What is *Dog Medicine* by Julie Barton about?

*Dog Medicine* is a memoir detailing Julie Barton’s battle with severe depression in her twenties and how adopting her Golden Retriever, Bunker, became a pivotal force in her recovery. The book explores themes of mental health, the bond between humans and animals, and the transformative power of unconditional love.

Who should read *Dog Medicine* by Julie Barton?

This memoir is ideal for readers interested in mental health journeys, animal therapy, or heartfelt personal stories. It resonates with pet owners, those grappling with depression, and anyone seeking insight into non-traditional healing methods.

Is *Dog Medicine* worth reading?

Yes, praised for its raw honesty and lyrical prose, *Dog Medicine* offers a poignant exploration of resilience. Critics and readers highlight its relatable portrayal of depression and uplifting message about the healing role of pets.

How does Bunker help Julie Barton in *Dog Medicine*?

Bunker’s daily care routine—feeding, walks, play—forces Julie to engage with life, grounding her during depressive episodes. His unwavering companionship provides emotional stability, symbolizing the “medicine” referenced in the title.

What are the main themes in *Dog Medicine*?

Key themes include: - The isolating nature of depression - The redemptive power of human-animal bonds - The slow, nonlinear path to mental health recovery - Familial support and its limitations in treating mental illness

Does *Dog Medicine* discuss medication or therapy?

While Julie tries antidepressants and therapy, the memoir emphasizes Bunker’s role as complementary “medicine.” It critiques traditional mental health interventions’ limitations without dismissing their value.

What is the significance of the title *Dog Medicine*?

The title metaphorically frames Bunker’s presence as a therapeutic remedy. Unlike clinical treatments, his love operates instinctively, healing Julie’s emotional wounds through daily acts of care and connection.

How does *Dog Medicine* portray depression?

Julie describes depression as a “blackness” that paralyzes her physically and emotionally. The memoir vividly captures its suffocating weight, suicidal ideation, and the shame associated with mental illness.

Dog medicine

how my dog saved me from myself

Julie Barton

4.25(4292 Reviews)

Overview of Dog medicine

When severe depression consumed Julie Barton's life, salvation came with four paws. "Dog Medicine" - a New York Times bestseller translated into nine languages - reveals how one golden retriever accomplished what therapy couldn't. Cheryl Strayed calls it "beautiful, soulful, insightful... your next must-read."

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Chapter 1

When a Golden Soul Meets a Broken Heart

In the spring of 1996, Julie Barton collapsed on her New York City apartment floor as a pot of water boiled over on the stove. At just 22, she appeared normal on the outside-a tired young woman with chopped hair and baggy clothes-but inside, she was breaking. That same day, in central Ohio, a golden retriever puppy named Bunker Hill was being born-blind, deaf, and helpless, desperately seeking his mother's warmth. Their paths would soon intersect in what can only be described as cosmic timing. "Dog Medicine" has touched countless readers since its publication, becoming a beacon for those struggling with depression and trauma. Celebrities like Jane Lynch have praised its raw honesty, while mental health professionals recommend it to patients navigating their own healing journeys. The book's cultural impact extends beyond literary circles-it sparked important conversations about sibling abuse, a largely unaddressed form of domestic violence, and highlighted the therapeutic power of the human-animal bond that science continues to validate. What makes this memoir extraordinary isn't just its unflinching look at depression, but how it illuminates the profound ways animals can heal us when human connection falls short.

