Full Description
Written by a qualified veterinarian, this is a complete and comprehensive guide to health care for cats and dogs, providing invaluable advice on essential aspects of care, such as diet and vaccinations, as well as a guide to holistic treatments.
The first part of the book describes the main lifestyle choices every dog and cat owner makes, whether or not they are aware of them: settling in a new puppy or kitten, vaccination, neutering, diet, finding the right veterinarian, and caring for the ageing animal.
The second part describes the main holistic modalities and their relevance when animals become sick. What they are, how they work, when they are useful, and how to find a practitioner. Also includes chapters on osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, Bach's flower remedies, and herbal medicine.
The third part of the book discusses a range of common health problems in dogs and cats, both from a conventional veterinary point of view and from an holistic perspective, and aims to help the owner understand the condition they are facing, as well as providing tips on how to supplement their veterinarian's advice and treatment.
Contents
Foreword
Part one: A healthy life
- the lifestyle choices every dog or cat owner will be making
The beginning - the arrival of your puppy or kitten
Diet - factory food, homecooking or raw food
Choosing your vet - Your important ally, annual healthcheck
Vaccination - a final farewell to routine boosters
Parasite prevention - fleas, worms, ticks
Neutering: spaying/castration
The final stage - old age, natural death or euthanasia
Part two: On health and disease
An holistic view of health and what this can bring to the treatment of animals
What is it to be holistic?
The important holistic treatment methods:
Homeopathy
Acupuncture
Manual techniques (osteopathy, chiropractics, cranio-sacral therapy, massage)
Bach's flower remedies
Herbal medicine
Part three: Dealing with disease
- How to help your sick animal.
Common conditions in dogs and cats:
Focus on allergy
Skin (wounds, cat abcesses, allergic eczema, hotspots, ear infections, eosinofilic granuloma,
overgrooming, tumors)
Digestive system (dental hygiene, gingivitis, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, anal sacs)
Airways (kennel cough, cat flu, asthma)
Heart disease
Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism)
Urinary organs (cystitis, urinary crystals-and stones, incontinence, kidney disease)
Sexual organs (womb infections, cryptorchidism)
Nervous system (epilepsy)
Musculo-skeletal system (acute injuries, fractures, cruciate ligaments, dysplasia, osteoarthritis)
Surgery
Behavioural problems (aggression, fear, motion sickness, stress, overgrooming, inappropriate
urination)
Supplements
Useful contacts (where to buy the products or find the practitioner you need)
Further reading
Index
