Medicine Dog: The Miraculous Cure That Healed My Best Friend and Saved My Life

by Júlia Szabó

Julia Szabo was a nationally-recognized pet reporter when her dog Sam collapsed from osteoarthritis. Diligently researching how to restore his quality of life, she discovered Vet-Stem, a service that provides cutting-edge regeneration therapy for pets, using stem cells harvested from animals' own tissue. Just hours after receiving IV and intra-joint injections, Sam began aging backward--which left Julia wondering why this simple, effective treatment was not available for humans.Julia suffered from chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and after witnessing Sam's astonishing recovery, she set out on a curious quest: to be treated like a dog by a doctor as competent as her vet! After a four-year wait, Julia became the first American to be successfully cured of a perirectal fistula with stem cells derived from her own fat. With this amazing true story of how a pack of shelter dogs she rescued from death row came to save her life, Julia hopes to inspire and inform readers about exciting healthcare options available to them and their cherished animal companions.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Health, Dogs, Memoir, Science

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2014

Reviews

[Nanci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the use of stem cells and quite a it about medicine too. It sure seems as if stem cells are the wave of the future. Hopefully I’ll be able to have them for my arthritic knees instead of having to suffer through knee replacements someday.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a woman who rescues dogs and provides love and housing for them. One of her dogs becomes ill with arthritis in her back hips. When she takes the dog to her veterinarian, Julia learns about a procedure called 'stem cell' replacement. Agreeing to allow the vet to perform this procedure on her dog raised her awareness that caused her to learn more about it for herself. The dog was healed and walked without anymore pain. Julia learned that it is illegal for humans to have this procedure in America. She then decides to search out an international doctor who might provide such a procedure to cure her own illness.

Julia provides a great deal of good information for healthy living. I liked this part.

[Pat Jb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it hard to get into this book until the middle of book when I couldn't put it down. I have owned many dogs and find it fascinating that so many animals(and people as noted in the book) have been treated and cured of ailments with the use of their own cells. I didn't not know anything about ASC but will continue researching as to why adult stem cell treatment is used in other countries but not here, especially since it has been proven successful in the treatment of dogs and horses in the US. I also thought at times I was reading a soap opera when the author wrote about her relationships. Some I thought added value to the context but others not.

[Ulla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The parts about stem cell replacement therapy for dogs and people are very interesting, but I don't understand why we have to hear most of this woman's life story, or at least about 20 years of it, where she saves a bunch of dogs and submits herself to a ridiculously bad, emotionally abusive, looong marriage that she just can't seem to shake, only to have the greatest sex of her life with someone she lets go, and then has yet another painfully bad relationship. Who cares? I guess she might be a celebrity and I'm clueless. In any case, what really annoys me here is her. She comes across as preachy and whiny. My advice is to skip this book.

[Kathleen Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a part of the Goodreads First Reads program.

This was a fascinating book about how pets can get people through a lot of tough situations. Medicine Dog looks at how dogs can be the ultimate healers- from providing companionship in tough times and from providing information on promising new medical treatments. Overall, the book was a good read, although there were times where it became a bit long.

[Cathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather wacky book by an eccentric dog fanatic, who underwent stem cell therapy to cure a long-experienced health problem. I chose the book because of the title, and because I love dogs. I finished the book out of curiosity, and to make notes about diet options to keep my dogs healthy.
Really, there is a little too much detail about Julia's health and emotional problems to make this an enjoyable book, but it is interesting, and she has guts!

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Memoir of a woman struggling with a chronic illness and her search for treatment. The book could have been 75% shorter and still told the story. Far too much detail on the personal medical descriptions. I felt that almost all of her life choices were questionable and certainly not ones that I would have made. Still, the basic premise of the status of stem cell research in the US is an interesting topic. This story just does not seem to provide a good forum for that discussion.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing reading. I have had many dogs and have worked in the medical field for over 28 years and had no idea these options were available to dogs and people. I hope the word will spread and stem cell treatment could become an affordable procedure for those with many chronic illnesses. On the downside, I felt there was TMI about the authors personal relationship struggles.

[Roberta Blythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book! I am nearly done reading it (90% complete).

I am learning so much about medical advances for not only our pets, but family and friends too! Can't wait to share some of the information with those who would truly benefit!


Highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in healing for themselves or their pet.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. If you suffer from IBD and are also a dog lover. It's a must read. If you are neither yet are interested in stem cell therapy, I would still recommend.

[Melissa]

Absolutely did not like this book. Already wasted time reading it, not going to waste more trying to explain why.

[Maria McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid book!