Chapter 2

The Darkness Descends

Julie's depression didn't materialize suddenly in New York. The seeds were planted in her childhood, where her older brother Clay regularly terrorized her. He chased her down hallways, pinned her down to punch her arms, and once pushed her into a door hinge, leaving her unconscious in a pool of blood. The resulting crescent-moon scar on her temple became "a slow leak that drained me of hope, self-love, and faith." Her parents, though loving, failed to protect her-her father worked long hours as a litigator, while her mother sometimes hid during their fights, believing sibling rivalry was normal. At nine years old, Julie's journal entries revealed her emotional state: "I'm really sad when I'm alone" and "I really feel hurt when my brother hurts me." She'd drawn tearful faces and mentioned bruises. Clay even carved graffiti into her doorjamb: "Loser," "Lesbian," "Whore," and "Everyone Hates You." These words became her internal narrative-what Clay thought about her, she thought about herself. He was older, stronger, smarter; she had no evidence to believe otherwise. Her childhood dogs became her sanctuary. First was Midnight, a cock-a-poo found during a blizzard when Julie was four. "When she curled in my lap, my breathing regulated, my skin relaxed. She made our house feel safe." During Clay's violent attacks, Midnight would hide under her parents' bed, emerging afterward to comfort Julie. Tragically, Midnight died from a broken back, possibly sustained while hiding from one of these violent episodes. Julie remembers seeing her father cry for the first time when Midnight died. Later came Blarney, an Irish setter who looked at Julie "like I was an angel." One day, Julie watched in horror as Blarney was struck by a school bus. That night, she heard Clay crying through the wall and knocked gently three times. After a silence, three knocks came back-a rare moment of connection in their troubled relationship.

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Chapter 3

The Breaking Point

College and New York City brought new wounds. Julie's relationship with her boyfriend Will became "the termite invasion that left the structure condemned." Though their connection began with electric intensity-"like white light, a thunderclap"-it ultimately crumbled in New York, where Julie found herself alone in a tiny apartment, her roommate gone and her relationship in shambles. On April 16, 1996, Julie collapsed on her kitchen floor, her mind filled with suicidal thoughts. She drifted in and out of consciousness, barely able to call her mother, who immediately left Ohio to rescue her. The next day, disoriented by her mother's phone call announcing her imminent arrival, Julie described her consciousness as "coming and went like fainting-here one minute, gone the next." Negative thoughts bombarded her: "You are stupid and weak. You are fat and ugly." She believed she was worthless. In the shower, water on her face felt like "an angel's touch," making her weep uncontrollably as she contemplated ending her life. When her mother arrived, her familiar presence-"light-blue eyes, industrious hands, smell of coffee, bed sheets and perfume"-was the only thing that made sense. Julie was too weak to return her hug and could only say she needed to lie down. While she slept, her mother began packing and cleaning her apartment. Despite her "rubber-band legs," Julie managed to get to her office in SoHo to quit her job, bursting into hysterical sobs as she explained, "Something's happened. I need to leave. I'm leaving New York." The journey home with her mother was silent and heavy with unspoken fears.

Chapter 4

Return to the Nest

Arriving at her childhood home felt disorienting-the familiar swooping motion of her mother's car into the garage, the screen door slapping shut triggering memories of "Everyone hates you" echoing in her mind. Her cocker spaniel Cinder greeted her, tail wagging frantically, providing momentary comfort as Julie held the dog against her, feeling its heartbeat pull her slightly from the darkness. Her parents' reaction revealed their love but also their helplessness. Her mother avoided eye contact, busying herself with dinner preparation and television, afraid to say the wrong thing. When her father arrived home, he broke routine and immediately embraced her, asking "How ya doin'?" His attention unlocked her tears. As she wept, he repeated "It's going to be okay" while her mother held her hand. When they asked what happened, Julie could only say, "I just hate being." She couldn't admit she'd fantasized about stepping in front of traffic or swallowing pills. In the following days, Julie slept past noon while her mother quietly offered food as she watched television. Despite her mother's patience after rescuing her from her "urban demise," Julie threw a pillow at her face when asked about her plans, telling her to "just fucking go." Afterward, guilt, relief, and despair swirled together, pulling her back into black sleep. She wished to sleep eternally. After three weeks of complete darkness-endless days on the couch sleeping, staring at cushions, and hoping to die-her father came home early one afternoon. Despite her protests that she couldn't move, he picked her up and carried her outside. "We're just going for a little walk," he said gently, supporting her down their driveway. The fresh air lifted the darkness slightly as she confessed, "I don't know what's wrong with me, Dad." He assured her she was "still beautiful and smart and strong."

