Book Reviews

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.