Heal Your Dog the Natural Way

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Summary: Aromatherapy, Herbs, Homeopathy & More For Dogs
Review: In his nicely illustrated guide to natural remedies for canine ailments, the British homeopathic/holistic vet Dr. Allport focuses primarily on four major therapies: Aromatherapy, Homeopathy, Herbal Medicine, and Bach Flower Remedies. Discussed in less detail are acupuncture and TCM, T-Touch massage, reflexology, color therapy, crystal and gemstone therapy, iridology, chiropractic, radionics, dowsing, and osteopathy.
The main part of the book consists of a guide to nearly a hundred different health conditions that commonly affect dogs. The ailments are ordered according to body systems and each entry includes a brief description of the ailment and its possible causes and typical symptoms. This is followed by advice on which natural remedies are most appropriate for treatment. Some interesting case studies are included as well.
As an aromatherapist, I am pleased that Dr. Allport has decided to include essential oil treatments as one of his major therapies (these very effective natural remedies are still used only rarely by holistic vets in the U.S.), even if the essential oils he suggests to treat an ailment aren't always the ones I would choose. I also wish he would he would gone into greater detail regarding methods of administration and selecting quality oils. The book's overall lack of detail is its biggest drawback. For instance, homeopathic remedies are often recommended without any mention of the symptom picture that would call for said remedy. Example: For pancreatitis, Dr. Allport states, "Phosphorous and Iris vers. are both suitable remedies." Well, maybe. Depending on the dog's symptom picture, one of these remedies may indeed be indicated, but it's also very possible that the patient's symptoms would call for an entirely different remedy. I would not recommend following the homeopathic suggestions in this book without first consulting a homeopathic materia medica to ensure that the remedy is indeed indicated.