, and indicate which modality is useful for what conditions. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more useful comes the guide to losing animals to death and a listing of holistic veterinarians who work with herbs, as well as holistic veterinary organizations. There is even a short list of recommended commercial foods for those who aren't ready to make their pets' food themselves.

Still, the cornerstone of the book is the detailed, lushly illustrated herb guide, or materia medica. Each entry is at least two pages long, and most are several pages long and include multiple large photographs. The quality of this resource cannot be overstated.

If you have an interest in herbal medicine, for humans or for animals, this book will be a treasured classic and more than earn its shelf space. Its price of around forty dollars might seem steep if you haven't actually seen the book, but I have seen many books of this quality and much less usefulness for twice that amount. The publisher intends a price increase of about ten dollars in June, so it might be wise to get the book sooner rather than later. You won't be sorry!

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST FOR YOUR LIBRARY, December 6, 1999

By	Kate Ashley (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have waited impatiently for this book and I have not been disappointed.

"Herbs for Pets" is clearly written, giving common and botanical names, along with which family the plant is from, and comprehensive details on the use of each herb and its parts.

"Herb For Pets" covers a wide range of topics from alternative and complementary medicines to grieving for the loss of a loved companion animal.

The authors have gone to great lengths to give wonderful references and resources. The plates of the plants and the illustrations are excellent.

This book is not only a must for your library, it is very nicely written and with obvious empathy and compassion for guardian and companion animal.

You will find "Herbs for Pets" a valuable resource that you will refer to often.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Dogs Thank the Tilford's, December 13, 1999

By	Joan G. Holden (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

What a beautiful book. Everyone who comes in the living room sees it on the table and starts to read it. If you are just starting on alternative health for your pet or have been doing it for awhile this book is the greatest. There is so much advertising about herbs that it is hard to know what to do or beleive and now there is a resource for treating your pet the natural way. This is a wonderful reference for the health of our animals. I like the additional infornation on nutrition plus the A to Z on Herbs. You can not help but feel the love of animals the authors share with us and the wonder of their lives growing and learning about herbs. If you love your pets you will love this book.