The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat

Review by B. Smawley for The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
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If you do not to read, hire someone to read it for you!! Your pets will thank you.I lost a cat to cancer two years ago. My feeling that I was somehow responsible for his demise at such a young age wasn’t entirely grief related. For instance, was there something wrong with feeding an animal the same old stuff day and night for his/her entire life, often dried stuff at that? If so, what other options were there? And how about tap water? If we the people are concerned about drinking it, what about our pets? Inquiries about diet to everyone, vets included, almost always elicit the same response: do not feed table food or “scraps.” Trouble is, most of us just do not have a scientific and/or medical background with which to argue the point. Dr. Goldstein discusses food and tap water and how it affects health in this book. All that is required for reading this book is an open, active mind and the ability to strive for something better. People who have added lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and, yes, even soy products to their diets know that they feel better, look better, and are healthier. And so it would be with animals. My 3 remaining cats are doing much better after only two weeks on real MEAT, grains, and vegetables. I know my cats so you can trust me on this point. Some people will want studies. Well, scientists have concocted chemicals for making the RENDERED BY-PRODUCTS in commercial pet food appealing to animals via smell and/or taste. But show me a study which says it’s GOOD for our animals. Isn’t it golden age advertising and hasn’t it worked, especially in this busy world!! Incidentally, several natural pet food brands are mentioned in the book for non-cookers. Finally, I’ve concentrated my comments on diet (and maybe one or two too many on my own opinions ) because health starts with food and food is one aspect we pet owners really have control over. However, Dr. Goldstein covers many other topics including vaccines, herbs, supplements, natural remedies, and devotes an entire chapter to cancer. Many of his patients are very sick. He explains why he believes in helping an animal heal itself by treating the disease rather than the symptoms. Feeding real food is part of the process. Dr. Goldstein writes from experience. He even admits he doesn’t understand how or why some of the holistic methods work; he’s just seen it work year after year. His final chapters deal with the spiritual realm, including our relationship with our pets, and death of pets (choosing when to let go, euthanasia, grieving). There is an extensive resource guide at the back. I also recommend FOOD PETS DIE FOR by Ann N. Martin. She spent 7 years investigating the ingredients in commercial pet food. If you read that book first, you’ll surely want to read this one (or vice versa). Whoa, did I get ever get carried away here. But I’ve waited a long time for this book. Thank you, Dr. Goldstein, for writing it.

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I have been providing our dogs with alternative health treatments since 1995. I was fed up with conventional care–too many pills that merely masked underlying illnesses and no real treatment. Our dogs have glowing health and everyone remarks on their vigor & beautiful coats. Dr. Goldstein, because of his successes with cancer & chronic illnesses, has conventional veterinarians quaking in their boots. So much of medicine is run by the profit motive, totally denying the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors and vets. Think of the marketing of pet foods and vaccinations in the office of the vet–two of the biggest money-makers in the industry. It is no wonder those boots are quaking. I implore you to read this book for the sake of your pets’ health.

Review by cwoods@spindle.net for The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
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I have read many books on holistic/alternative veterinary medicine over the years in order to keep my 5 cats and 5 dogs as happy and healthy as possible. But I’ve never read one as useful, comprehensive, and readable as Dr. Goldstein’s. His explanation, for example, of vaccinosis (disease resulting from too many and too frequent vaccinations) is the most understandable you’ll find anywhere. And in discussing treatments, he not only gives you medicines and sources, he even gives dosages based on the pet’s weight. Not very many books do this! I am recommending this book to everyone I know who owns a dog or cat, and I urge you, I BESEECH you, to buy this book and begin partnering with your vet to make better decisions about how to keep your pet healthy and, when treatment for illness is needed, how to use less invasive and harmful cures that treat the source of the illness rather than the symptom. If you’re reading this, I’m probably preaching to the choir. But if you buy this book, please pass the word along to your friends with animal companions. Most of them will be interested; they’ve just never thought to question conventional veterinary medicine and so don’t know it’s not a great idea to give their pets yearly vaccinations and cortisone shots for allergies. They deserve to know the rest of the story.