Pets on the Couch
Neurotic Dogs, Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds, and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry
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4.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
The “fur-and-feathers Oliver Sacks” (New York Times), pioneering veterinarian Nicholas Dodman recounts his “riveting stories” (Judith L. Rapoport, MD, author of The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing) of treating animals with all-too-human problems in this “fascinating read for anyone who wants to know how the animal mind works” (Stanley Coren, author of The Intelligence of Dogs).
Internationally renowned veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Dodman breaks new ground with the practice of One Medicine, the profound recognition that humans’ and other animals’ minds and emotions work in similar ways.
Racehorses with Tourette’s Syndrome, spinning dogs with epilepsy, cats with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, feather-plucking parrots with anxiety, and a diffident Bull Terrier with autism—these astonishing cases were all helped by One Medicine. Traditional treatments did not cure the behaviors because they treated the symptoms as disorders of the body, rather than problems of the mind. “This book itself is powerful medicine,” writes Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus. “Compelling…Dodman injects empathy into a world where sympathy previously reigned,” praised Publishers Weekly.
“With much charm and compassion” (Susan Richards, author of Chosen by a Horse), Pets on the Couch raises our understanding of our pets’ complex interior lives and mental abilities, leading to a greater appreciation of them and the bonds we share.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Veterinary behaviorist Dodman (The Dog Who Loved Too Much), founder of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University, constructs a compelling and succinct case for "one medicine," a revolutionary approach to veterinary care based on the idea that animals and humans have a similar biology and can mutually benefit from medical discoveries among all types of species. The discussion presented is easily digestible even for those unfamiliar with medical jargon and incorporates all types of perspectives on the subject to keep the material light and interesting. The science of genetic testing is mixed in with stories of concerned pet owners. Logical, well-explained links are created between the psychiatry in animals and humans. Dodman overstates his case and the narrative gets repetitive, but the passion that Dodman puts into his work shines through these shortcomings. Filled with heartfelt case studies of autistic dogs, cats with Alzheimer's disease, and horses with Tourette syndrome, among others, Dodman injects empathy into a world where sympathy previously reigned.
