The Everything Natural Health for Dogs Book: The healthy, affordable way to ensure a long, happy life for your pet Book

Top Ten Ways to Keep Your Dog Naturally Healthy x

Introduction xi

1 Assessing Your Situation 1

Already Have a Dog? 2

Getting a New Dog? 2

Choosing a Hardy Breed 3

Finding a Breeder or Rescue 4

Selecting a Healthy Puppy or adult Dog 6

Building a Bond with Your Puppy 9

2 Basic Natural Care 10

Going Holistic 11

Conventional and Alternative Medicine 13

Integrative: The Best of Both Worlds 13

It's About Balance 14

Nutrition 101 14

Why Environment Matters 16

Socializing Your Dog 19

3 Homeopathic Energy 22

What Is Homeopathy? 23

How Homeopathic Medicines Are Made 26

Everyday Remedies 28

Picking the Potency 30

Using a Remedy 32

Signs of Healing 35

4 Your Holistic Health Practitioner 36

Choosing a Holistic Veterinarian 37

Locating a Veterinarian 39

Vetting the Doctor 41

Your Dog's First Examination 43

When Emergency Strikes 46

Spaying and Neutering 47

5 Natural Healing 51

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 52

The Power of Acupuncture 54

Massage 57

Tellington Touch 60

Aromatherapy 61

Flower Essences and Herbs 63

6 The Right Nutrition 66

Nutrition Nuts and Bolts 67

Special Diets for Special Dogs 70

Lay Down the Rules 71

Feeding a Fresh Diet 73

Convenient Commercial Food 76

Adding Supplements 78

Antioxidants, Probiotics, and Nutraceuticals 80

Preventing Obesity 82

7 Grooming and Coat Care 84

Getting Ready 85

Brushing and Combing 86

Rub-a-Dub-Dog in the Tub 90

Providing Pedicures 92

Maintaining Oral Health 94

Protecting Eyes and Ears 96

8 Banishing Parasites Naturally 98

Freeloading Organisms 99

Fleas 100

Ticks Are Tough 103

Mange 105

Ear Mites 107

Lice 108

Heartworms108

Other Internal Parasites 110

9 Vaccinations 112

What's in a Vaccine? 113

Types of Vaccines 116

Vaccine Reactions 117

Puppy Protection 119

Using Titers 120

Homeopathic Choices 121

10 Allergies 123

What's an Allergy? 124

Food Allergies 126

Atopy 128

Conventional Treatments of Skin Issues 132

Natural Holistic Therapies for Allergies 133

11 Managing Arthritis 135

Recognizing Joint Pain 136

Helping Joints Heal 140

Water Therapy 143

Nutritional Support 144

Herbal Support 146

Homeopathic Arthritic Remedies 146

Adding Acupuncture 148

12 Cancer Treatment 149

What Is Cancer? 150

Symptoms and Diagnosis 151

Preventing Cancer 153

Optimizing Nutrition 156

Natural and Conventional Treatments 159

Managing the Pain 160

13 Seizures 162

Seizures Are Scary 163

What Causes Seizures 166

Diagnosis 169

The Diet Connection 172

Strengthening the Nervous System 174

14 Gastrointestinal Problems 176

Your Dog's Stomach 177

Common Gastrointestinal Problems 178

Vomiting and Diarrhea 180

Diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 183

Nutritional Support 186

Alternative Therapies 187

Life-Threatening Bloat 188

15 Issues of the Heart 190

Discovering Irregular Heart Sounds 191

Valvular Heart Disease 194

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) 195

Congenital Heart Disease 198

Early Prevention 199

Natural Health Treatments 201

Food and Exercise Matter 203

16 Kidney Disease 205

What Is Kidney Failure? 206

Why Kidneys Fail 208

Diagnosis and Treatment 211

The Bladder and Urethra 212

Bladder Stones 213

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) 215

Supportive Care 216

17 Emergencies Happen 217

When Is Serious? 218

Environmental Dangers 220

Insect Bites and Stings 223

Cuts, Bruises, and Bleeding 224

Respiratory Distress 225

Your Holistic Emergency Kit 226

18 Communicating with Your Dog 231

The Mind-Body Connection 232

Training Pure and Simple 233

Keeping It Positive 235

Clicker Training 237

Understanding Dogspeak 238

Telepathic Communication 241

19 Getting Out and About 244

Age-Appropriate Exercise 245

Temperature Watch 247

Should You Visit the Dog Park? 249

Dog Sports 251

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) 255

Becoming a Therapy Dog 256

Travel Safety 257

20 Caring for the Senior Dog 260

Physical and Mental Changes 261

Cognitive Disorder 263

Visiting the Veterinarian Regularly 266

Keeping Teeth and Gums Healthy 267

Anesthesia and Cleaning Teeth 269

Nutritional Support and Dental Care 270

Exercise Matters 271

Altering the Diet 273

Appendix A Holistic Resources and Websites of Health Related Organizations 275

Appendix B Additional Resources 278

Index 281