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Chapter 5

Medicine Comes in Many Forms

Julie's parents arranged for her to see a psychiatrist-an MD recommended by her father's colleague. Despite her cynicism about therapy, she went to the sterile office building where Dr. Miller, dressed "like someone's mom," asked why her parents were concerned. Though Julie tried to maintain a steely exterior, she broke down crying and confessed everything-about Clay, her distant parents, losing her boyfriend, leaving her job, and hating herself. When the doctor diagnosed her with "Major Depression-MD-First Episode," Julie felt both validated and ashamed. She'd never known anyone diagnosed with depression, but she immediately added this new label to her collection: "Ugly, Weird, Stupid, Fat, Unlikable, and now Depressed." Initially, Julie refused to take the Zoloft Dr. Miller prescribed-the idea of medication altering her brain seemed ludicrous. But as she drove home, she felt a slight shift realizing others must have felt this darkness too. Her father researched SSRIs extensively and printed information for her to read. Despite her resistance, part of her longed for genuine happiness. After reading about side effects and symptoms that matched her experience-prolonged sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness-she finally surrendered. "Okay," she told her waiting parents. "Why the fuck not? It's just my brain." After taking Zoloft for seven days with no noticeable change, mornings remained her hardest struggle. Meanwhile, her mother helped search for puppies in the classifieds while Julie studied breed guides, focusing on golden retrievers for their trainability and loyalty. She prepared by buying training books, a crate, and supplies-welcome distractions from her depression. On June 26, 1996, Julie and her mother drove to a countryside farm where puppies roamed freely. While her mother chatted with the breeder, one puppy approached Julie, sat at her feet, and looked up with expressive brown eyes. In that moment, she felt chosen rather than having to choose-a surge of confidence she hadn't felt in months. "This one," she declared, holding him as he calmly trusted her with his weight. As they left, she held him close, feeling "a reuniting, a lifting, a glimpse of hope."

Chapter 6

The Healing Bond

Bunker's first night was restless. Following the training book's instructions, Julie crated him beside her bed, comforting him when he whimpered. In the middle of the night, she took him outside to pee, noticing the summer sky pulsing with stars. When he resisted returning to the crate, she crawled in partway and coaxed him inside. As he curled against her chest, she realized this was the first time in recent memory she was reassuring another living thing-and she felt capable of it. The next morning, his excited barks woke her at 6:45. For the first time in months, she actually wanted to get out of bed-no dread, just readiness to start the day. Standing barefoot in the yard watching him play in the morning dew, she caught her mother watching her from the window, smiling at the sight of her daughter awake, laughing and smiling. At eleven weeks old, Bunker still walked awkwardly, making Julie laugh as he tripped over air or failed to catch houseflies. Watching him took her out of her mind and into the present moment. She learned to read his expressions-ears back when startled, eyes widening when searching for her. When he found her, his body curled "like an apostrophe in happiness." The realization that he genuinely liked her-with no reason to fool or judge her-lifted a layer of doubt she'd always carried. One afternoon while failing to teach him to fetch, he suddenly pointed his muzzle skyward and howled. Julie howled back, and they became "a pack of two wolves singing together." She'd been with Bunker every minute since bringing him home, feeling anxious without him during therapy sessions. Her therapist Mya helped her recognize her "automatic negative thoughts"-the constant self-criticism running unhinged in her mind that had left her broken and suicidal. When Mya named this pattern, it was "like a bell ringing in my head"-Julie had never before questioned the truth of these thoughts.

