8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog: An Easy-to-Follow Program for the Life of Your Dog by Shawn Messonier

Product Details

Synopsis

Give your dog a long, healthy, happy life--in just 8 short weeks! Acclaimed holistic veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier shows you how to combine the best preventive-care practices with the best that conventional and alternative medicine have to offer. The result? An amazing transformation in your dog's health, vitality, and well-being! Whether you've just bought a puppy or you have a dog who's definitely starting to show his age, you can put your pet on Dr. Shawn's 8-Week Program with confidence. All it takes is one easy change each week!

In 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, you'll discover:

How to find the best holistic veterinarian for your pet

How to tell if your dog is really healthy or if he's suffering from one of the "hidden" diseases that can rob you of years of his company The best ways to get rid of fleas and ticks

How to choose the most nutritious diet from the hundreds of dog foods on store shelves--or make a delicious diet at home that your dog will love!

The essential supplements every dog needs for maximum health and vitality

How to spot the major disease trigger that veterinarians often overlook--and how to prevent or reverse it

Exercises and fun games to keep your dog in great shape (you'll enjoy them, too!)

How to combat canine diseases with the latest and best conventional and natural remedies

Grooming tips and techniques that keep your dog looking good and feeling great

8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog is the best gift you can give your dog--and your family!

Library Journal

Messonnier, a veterinarian, author of three books on holistic veterinary medicine, and columnist for DogFancy magazine, presents a wellness program for dogs inspired by Andrew Weil's 8 Weeks to Optimum Health (for humans). A practitioner of integrative medicine, which combines conventional, alternative, and natural therapies (e.g., herbs and acupuncture when appropriate, antibiotics and steroids when warranted), the author emphasizes being proactive, that is, promoting health and longevity, rather than reactive, or treating disease. In the first week, Messonnier mandates a thorough veterinary exam, including laboratory tests to identify potential problems. Subsequent weeks are devoted to selecting a healthy diet with supplementation, incorporating exercise and grooming and weaning the dog off harmful drugs. Appendixes on interpreting a pet food label, recommended herbs, and homeopathic remedies and their side effects complete the book. Easily understood by lay readers, this wealth of expert and balanced information belongs on every public library shelf alongside earlier classics of holistic veterinary medicine like Martin Goldstein's The Nature of Animal Healing and Richard Pitcairn's Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.-Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Biography

Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M., is a nationally recognized authority on holistic pet care and integrative medicine and the author of the award-winning Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. His column, "The Holistic Pet," is featured in newspapers throughout the United States and Canada, and he's also a pet expert for iVillage.com. He owns Paws and Claws Animal Hospital in Plano, Texas.