EDITORS REVIEW
Kids may read it for the story ( taking a reporter on a tour of a very unusual zoo ) and the imaginary creatures while adults will read the short , short chapters to review what they learned from their favorite dog trainer . In fact , it was so good , my dog tried to eat it ! I was dogsitting and placed the book on the couch when I went to answer the door . When I got back , I had to trade a treat for the book . I guess dragons are a canine delicacy !
Like Denise Fenzi ’ s “ Blogger Dog , Brito !,” “ Dragons ” reinforces the steps in positive reinforcement dog training with a chapter a day for homework-fun . And any kid ( or adult ) can make time to read less than five pages , including illustrations .
What do I love about the book ? The end-of-book summary of dogstuff : treats , targeting , trouble-shooting , cues , and more . What would I change ? It ' s hard to make an excellent book better so my suggestions as a former editor are perhaps only cosmetic . I would title each chapter rather than merely number them . For example , “ Unicorns Love Dandelions ,” “ Leash Train Your Favorite Gryphon ,” and “ Shaping a Sasquatch .” I would also include an index of the various critters and the training tips to help trainers assign chapters and create their curriculum , and to help families later find just what they need to brush up on training their best friend . So all-in-all , a great bargain ! — Skye Anderson , M . S ., CPDT-KA CTDI
STARVE CANCER :
Feed Your Dog ! A Nutrition
Regimen for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer in Dogs
Written by Jo Cowden , Ph . D ., and Connie McMillan , DVM Published by Dogwise Publishing , Wenatchee , Washington , Aug . 18 , 2021 ; 114 pages . Where to purchase : Dogwise , $ 19.95 paperback , e-book , $ 9.95 ; Amazon , $ 16.69 paperback , Kindle , $ 15.86 ; Barnes and Noble , Nook , $ 9.95 ; Walmart , $ 16.85 ; Target , $ 16.69 .
This book was written for and dedicated to an American Eskimo rescue dog named Addie Kara , the companion to co-author Jo Cowden . Addie lived more than a year after being diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoma that had a life expectancy of one or two months with no treatment . Chemotherapy helped with one remission , and Cowden gives credit to Addie ’ s nutrition program in giving her a good quality of life during those treatments . She never lost weight and remained active – until the cancer came back and a second remission did not occur
Cowden , a retired professor of motor development and pediatric adapted physical activity at the University of New Orleans , collaborated with veterinarian Connie McMillan , the medical director at the Veterinary Centers of America ( VCA ) Airline Animal Hospital at Metairie , Louisiana , to write a book that is a nutrition regiment blueprint for pet owners to follow after getting the devastating news their beloved pets have been diagnosed with cancer . The authors explain the book will present a Standard of Nutritional Intervention , provide detailed information on the necessary ingredients , and provide the detailed structure of developing a nutritional regiment . The remaining 12 chapters are as follows :
• An Overview of Cancer in Dogs
• A Nutrition Regimen
• Metabolism of Carbohydrates , Proteins and Fats
• Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Medicinal mushrooms
• Arginine
• Selenium and Food Content
• Glutamine and Food Sources
• Vitamins and Minerals
• Probiotics
• Nutrition Regimen Menus
• Home Care
There is a significant amount of space devoted to the cited works used in the book , as well as a glossary of terms . As Cowden points out , not every pet parent has the in-depth literature searching skills she has developed as a research professor , and she has already done the due diligence in figuring out which books or research studies had scientific documentation to back them up , rather than anecdotal evidence . For example , in Chapter 7 , the book details the purpose of arginine , an amino acid that few of us probably know nothing about . But based on research by the American Cancer Society , dogs who had diets supplemented with arginine and fish oil had longer disease-free intervals , and the growth of tumors decreased , since arginine improves wound healing , inflammation , and immune responses .
The book explains how cancer affects a dog ’ s metabolism that creates imbalances with amino acids , that results in loss of strength and energy that is detrimental to survival . The trick , the authors point out , is feeding the cells with amino acids cancer doesn ’ t want and starving them of the ones the cancer cells need to replicate . And to achieve that goal might require pet owners to make homemade meals for their dogs . But no worries , the authors also provide plenty of meal suggestions .
This book clearly has done its research in creating that blueprint of nutrition intervention for dogs diagnosed with cancer . For owners of those cancer-stricken breeds , such as Golden Retrievers , Boxers , Bernese Mountain Dogs , German Shepherds and Rottweilers , perhaps getting this book before diagnosis would be preventative maintenance . – The editor
60 Building Better Trainers Through Education