Shawn Messonnier - The Allergy Solution for Dogs: Natural and Conventional Therapies to Ease Discomfort and Enhance Your Dogs Quality of Life

by Robert J. Silver, D.V.M., M.S.

T HE PAST FIVE years have seen a huge outpouring of interest by pet owners and veterinarians about the practice of holistic veterinary medicine. Just as people have been able to experience the benefits first-hand of holistic and natural approaches to their own health, they naturally want to convey these same benefits to their four-legged family members.

Healthy family interactions play a large role in promoting the health and wellness of all family members (including pets). Dysfunctional family dynamics can likewise promote illness and chronic disease in our pets. To better promote the health of the animal and the family that it lives with, the holistic veterinarian, as part of this holistic process, tries to make a better fit between the animal and its family. This healthier connection will contribute to optimal health and happiness within the family unit.

Holistic veterinarians try to follow the Hippocratic Oath which states: Above All, Do No Harm. Holistic vets try to avoid the unnecessary use of drugs and surgeries if they are not needed to improve the animals health. Vaccinations, for example, although helpful in preventing certain epidemic and epizootic diseases, may not be necessary every year. (Only the rabies vaccine is required by law in every state.) Duration of immunity studies are now being completed which are demonstrating that vaccinations given early in the life of the animal (by 12 weeks of age) may have a protectiveness that lasts for many, many years, if not for the life of the animal.

Another commonly held assumption that holistic veterinarians question includes the wisdom of feeding nothing but commercial dog food for the life of the pet. It has been recognized in recent years that commercial pet foods are overly processed, laden with adulterants, and made from poor quality, raw materials, much of which have been condemned for human consumption. In my own clinical practice of 18 years, I have found no greater healing tool for my patients than to take them off a commercial diet and switch them (slowly and gradually!) to a fresh, wholesome (and in many cases), raw food diet.

This very complete and well-written book by Dr. Shawn Messonnier will provide you with a well-balanced approach to keeping your pets healthy. I agree with his perspective that holistic veterinary health care is an integration of the best of conventional medicine and the best of alternative medicine. Messonnier does not throw the baby out with the bath water in promoting this perspective, rather he promotes a commonsense, integrated, and complementary approach to animal health care.

T HE N ATURAL V ET series by Dr. Shawn Messonnier, will be a valuable addition to the natural health care section of your library, whether you are a pet parent wanting to give your four-legged family member a more natural upbringing or a veterinarian wanting to learn more about these useful and emerging therapies. As a veterinarian, I have found that my clients have appreciated my adding these new natural tools to my practice bag. T HE N ATURAL V ET series will join the many other fine books available at my veterinary clinic.

Robert J. Silver, D.V.M, M.S.