Not long ago, a couple came into the Beaver Animal Clinic in Beaver to see Dr. Doug Knueven, a veterinarian and holistic medicine practitioner. They came from the middle of the state with their dying pet for a last-ditch effort at alternative treatment. Sadly, Dr. Knueven could do nothing more for the animal.

"Here I am doing alternative medicine, and I'm the final alternative for that dog," he said.

When the woman asked him: "Why didn't anyone tell us there were other treatments available?" Dr. Knueven, one of a handful of holistic vets in the area, didn't have an answer. But he hopes his new book, "The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog" (TFH Publications, $21.95), will raise awareness that there are other options for people with sick pets when Western medicine doesn't do the trick.

While the Ohio State University graduate also practices Western medicine in his clinic, he sees holistic treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, nutrition and herbal supplements as additional tools for treating sick and injured animals. "It's really kind of an integrative approach, using holistic and Western medicine on equal terms."

These days, holistic medicine accounts for about two-thirds of his work. For the first few years, he practiced only conventional veterinary medicine -- until he found something lacking.

"Over time, things didn't go the way they were supposed to go. You do all this book learning in school, and you think it's black and white. Then you find out it's shades of gray.

"Once I learned about acupuncture, I found another whole world of treatments that were available. The more you learn, the more you realize what you don't know," he says.

Dr. Knueven became certified in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and in chiropractic through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

"I got into it because I think the whole Western approach is flawed," he said. "It just looks at the problem that is in your face right now, that the animal is having. ... They don't really address the overall health of the pet. Western medicine is more disease care than health care."

While he never presents these alternative therapies as cure-alls, he says that sometimes they just make sense. He contends that pet owners, by using some simple holistic principles such as limiting vaccines and paying closer attention to nutrition, can keep pets from developing many health problems.

"I think poor nutrition is responsible for a majority of the chronic disease we see in animals, and [too many] vaccines are a close second."

Dr. Knueven endorses a raw diet for dogs: raw meat, bones, fruits, vegetables and organ meats. In the veterinary community, raw diets are controversial.

"The problem is the conventional vet doesn't see what they are feeding [commercial dog foods] as being poor nutrition. They see it as scientifically proven. They do see the dangers of raw food as far as having parasites and bacteria, but then they ignore the studies that show there is bacteria in conventional dog foods."

He links allergies and other problems in dogs to diets of commercial foods high in grains. Dogs are carnivores and not meant to digest grains, he said. He has seen many skin conditions that defied conventional treatment resolve with a simple change of diet, including his own dog, Louie, whose treatment and recovery is profiled in the book.

He concedes that feeding a raw diet is not for everyone; it requires common-sense food safety precautions and dedication by the pet owner. In his book, he goes over the basics and discusses food supplements, like fish oil, that can be helpful even if pet owners opt for commercial kibble.

Dr. Knueven says people should educate themselves about the commercial foods they feed their dogs. The book shows how to find a more nutritious and contaminant-free dog chow and also discusses adding variety to a pet's diet as another way to ward off health problems.

When it comes to vaccines, he's of the unwavering opinion that they are given too often, sometimes causing long-term effects that may not be immediately apparent. Certain cancers have been linked to vaccines, and it is thought some autoimmune problems and perhaps seizure disorders are also triggered by boosters. He does vaccinate at his practice, although on a limited basis, using the three-year protocols taught by most major veterinary schools. The protocols are included in his book and on his Web site, (www.beaveranimalclinic.com).

"[The] studies have been out for a long time showing that vaccines are good for longer than a year. There are still some veterinarians who vaccinate pets unnecessarily," he says.

"When you counsel an owner, you should give them all the possible options for the condition being treated. Yet many conventional vets totally ignore alternative therapies. I want to get the word out that these things are out there."