The Last Chance Dog

Book excerpt: Yogi, a small, scrappy Jack Russell terrier, has a pain in the neck, and after a month in the hospital, he still can't walk. Charlie, a charismatic rescued racing thoroughbred, has a bad back and can no longer stand the weight of a saddle. Mikey's posttraumatic stress syndrome transforms this wise feline into an anxious fellow who rips out clumps of belly hair. The mysterious tortoise Sheldon T. has disappeared, leaving only questions in his muddy wake, and Angel, an achingly beautiful, otherworldly cockatoo, has strange symptoms that defy every antibiotic known to science. Meet just a few of the compelling, complex characters in The Last Chance Dog, a twenty-first-century All Creatures Great and Small filled with entertaining, instructive, and moving true-life tales from the files of a pioneering holistic veterinarian. Dr. Donna Kelleher recounts her most intriguing cases as she takes us through the intuitive art of diagnosing animals and effecting miraculous cures with safe, natural treatments that succeed where conventional medicine has failed. Holistic medicine is their last chance, and over and over again, Kelleher heals with the gentle powers of acupuncture, animal nutrition, herbal treatments, and chiropractic. Her stories of unforgettable, ailing animals -- and the people who fight to save them -- are truly inspirational as she transforms the animals' health and the lives of those who love them. The Last Chance Dog includes advice on everything from vaccinations and commercial pet foods to step-by-step instructions for simple, safe remedies for a multitude of common conditions, including allergies, digestive problems, urinary tract infections, pain, hot spots, itchy skin, fear, and anxiety.