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Chapter 7

When Darkness Returns, Light Finds a Way

One day the darkness returned unexpectedly, "like a thread-thin worm that had covertly dug back into my body." Julie sat on the maroon couch, face in hands, thinking she'd failed. Just getting a dog couldn't cure her. Depression was her companion, a dark friend she genuinely missed. Then she felt warmth on her toes-Bunker had sat down on her feet, looking up at her curiously, his puppy energy completely contained. Could he sense her sadness? She remembered her therapist's advice to accept sadness rather than fight it. With Bunker witnessing her without judgment, she let the sadness in fully. And an amazing thing happened: the desperation dissolved like soap bubbles. The negative thoughts even felt untrue. This kind of healing required a true companion's safety and no resistance. Bunker brought judgment-free listening and wordless faith. Julie cradled him to her chest, felt him curl into her, and took a deep breath as the blackness loosened its grip. "Dog medicine. I'd found it, and I swallowed it whole." Bunker needed training-he tugged on the leash, chewed everything, and didn't come when called. Following her dog-training book, Julie took him outside with a fifteen-foot leash to teach him she was the alpha. She walked quietly in squares, holding the leash at her chest, never yanking or making eye contact. Bunker darted everywhere at first-chasing squirrels, birds, getting dragged when he hit the end of the leash. But within ten minutes, he understood. He trotted beside her, watching her eyes to anticipate her next move. His tail rose proudly as he happily followed. These first weeks together were crucial-they were "braiding their energies, building a promise to travel life together." Julie had no reservations about committing to this dog whose loyalty would never waver. The suicidal thoughts that once lingered lost their power with him by her side.

Chapter 8

New Beginnings in Seattle

When Julie's friend Melissa called offering a room in a Seattle house, she felt ready for a new start. After making a detailed pros and cons list with her mother - weighing everything from job prospects to the cost of living to the distance from family - she decided to make the cross-country move with Bunker. The drive west became a transformative healing journey, with Bunker's steady presence providing constant comfort through long stretches of highway and nights spent in roadside motels. Each mile put between her and New York seemed to lift a weight from her shoulders. Crossing the Columbia River into Washington state, Julie felt like "a homing pigeon following a magnetic field." Something about Seattle's landscape - the evergreen forests, the surrounding waters, the distant mountains - already felt right, as if the city would treat her more gently than New York had. The impossible green richness of the hills filled her with hope-"the greener the world became, the happier I felt." Even the misty air seemed to carry promise of renewal. Julie stayed initially with her Aunt Aurora, who shared not only a home but also a deep spiritual connection with animals. During late-night conversations over tea, Aurora revealed the depression and alcoholism that ran through three generations of their family-revelations that made Julie feel less isolated in her struggles. Seattle's infamous grey clouds, rather than dampening her spirits, came as a surprising comfort: "Seattle felt like a gentle friend taking me in her arms, holding me with dim light, making my re-entry into the world quiet and slow." The soft rain and muted skies matched her need for gentle healing. Soon Julie moved into a charming craftsman house in Queen Anne with roommates Melissa, Greg, and Chris. The four quickly developed their own rituals - Sunday brunches, movie nights, shared dinners - becoming like "pegs sliding into place, creating our own makeshift family." Their immediate acceptance of both Julie and Bunker moved her deeply, though the hours at work away from Bunker left her feeling temporarily untethered. Through a temp agency, she found work as a receptionist at a prestigious downtown law firm, establishing a steady daily routine of morning coffee, work amid the bustle of legal proceedings, followed by long therapeutic walks with Bunker through the neighborhood's tree-lined streets and hidden staircases. These walks became her daily meditation, a time to process her new life while Bunker trotted contentedly beside her. The city's slower pace and natural beauty provided the perfect environment for Julie's healing journey. Between the nurturing presence of her new friends, the comfort of routine, and Seattle's embracing atmosphere, she began to feel the first real stirrings of hope since leaving New York. The rain-washed streets and evergreen horizons seemed to mirror her gradual transformation from survival to renewal.

