Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets

by Shawn Messonnier

Book Overview

Those soulful eyes that look up at you at the end of a rough day. The soft paws that knead into your lap and tell you that you are "theirs". Much more than a companion, more beloved than our nearest and dearest human family. Our pets. Owners spend untold amounts of money on food, toys, even Christmas presents for their pets. And they don't stint when it comes to their pet's health. Dr Shawn Messonnier has been a veterinarian for more than fifteen...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765320894
• ISBN13: 9780765320896
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

A must read for every pet owner

The book is a fascinating collection of often heartwarming stories of cats and dogs who were either given a poor prognosis, a death sentence or a completely wrong diagnosis, and whose owners were coming to Dr. Messonier in hopes of finding a cure or at the very least a way to help their pet live a longer life. It also offers a thorough look at what truly integrative medical, or in this case, veterinary, care really means. An integrative approach to veterinary care uses both conventional treatments, commonly thought of as Western medicine, and natural, alternative and holistic treatments ranging from supplements to herbs to acupuncture. By taking a truly holistic approach, Dr. Messonier treats the patient, not the disease, and uses the best of all available treatment options to achieve optimal healing for each individual patient. This includes looking at the pet's environment and potential exposure to toxins, reducing vaccinations from the old paradigm of annual "shots" to only those required by law or no vaccinations at all, to eliminating by-products and low quality ingredients from the pet's diet. While each story shared in this book is about the individual pet and the condition the pet's owner sought help with, there are definite commonalities in all the cases, and it's these commonalities that will give the reader a thorough understanding of what an integrative approach to health is truly all about. In addition, the book is a testament to how much we love our pets and that most of us will go to great lenghts to find ways to keep these wonderful creatures happy and healthy by giving them the best possible care. I think this book should be on every pet owner's book shelf as not only a reference book, but also as a reminder that sometimes, hope is the best medicine. Ingrid King, Author Buckley's Story

Inspiring, uplifting and thought-provoking...

As a strong advocate for holistic and natural health care for pets, I was incredibly moved and enlightened by "Unexpected Miracles". It isn't just about the fascinating stories..."Unexpected Miracles" is full of vital information that you can apply at home with your own furry friends. Because I work in the field talking to animal-lovers, I hear a lot of stories where the vet and then the family gave up hope on their animal because traditional medicine was not able to heal. There is ALWAYS hope, and unexpected miracles gives you example after example of why you should NEVER give up. This book has inspired me to share this hope with others. If you are an animal lover, "Unexpected Miracles" is a must-read...it will change the way you look at your family, your animals, and your life. Kudos to Dr. Shawn Messonnier for sharing his wisdom. Stacey Turis, Founder [...] Educating Pet Owners About The Benefits of Natural and Holistic Health

Uplifting For Pet Owners

As pet owners who have been told that nothing could be done for a beloved dog who was dying, we found "Unexpected Miracles" to be an uplifting and educational book on the virtues of holistic medicine for pets and the value of not giving up. Written by a vet, the book presents a series of vignettes detailing the stories of pet owners and their pets as they struggled with various illnesses ranging from mundane allergy issues to end-of-life struggles. The book also details the author's journey from a near-skeptic to full blown believer in holistic medicine for pets. Over and over, the message is "don't give up" and "try a different type of treatment" as the stories unfold. Realistically, not all the stories have storybook endings--indeed, pets do die, and sometimes there is nothing medically to be done. More often than one would realize, however, pets do make miraculous recoveries using alternative approaches when traditional vets have given up. Those stories provide hope for all of us who will face these issues with our pets multiple times over our lifetime, and it is gratifying to know that there is someone like Dr. Shawn who cares enough to try anything for pet owners who are looking for that miracle. While the book is close to 300 pages, it is an easy and quick read. Highly recommended.

My latest and most important book

This is my latest book, and truthfully probably the most important book I've written. The premise is simple:What would you do if your pet was given 24 hours to live? You have only 2 choices. Choice 1 is to accept the horrible diagnosis and prognosis and prepare for your pet's death. Unfortunately this choice is the one chosen by most pet owners. Choice 2 is to say NO and refuse to accept the diagnosis and prognosis, opting instead to find someone who can offer your pet some hope. Choice 2 is the choice made by my pet owning clients, people who love their pets so much they refuse to accept defeat. These owners know that there must be a better alternative than death, and will do anything to find a way to fight against all odds to give their pets some chance at life. Using their pets' own natural healing abilities, these owners utilize therapies not offered by conventional medicine but instead choose holistic therapies that offer true healing. In Unexpected Miracles, I share with you just a few of the stories of these wonderful clients and their pets. Choosing hope when all seems hopeless, you will find their stories heartwarming, touching, and inspirational. I hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you!