The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats

by Gary Richter

As a holistic veterinarian and scientist, Dr. Gary Richter helps dog and cat owners to navigate the thicket of treatment options and separate the fact from the fiction. He wants us to use what actually works, not just what Western science or alternative medicine say “should” work. This multifaceted approach to health is known as integrative medicine.

Dr. Richter examines traditional medicine from many cultures alongside modern medical techniques, describing the best of complementary care and the best of conventional veterinary medicine. Every treatment he recommends has the backing of scientific research or years of successful outcomes in his clinical practice. After explaining the treatment, he offers specific recommendations for an integrative approach to common diseases, including allergies, skin conditions, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

A holistic approach to health includes nutrition, as it sets up the foundation for your pet’s health. Dr. Richter cuts through the hype in the pet-food world and explains how to choose the best commercial foods and supplements, and even includes both raw and cooked dog- and cat-food recipes for general diet as well as to treat specific needs. He also explains how we can use the right foods and supplements to “hack” the body’s processes, including the immune system.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Health, Dogs

432 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2017

About the author

Dr. Richter is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and certified veterinary chiropractor. As owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital,
Dr. Richter understands the benefits of both conventional and holistic treatment methods. His professional goal is to provide a center where pets can receive effective holistic therapies in conjunction with the treatment and care from their general practice veterinarian. He also places great emphasis on the well-being of the pet owner, knowing that a sick pet can cause great strain and strong emotions. He instills this understanding in his staff and works to ensure that both pet and owner are treated with the utmost care and respect.

In 2007 and 2008, Dr. Richter and his Montclair Veterinary Hospital team received awards from the community, including Best Veterinarian in the East Bay from Oakland Magazine, East Bay Express and KRON 4 TV.

Dr. Richter’s professional interests are in emergency, general practice, alternative care medicine and wildlife rescue. Dr. Richter volunteers his time on the Board of Directors for the Alameda County Veterinary Medical Association and is currently serving as president. He is also the California Veterinary Medical Association’s Alameda county representative regarding animal disaster planning.

Dr. Gary Richter is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelors of Science, a Masters of Science in Veterinary Medical Science and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating with honors, Dr. Richter moved to the Bay Area in 1998. His expertise and experience includes time as a full-time emergency medicine clinician in Berkeley at Pet Emergency Treatment Service and as a general practitioner at Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital. Dr. Richter has been the owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital since 2002.
Dr. Richter enjoys outdoor activities, traveling and vegetarian cooking. He loves to spend time with his family which includes Lee, Abbey, Charlie, Leo the dog, and Frieda the cat.

Reviews

[Elena Druță]

Nu știu exact pentru cine e scrisă cartea - pentru proprietar sau pentru medic, dar nu am fost pe aceeași lungime de undă cu ce are de zis autorul, așa că am abandonat lectura.

[Daylynn Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a general overview of pet health care, including holistic treatments. I made a connection that some diseases, adrenal, thyroid...have a water/salt balance connection & it seems this could be said for humans as well. Not many recipes in it & they seem daunting. Nice change of pace for me to read something like this. Published in 2017. Will definitely pass this along to friends & co-workers. We love our pets!!! Oh, no herbs or holistic meds for FLEAS in case you're wondering.

[Caio Malufe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy we came across this book because we shifted the way we think of eating and nurturing Nina, our golden retriever, and all of our lives here changed - she’s never been healthier and we’ve all have never been more satisfied with her food!

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book if you want to use nutrition and integrative health practices to optimize your pets health and prevent or treat disease and problems. These are the same holistic health principles that I study for humans applied to pets. Just like I highly recommend people seriously evaluate what they put in their own bodies (since their food is either healing or harming them) pet owners should wisely choose how to feed and treat their animals.

This doctor of veterinary medicine with an impressive background following scientific research and a vast clinical experience gives details on how to make your own pet food or choose the best commercial products and supplements. Includes specific recommendations on treating common diseases, allergies, skin conditions, obesity, heart disease, and cancer.

[Cheri Flake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty dense. I skipped the parts about particular illnesses because my dog is healthy. At least I hope she is...she won't eat a damn thing she is sooooooooo picky and it's been going on since she was a pup, so I grabbed this book mostly for the nutrient info and the recipes for homemade dog food. I know, I know...but she will only eat the same meal two days in a row before she goes all Ghandi on me...Am I a sucker or what?

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pets are animals. Humans are animals. Western medicine is part of integrative medicine. Eastern medicine is part of integrative medicine. I only read the first part of this book, which focused on explaining the parts of integrative medicine often missing in modern veterinary (and human) care, especially nutrition and holistic interventions. However, I am sure that the more detailed sections about specific afflictions would be a valuable reference to any pet owner wishing to improve their furry family member's health and quality of life.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Richter has seen all my animals through their entire journeys with me for nearly 2 decades. I trust him implicitly and as a holistic vet he works alongside our "traditional" vet to give my animals the best chance at their best health, and this book is a great reference for quick things that dont require a visit to his clinic.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was really interesting. His explanations of nutrition helped me understand both the dogs and me. My biggest reason for reading this is that I want to feed my dogs better food. I am trying some of the recipes. So far they at least are enjoying eating real food.

[Pat Lokis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Missi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a pet owner who already uses holistic treatments, this didn't offer a whole lot for me. Very much geared to someone who is just beginning the journey.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how informative this was; it's good to look back into for future rereads just in case if you are raising a pet and want to know the best ways to keep them healthy.

[Ashley-Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY IMFORMATIVE AND LOTS OF DETAILS

[Mia Davis]

I liked the way the information in the book was presented. The health and well-being of my dog is important to me. I'm thinking about spending more time walking him outdoors and I'm going to adjust his diet a little bit. I know a cool place Pet Prescription Without Vet where you can find various grooming, washing, medicines and food products for your pet

[Chiara Risi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that reading a book offers a window into the author's soul. Through "Longevity for Dogs" and "The Ultimate Pet Health Guide" by Dr. Gary Richter I felt his genuine commitment to providing us with the knowledge and tools to care for our beloved dogs in the most thoughtful way.

Dr. Richter embodies a quality I deeply value: the ability to "go beyond." This means not settling for standard answers but seeking the most effective solutions, even if they lie outside conventional paths. Indeed, these books introduced me to the enlightening world of integrative medicine, where the traditional divide between Western and alternative treatments dissolves. It's not about choosing one over the other, but about selecting the best from both conventional and holistic approaches to make better, more tailored decisions for each unique situation. As Dr. Richter emphasizes, the goal is not to exclude, but to combine the strengths of both to achieve the best outcomes. This approach spans a variety of topics, such as nutrition, disease prevention, treatment options, and longevity, offering insights that bridge traditional veterinary practices with alternative therapies.

For anyone passionate about their dog's well-being, these books are invaluable resources. And, indirectly, I think they didn't just help me understand canine health better - they also gave me some great insights for my own future well-being.

[Cathi Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting! Am applying it to my dogs.