Arthritis Solution for Dogs

About a decade ago, many of us Baby Boomers decided to get a dog. Now we're deep in the middle of middle age, and our dogs are reaching elderly status. That means that arthritis is setting in, and our dogs are in need of extra veterinary attention.

And, since many Boomers have a history of experimenting with various herbs, it's an easy leap to searching for alternative therapies.

Dr. Shawn Messonier's new book, The Arthritis Solution for Dogs, gives you a complete and balanced look at conventional and alternative therapies. This is truly a sensible book. Dr. Messonier explains all the different types of degenerative joint diseases, then looks at the pros and cons of each type of therapy.

He covers everything from drugs like Rimadyl and Etogesic to acupuncture, electrical stimulation for pain, and supplements.

Where this book really shines, though, is in its discussions of the many causes of lameness in dogs. These range from Wobbler's Syndrome (which only affects certain breeds), to lupus, thyroid disease and vaccine-induced arthritis. There are a whole lot of different diseases which fall into the category of degenerative joint disease, and this book will help you and your veterinarian unravel them, and pinpoint the cause.

Once you know the cause, you can figure out the best treatment.One strength of this book is the discussion of supplements. He talks about the pros and cons of herbs, glucosamine products, and homeopathic remedies. There's a good discussion of food, including raw diets. Every treatment imaginable merits attention.

There are a couple of minor problems with the book, including the discussion of Rimadyl. Messonier talks about the problems some dogs have had with NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and Rimadyl in particular. But he neglects to mention that Rimadyl has killed a number of dogs. In the same section, Etogesic is spelled wrong, but hey, we know what he's talking about.

Overall, this is a terrific book which will satisfy your need for information, information, and more information. It explains the problems in great detail, and provides the whole palette of solutions for you to choose from.

-- Ross Becker

The Arthritis Solution for Dogs
by Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M., M.S.
PrimaPets/Prima Publishing, 2000
224 pages, softcover
ISBN 0-7615-2622-6

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