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Summary: Finally a book so I can learn how to feed my dogs!
Review: At long last a book that tells you the owner why and how to feed a BALANCED whole food diet! After years of doing what I thought was the best thing for my dogs, feeding nothing but commercial foods, I learned the hard way that what I *knew* about dog foods was all wrong and very mis-informed! I don't want to ask my Vets, who know only what they learned in school about nutrition, (which may not be much of anything), and I really don't want to depend on Dog Food Companies...think the reasons are obvious. So I read and educate myself. Thanks to Wendy Volhard and her RESEARCH...lots of reasearch...I feel comfortable making my own "Natural Diet" and feeding my dogs a better quality diet. Can not wait to get the Next Edition! Thanks again Wendy for all you do for the Dogs in my life!
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Summary: If you consider your dog a member of your family
Review: Discovering the Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog is one of the best discoveries I have made in my life! If you consider your dog a member of your family and you want to do everything you can to hlep it have a long, healthy, long life this book is for you. It comes complete with a chat room of wonderful people who can answer most any question you have regarding the diet. It's a book that you will refer to over and over - the first thing you will consult when you think there might be a problem.
We have used the diet recommended in the book for two for more than 5 years. Our vet applauds our efforts.
Rating:
Summary: If you consider your dog a member of your family
Review: Discovering the Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog is one of the best discoveries I have made in my life! If you consider your dog a member of your family and you want to do everything you can to hlep it have a long, healthy, long life this book is for you. It comes complete with a chat room of wonderful people who can answer most any question you have regarding the diet. It's a book that you will refer to over and over - the first thing you will consult when you think there might be a problem.
We have used the diet recommended in the book for two for more than 5 years. Our vet applauds our efforts.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended reading for all dog owners
Review: Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Holistic Guide For A Healthy Dog continues to be a premier resource and reference for dog owners concerned with the improvement and maintenance of their canine companion's health, longevity, and quality of life. In Part One (Your Dog's Diet & Health), Volhard and Brown discuss nutrition and the dog's overall physical well-being. Part Two (Medicine, Tests, Therapies & Your Dog) explores standard diagnostic and treatment modalities, including vaccinations, for canine health problems and disease prevention. Part Three (The Five-Element Theory) outlines an integral aspect of traditional Chinese medicine applicable to dog care. The Five-Element Theory divides the year into four seasons and shows that (by looking at the calendar) the pet companion can predict with an uncanny accuracy their dog's behavior and consequent health needs. Holistic Guide For A Healthy Dog is a critically important, highly recommended reading for all dog owners, be they just starting out with their first pet, or experienced and professional breeders and trainers.
Rating: 
Summary: everything _but_ the diet
Review: overall this is a pretty good book. if you use it for what its title suggests, you should be pleased. that is, a holistic guide to a healthy dog. using it for the purpose of creating a new diet for your dog is another matter. the author's "natural diet" is certainly, without a doubt an improvement over most of the garbage fed to dogs in the form of commercial dog food. however, having said that, if what you are really looking for is a guide to creating a healthy, _raw_ diet for your dog you definitely could do better than this book. ian billinghurst's "give your dog a bone" is what you are looking for. the volhard diet doesnt quite "get" the concept of the BARF ("Bones And Raw Food" _or_ "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food") diet...and unfortunately it _tries_ without much success. the volhard "Natural Diet" is too rigid as well as mis-informed in many cases, and in my opinion too much of a sales pitch. This book definitely contains some useful info, especially regarding vaccine options, homeopathic remedies, laboratory testing ,etc. For those topics it is excellent. For the topic of "raw diet" i would look at billinghurst.
