The Goldstein’s Wellness &
Longevity Program
By Robert S. Goldstein, V.M.D.,
and Susan J. Goldstein
(T.F.H. Publications, Inc.)
This comprehensive “wellness bible” examines nearly every
aspect of good health for dogs and cats. The Goldsteins leave no stone
unturned as they teach readers how to examine and redesign their pet’s
diets, how to use natural healing modalities such as acupuncture, music
therapy, flower essences and homeopathy, and treat common conditions
such as ringworm or kennel cough. There are tips for keeping your pet
flea-free, dealing with cancer, and how to make the senior years the
best of your pet’s lives. The best part of the book, aside from the
great amount of detail the Goldsteins give to every aspect of wellness,
is the amount of joy they share in having companion animals be a part
of our lives.
My Fat Cat/My Fat Dog:
Ten Simple Steps to Help
Your Pet Lose Weight for a
Long and Happy Life
By Martha Garvey
Illustrations by Sebastian Conley
(Hatherleigh Press)
When you’re thinking about how you’re
going to drop a few pounds to fulfill that New Year’s resolution, you might want to
think about Fido’s extra baggage as well. Face it, our pets are just as susceptible to
gaining extra weight as we are. And just like us, that extra weight can cause a host
of serious health problems. In these two books, author Martha Garvey explains what
it takes to get your pet down to a slim and healthy size, which is mainly through
simple changes to diet and exercise. These books feature real-life weight-loss stories,
the lowdown on diet cat/dog food, and pointers from top veterinarians.
Getting Lucky
By Susan Marino with Denise Flaim
(Stewart, Tabori & Chang)
This simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking book is
about Angel’s Gate, an animal hospice run by former nurse Susan Marino
and her husband, Vic, at their suburban ranch house in New York. While
the book revolves around the rescue of a Great Dane, Lucky, and the
bond he forms with the humans around him, it is also a remarkable story
about the dogs, cats, horses, birds, and wild animals that find a place
of love at Angel’s Gate and an opportunity to live out their final
years with dignity and respect. It’s an easy and wonderful read.
The Cat Owner’s Manual and The Dog Owner’s Manual:
Operating Instructions,Troubleshooting Tips,
and Advice on Lifetime Maintenance
By Dr. David Brunner and Sam Stall
Illustrated by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum
(Quirk Books)
With technology becoming more advanced every day, we humans
have become more and more familiar with geekspeak. The Cat/Dog Owner’s
Manual is a delightful how-to guide playing on our affinity for modern
machinery. Chapters cover all the issues that surround the
acquisition of a new pet, including “Overview of Makes and Models,”
“Home Installation,” “Fuel Requirements,” “Exterior Maintenance,” and
even “Advanced Functions.” You can also purchase The Dog/Cat Owner’s
Maintenance Log, which is a workbook created to keep track of your
pet’s records, vital information, contact numbers, and other important
documents. These books are sure to help you beef up your knowledge of
your own four-legged operating system.
Cancer and Your Pet:
The Complete Guide to the Latest
Research, Treatments, and Options
By Debra Eldredge, DVM, and
Margaret H. Bonham
(Capital Books, Inc.)
Cancer is not something you ever want to go through with your
pet, but unfortunately it can happen. The good news is that 50 percent
of cancers in pets are curable, according to the authors. In this book
you will find everything you need to know about cancer in cats and dogs
from details about different forms of the disease to treatment options
and the recovery process. The book simultaneously offers hope that our
beloved pets can beat the disease, while arming guardians with
across-the-board knowledge of how to handle every aspect of dealing
with pets and cancer.
Cat Conundrums
& Dog Dilemmas:
Simple Solutions to
Everyday Problems
By Gary Sampson, DVM,
with Dick Wolfsie
(Emmis Books)
Sometimes our furry companions can develop a few quirks—doorbell anxiety,
peculiar litter-box conduct, and perhaps even a fascination with
tail-chasing that has gone too far. In his books, Cat Conundrums and
Dog Dilemmas, pet-behavior expert Gary Sampson shares a series of
short, real-life stories from his animal-behavior practice that
illustrate how to negotiate tricky pet problems. In each narrative,
Sampson outlines how he works with guardians to understand the reason
behind their pets’ bad habits to find the best solution. Fun and easy
to read, the book offers practical, albeit sometimes unusual, advice
for everyday pet predicaments.
How to Meditate with Your Dog:
An Introduction to Meditation
for Dog Lovers
By James Jacobson with
Kristine Chandler Madera
(Maui Media)
Seeking inner peace is no longer exclusively for humans.
According to Jacobson, a lifelong meditator and dog-lover, canines are
natural meditation gurus and incorporating them into daily meditation
practices not only enhances health and well-being, but it can also
deepen the bond between caretaker and pet. Jacobson uses his own
meditation ritual with his Maltese, Maui, to illustrate simple
techniques to help readers understand how to meditate with their pets.
Of course, Maui demonstrates that even the most spiritual of pooches
can get a little sidetracked by a Frisbee or the smell of bacon.
Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to
Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
By Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, Ph.D., and
Susan Hubble Pitcairn
(Rodale)
Since it was originally published in 1982, this book has
become a bible of sorts for the natural pet-care community.
Veterinarians and pet guardians alike have consulted the pages of
Richard Pitcairn’s guide to find answers that conventional pet medicine
couldn’t help. Now it has been updated and revised to reflect new
knowledge gathered from research in holistic healing for pets over the
past nine years. An expanded “Quick Reference” section details a range
of common diseases and disorders and offers customized treatment for
both cats and dogs. And, of course, what kind of nutritionoriented
guide would this be without recipes? In this book you’ll find
instructions on making anything from meat supplements for dog kibble to
“Poultry Delight” for your cat.
