What do You think about Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs & Cats (2005)?
Well-written resource for pet owners. I bought this because my dog was elderly and refusing most dog food; I googled homemade dog food and found this book. I felt better making things from recipes written by a vet; I wanted to ensure she was getting what she needed (and nothing she didn't!). Good directions, helpful suggestions, and lots of sympathy for people with an ill animal. I cannot recommend this enough if you have a pet with a chronic illness, allergies, or something else that just seems off. I also felt that the suggestions in this book aligned well with what our vet was already doing, and weren't weird, hippy-dippy things I was going to feel funny telling the vet we were doing at home. I think my dog's last years were happier and healthier because of this book. Thank you so much, Dr and Mrs Pitcairn.
—Alix
This book was an interesting read, but both myself and several friends put our dogs [11 total] on the recommended diet and dry food brand. ALL dogs reacted badly - despite a slow taper to the new diet - and we ended up back on our old system. I have since read elsewhere that domesticated dogs have evolved a different digestive system and do not tolerate raw meats well (which Pitcairn recommends). And all of our dogs did very poorly on the book's recommended dry food brand.Note: I highly recommend Purina Pro Plan Selects dry dog food, which is what we were all originally using and went back to. It's an excellent, high grade dog food. (Btw: I'm not a Purina spokesperson!) And we supplement with a little helping of cooked meats; whatever we're having for dinner. And giving fish oil capsules - as recommended by my vet - has made a huge difference in my dogs' coats and joints/mobility.
—Deb
Dr. Pitcairn's Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pircairn, DVM, PHD, and Susan Hubble Pitcairn provides a reference for raising healthy dogs and cats. The Pitcairns examine pet health care, feeling pets, exercise, and creating a healthy environment for pets. They also discuss in detail using all natural food and alternative therapies to promote wellness, cure illness, and treat common health problems pets encounter. They include well researched and well thought out recipes for meeting nutritional needs even if the recipes are a bit heavy on the ingredient lists and labor intensive. Dr. Pitcairn's Natural Health for Dogs & Cats is a well written, easy to understand, educational book that provides great insight into raising healthy, happy pets naturally.
—T.L. Cooper
