Jan Allegretti - The Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions

Copyright 2003 by Jan Allegretti and Katy Sommers, D.V.M. All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Celestial Arts, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.tenspeed.com

Celestial Arts and the Celestial Arts colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
The dogs, , all found loving homes with people at Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available from the publisher

Trade Paperback ISBN: 9781587611445
eBooks ISBN: 9780307809483

Cover and text design by Toni Tajima
Text production by Greene Design
Cover photograph by Birgit Utech/Photonica
Illustrations by Paula Gray

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the complete holistic dog book is not intended as a substitute for professional veterinary care. Every effort has been made to meet and describe the highest standards of holistic health care. Even so, be aware that any application of the information contained herein is at the readers discretion. The methods and suggestions presented here are used by the authors in the care of their own animals. And while many conditions are amenable to home care, certain situations warrant veterinary attention. We recommend that you as your dogs guardian seek as much information as possible to assist you in making an informed decision on a proper course of treatment. If you have any concerns about your companions health or safety, please obtain a veterinary examination before attempting home treatment.

This book is the result of a fusion of vision and energy from many people and many different experiences.

Hal Zina Bennett, agent, mentor, treasured friend Thank you for bringing me this project, and for being a solid rock of integrity, wisdom, and gentleness.

Katy Sommers Thank you for agreeing to join me in this venture, for your commitment to excellence, and your understanding of who the animals really are.

Veronica Randall, our editor at Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press Your enthusiasm for the material, your boundless energy and generosity, and the joy and talent you bring to your work made the process flow through the challenges as well as through the laughter.

The Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press design team Thank you for understanding our vision and painting it into the pages of our book.

Carol Maza When you introduced me to the world of homeopathy so many years ago, you opened up a world of healing as Id imagined it might be. Thank you for your wise, joyful, and generous teaching.

Lynda McClure You saw the obvious when I didnt. Thank you for suggesting I formalize the work Id been doing for so many years.

Bec Kageyama, Dieuwke Pebesma, Lyn Hart, Gale Carcerino, Tish Solomon, Lynn Barclay, Carol LaBranche, and many other wise and beautiful friends Your loving support and your unfailing belief in my abilities sustain and inspire me.

My mother, Grace Dorolek Allegretti What a blessing that you always made sure there was a dog in our family, with full access to share sleeping space with any and all of the rest of us. For that good start, and for the times youve cheered me on, thanks, Mom.

The many students and clients and their well-loved dogs Thank you for sharing the loving, the healing, and the learning.

And most of all, Savannah, Tashina, Ginger, Midge, and Fawn Thank you for sharing your beauty, your wisdom, your heart, and your spirit.

My deepest thanks go to the many veterinarians who inspired me to examine a different path within the practice of medicine. Like a sponge, I have soaked up so many ideas and philosophies from countless colleagues at conferences, dinner tables, and walks in the woods. I am especially grateful to Dr. Michael Fox, Dr. Shelly Altman, and Dr. Grace Lui, my earliest inspirations, and Dr. John Limehouse, Dr. Nancy Scanlon, Dr. Ihor Basko and Dr. Kerry Ridgway, all of whom warmly welcomed me into their own practices, offering vision and guidance. I am thankful to the faculty and staff of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society for opening another door and teaching me a bit of the magic that lies beyond. Dr. Allen Schoen, Dr. Susan Wynn, and many others have done so much to champion the holistic approach to veterinary medicine. Without their important work this book could not have been conceived.

Thank you to our agent, Hal Bennett, for the opportunity for this book and the support during the writing, and to Jan Allegretti, for presenting the vision and allowing the metamorphosis. To Veronica Randall, our canine-loving editor, who had the difficult task of taking the manuscript to completion, to Paula Gray, whose animal artwork never fails to make me smile, and to Toni Tajima and Brad Greene, who provided the design thank you all.

Friends and family were a huge support during the writing of this book. Heart-felt thanks to Desa Belyea for her steadfast feedback and superb guidance and to Kathy Shearn for her enthusiasm and great dog-walks. I am especially grateful to the wonderful doctors and staff at Mendocino Animal Hospital my other family at my home away from home. Their tireless work caring for the animals in our community allowed me precious time to write. Tessa and Silvie my canine family, provided unwavering support, companionship, and unconditional love during the writing of this book, as you might expect.

My deepest gratitude goes to Lisa Mammina, who put her own projects aside to keep all home fires burning, giving, as always, with an attentive heart. And to my mother, Dottie Harkness, who, in my earliest memories and to this day, shares her great love of animals and nature with me, and who encouraged me throughout life to follow my dreams.

Those of us who love dogs share a similar questto care for them well, and offer them the best quality of life we can manage. But whether were looking for the best medicine to give them when theyre sick, or adjusting their role as members of the family, at the root of it all is our understanding of who dogs really arebody, mind, and soul. Sometimes it seems there are few clear-cut answers. But then, whats most important is knowing which questions to ask.

Fortunately I never find myself lacking for questions, thanks to the continued offerings of the animals in my lifeparticularly Savannah. Shes a gracious, elegant Great Dane, extremely sensitive and as kind as any creature Ive known. Savannahs life hasnt been easy. After two-and-a-half years as a breeder in a puppy mill, she was rescued, only to be left three years later at the local pound. Thats where we met. I could see her ribs under her rough, dull coat, and her face had a dark and worried expression. But I loved her gentleness and her serenity. Most of all I loved the way it felt to be in her company.

One afternoon not long after she came home with me, Savannah was sound asleep on the couch when suddenly she began to moan. It was a quiet sound at first, but it had an unmistakable tone of sadness. As she continued to sleep the sound became louder, and more mournful. Soon, without ever opening her eyes, she was up on her elbows, nose pointed to the sky, howling as though her heart would break.

I walked over to where she lay, spoke quietly and put my hands on her. Savannah opened her eyes and looked at me with what seemed like surprise, and maybe a little embarrassment, then let her head fall back onto the armrest. As I continued to talk to her, wondering what kind of dream would make her cry out like that, she responded with expressive sounds that, although there were no words, had the same intonation Id expect to hear if she was telling me all about her nightmare.