Rating:
Summary: everything _but_ the diet
Review: overall this is a pretty good book. if you use it for what its title suggests, you should be pleased. that is, a holistic guide to a healthy dog. using it for the purpose of creating a new diet for your dog is another matter. the author's "natural diet" is certainly, without a doubt an improvement over most of the garbage fed to dogs in the form of commercial dog food. however, having said that, if what you are really looking for is a guide to creating a healthy, _raw_ diet for your dog you definitely could do better than this book. ian billinghurst's "give your dog a bone" is what you are looking for. the volhard diet doesnt quite "get" the concept of the BARF ("Bones And Raw Food" _or_ "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food") diet...and unfortunately it _tries_ without much success. the volhard "Natural Diet" is too rigid as well as mis-informed in many cases, and in my opinion too much of a sales pitch. This book definitely contains some useful info, especially regarding vaccine options, homeopathic remedies, laboratory testing ,etc. For those topics it is excellent. For the topic of "raw diet" i would look at billinghurst.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting--offers a very good overview!
Review: This book does cover some topics which some may refer to as "hocus-pocus." However, most of the information in this book is very helpful and if you can keep an open mind and get beyond some of the unusual methods the writer has utilized in healing her animals, you will benefit from the overall knowledge of various methods of holistic treatments. This is the best compilation I've come across so far in explaining the various holistic methods of treatment. Also, this is a good addition to your canine nutrition library.
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Summary: The Nutrition "Bible" for your dog!
Review: This book is filled with some very very useful information, but some of it should be taken with a grain of salt. Like some other reviews have mentioned a few of the diagnostic methods are a bit too neuvo-hippie for my relatively conservative tastes, but all the information on what is (and isn't) put into your dog food was dead on useful. It's absolutely indespensible information for anyone who truly loves thier dog. The recipes were good, but they are a bit too involved to be realistic for most people. The sections on diseases, allergies, dietary deficiencies are all filled with useful information. I would recommend this AND Dr. Pitcairn's complete guide to natural health for dogs and cats to anyone who is even thinking of getting a dog, ESPECIALLY a large breed dog.
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Summary: Holistic Guide for A Healthy Dog
Review: This book is NOT just for people who believe holistic is the only way to go! So although many reviewers write from that perspective, I strongly suggest that people who love traditional medicine consider it because it provides clear explanations of how a dog's system works, the functions of the organs, and what the various nutrients do in and for the dog. It also provdes an excellent explanation of each section of a blood test or urine test and what the results *mean.* And, it has simple but very complete charts in the back which cover various things from *both* the traditional and the holistic points of view in causes and treatments. What made me respect this book was that they offer traditional medicine causes and effects, tests and medications, treatments and solutions ... as well as holistic ones. So, both "sides" can get plenty out of it, and perhaps learn something from the beliefs of the "other side" too to get a much more balanced picture of what is going on with their dog. It is not as simple as most of the consumer oriented books, but it is also not as complex as reading the veterinary medicine web sites. It definitely provides more detail than you may be accustomed to in a "pet health" book. It provides a good base to research from so you can go look at traditional and alternative medicine web sites and know what the heck you're looking for. If you don't care for the diet they recommend, or any other "holistic" parts, you can easily ignore them. It's a good reference book, and if you are the type who wants to be really involved in your dog's care and want to know more than what the vet told you, then get this book. You can find out what you need to know in order to ask the vet good questions and be able to insist on good answers (not just a quick answer, but one that means something to you). I highly recommend this book whether you prefer traditional, holistic, or a blend of veterinary medicine styles. Whatever you do, though, if you think your dog has a problem, find a darned good vet and go there now. If you feel uncomfortable or confused, or hope there are more options out there, get a second opinion from another primary vet, or ask for a referral to a specialist. Any good vet will gladly refer you to a specialist regardless of whether he thinks you really need one. You are your pet's only "human" voice. Be in charge and be responsible and don't give up until you have the information you need.
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Summary: Holistic Guide for A Healthy Dog
Review: This diet has been backed by years of documented laboratory research. I had read books and listened to others regarding raising my dogs the way nature intended but only Wendy's book really made sense to me. Since switching my dogs from "cardboard" dog food to raw I wonder why it took me so long! My dogs are thriving on the Volhard Natural Diet. Not only does the book advise on diet but also vaccinations, kinesiology, homeopathy, complementary therapies and the five element theory. Thanks, Wendy, for a life style change for my dogs . . . and me!
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