Lots of good information in this book including specific homeopathic and herbal treatment options. The only reason I don't give it five stars is I don't agree with feeding pets grains and legumes. What I found was after a while grains such as brown rice and legumes such as pinto beans were simply coming out undigested. After trying it his way I found my dogs were much healthier and more energetic once I got rid of the grains. Healthier meaning no health concerns and also no fleas (which is a sign of ill health).

Since digestion and the actual use of food to strengthen the body is the best way to prevent disease, I was disappointed in his menu plans. On the other hand, his homeopathic and herbal suggestions are quite good.

I still keep it as a reference book but look up the same problems in Dr. Marty Goldstein's "The Nature of Animal Healing" book AND "The Goldstein's Wellness & Longevity Program" for comparison.

I use this book on a weekly basis. Great resource for pet care.

Their is a new edition which I intend to pick up but after Riley giving me an O/D scare, I think our four-legged household is going all natural.

there's some wacko advice in here - others have mentioned the diet, i will mention the statement that dogs don't really need bathing. as in, ever. well, if you're a real stickler and you MUST bathe your dog, once a month in castile soap is fine. yeah, this might be ok if you're not such a stickler for films of filth on all of your walls and furniture, or if your dog doesn't live indoors with you, but for the rest of us, who don't want dog-smelling grime in our living space, we bathe. another gem: cats don't need water.

still, it does contain good insights which you can use at will. no book is 100%

i keep this on my shelf, right next to the one based in traditional veterinary knowledge. when issues arise, i reference both and make up my own mind on a case-by-case basis.

it's also good to know that a responsible pet owner doesn't rush out to the vet for every little thing, and you can try more natural remedies at home for most things. i appreciate this, after experiencing veterinary care that was basically "let's try this and wait," just like the holistic methods in this book. only difference: the natural remedies cost a fraction of the vet's advice, and involve less drugs. you can always go that route if a holistic approach doesn't work.

Very good book to have as a reference to help to take care of our furry family members.

Stopped reading when I got to the point that they feel it is a good idea for dogs to be vegetarians and cats to cut back on meat. This is ridiculous as both species are carnivores, cats are obligate carnivores. These ideas were backed up by the typical Netflix special inaccurate statisticis and scare tactics. They use scare tactics to try to show how evil meat is (no cancerous animals do no go into the food chain). With inaccuare info like this so early into the book I am not trusting anything they say.

This is primarily a reference and recipe book, for creating nutritionally balanced homemade food for dogs and cats. I find it pretty repetitive, but it is a good starting point for anyone interested in formulating their own pet food. It includes recipes for all stages of life. We have found greatly increased health for our dogs after switching from commercial kibble.

There is some really, really valuable information in this book. I appreciate the holistic approach to dog care in terms of not only physical health, but emotional and mental health as well. Many people discount the feelings of animals, but dogs are man's best friend and we would not feel such connections to them if they did not have the ability to at least reflect back to us some of our own feelings. It is a grave disservice to pets, particularly dogs I believe, to treat them as though their emotional or mental environment does not have an impact.

Some of the chapters are more informative then others. I especially liked the chapter about what is really in dog food. Although I already knew most of the information from my own research, it is validating to see more and more literature on the gross atrocity that is accepted as pet food today. The big pet food industry has perpetrated against unknowing consumers and pets for far too long. We need more vets to reject the all-mighty dollar and promote true and species appropriate feeding for our animals.

The allergy section is also a very good portion of the book. I think, as our pets are poisoned more and more by pet food and chemicals, allergies are becoming more epidemic than ever. I see more and more pets surrendered due to poor health and allergies are often part of that.

Finally, the reference section is a very useful tool. Of course, it does not replace a vet's opinion or common sense, but a nice section to reference symptoms or minor ailments.

So, why only three stars? This book is grain heavy in the recommended recipes / feedings. Point blank, no dog (or cat), needs grains. Sure, they are a cheap source of protein (inferior), but that does not make it right. He offers vegetarian recipes for pet owners. Get a freaking clue! If you want a vegetarian animals, get one. Dogs and cats ARE NOT VEGETARIANS! Feeding beans to a dog is about one of the stupidest things I have ever heard.

Come on Dr. Pitcairn! You had such a wonderful thing going, and you ruined it by not insisting on a holistic species appropriate diet. Your book is a landmark in pet care - ditch the grains and other non-carnivorous meal plans.

His first edition was my first exposure to alternative veterinary medicine. Although I do not agree with him on some points of nutrition, he is a patriarch of this field has done much to advance the healthcare of options of domesticated animals world wide.

This book has lots of healthy, natural recipes for dogs and cats. My personal experience with using the book came when one of my dogs became diabetic. She was terrified of needles, so I knew there was no way I could put her through daily insulin shots. I found this book and exclusively used the recipes and extended my beagle's life by a number of years. That is my experience. Others will have to decide for themselves if they think that natural foods are the way to go. I know that when I went online and looked up the major brands of pet foods, I was appalled at much that I read! Our pets are family members and deserve the best food available. I believe that natural food is the way to go! This book offers a variety of quality recipes to provide your pet with the best possible natural diet!

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.

If I had to recommend any book out of the dozens and dozens I've read, this is the one I would recommend as the "ONE" that pet owners should have. Sort of like if you could only have one cookbook, it would be "The Joy of Cooking," although I have my reservations about the latest edition.