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Chapter 9

Crisis and Community

Everything changed on a crisp autumn morning when Bunker suddenly collapsed at Discovery Park's dog area with a painful yelp that echoed across the field. Though Julie initially attributed it to rough play, watching him struggle to stand sent waves of fear through her. After postponing a veterinary visit for two weeks - partly from fear, partly from financial constraints - Julie finally learned the devastating news: Bunker had severe bilateral hip dysplasia, a genetic condition causing deterioration of the hip joints. Without surgery - two complete triple-pelvic-osteotomies costing over $4,000 - he'd be completely immobile before turning two. The recovery would be arduous, with Bunker confined to a crate nearly twenty hours daily for eight weeks, requiring constant monitoring and careful physical therapy. With less than $400 in her bank account and mounting credit card debt, panic set in. The thought of failing Bunker, who had become her emotional anchor through depression and loneliness, was unbearable. But when Julie broke down and confessed about Bunker being "broken" to her roommate Melissa over late-night tea, instead of judgment or platitudes, Melissa simply asked, "So what do we do?" - not "what are you going to do?" In that moment, Julie felt she truly had a best friend for the first time, someone who instinctively understood that her problems were now their problems. Chris, her coffee shop regular turned friend, immediately switched into problem-solving mode and planned "The Bunker Kegger" fundraiser, saying, "A hundred people, $20 each, two parties. BOOM! We're all set." He leveraged his connections in Seattle's music scene to secure local bands and a venue. Even Greg, whom Julie had deeply hurt months earlier by sleeping with someone else during their brief relationship, offered to loan her his lifelong savings of $2,000 to help Bunker - an act of generosity that left her speechless and humbled, forcing her to reconsider her assumptions about human nature. The party exceeded all expectations, with friends from all corners of Seattle - baristas, grad students, dog park regulars, and even strangers who'd heard about Bunker's story - arriving with cash in hand and homemade treats for the guest of honor. As Julie explained Bunker's diagnosis to everyone gathered in the crowded living room, people knelt to pet him while he leaned against her, his tail swishing contentedly despite his pain. Local businesses donated raffle items, and someone even started an online fundraising page. By the end of the night, they had collected nearly four thousand dollars toward Bunker's surgery, transforming what seemed like an insurmountable crisis into a testament to the power of community and unconditional love.

Chapter 10

Healing Together

On the morning of Bunker's first surgery, Julie woke early and slid to the floor beside him. As she inhaled the scent of his neck, she wished she could stop time, dreading the moment when anesthesia would take him away from her. She contemplated attaching a note to his collar: "This is not just any golden retriever. This is my lifeline to this world... Please care for him like your life depends on it. Because mine does." Throughout the day, her thoughts spiraled-"If he dies, I die"-until she finally received the call that Bunker's surgery was successful. When she saw him again, his back left leg was hairless and pink, with two enormous incision scars lined with twenty-six "Frankensteinian staples." Despite this shocking sight, their eyes met and she knew his spirit remained intact. As Bunker recovered, Julie found strength she didn't know she possessed. Every muscle was dedicated to his healing. She sat beside his crate whispering reassurances, channeling her parents' voices-her mother's soothing tones and her father's permission to express pain. What surprised her most was finding herself smiling, absolutely certain Bunker would heal and run again. Meanwhile, Greg continued pursuing Julie despite her initial resistance. After a walk with Bunker where she reconsidered what she was pushing away, Julie returned home and told Greg, "I changed my mind." She confessed everything-her depression, her medication, her past-in a tumbling rush of words. Instead of running, he kissed her, pulling her close.

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Chapter 11

Full Circle

Two months after Bunker's second surgery, they returned to Marymoor Park where he had first collapsed. This time, he bounded from the car, running with his new bionic hips-not fast, but joyfully, both back legs swinging slightly left. At the creek's edge, he circled Julie three times and howled deeply. She whispered, "No, my love. Thank you." Four years later, Greg and Julie married in a woodland church with Bunker as their ring bearer in a tuxedo. Their roommates Melissa and Chris eventually married as well. Julie continued managing her depression with medication, learning it was "as essential to me as water." In 2007, when Julie was seven months pregnant with their second daughter, Bunker was diagnosed with cancer. Ten days after diagnosis, when his breathing became shallow and rapid, she prepared to say goodbye. The next morning, Greg grilled Bunker a steak for his final meal. At the vet's office, when the injection entered his leg and "his soul left the room, every color changed." Julie lay with her head on his lifeless body, thanking him for her life. Years later, when Julie took Bunker's ashes to scatter in the ocean, something remarkable happened. As she threw the box into the Pacific, she immediately regretted it, but the tide brought the box back to shore-back to her feet-as if Bunker was telling her he would always be with her, that a love like theirs never dies. In the end, "Dog Medicine" isn't just about how a dog saved a woman from depression-it's about how healing happens when we open ourselves to unconditional love, whether it comes on two legs or four. It's about finding strength in our most vulnerable moments and learning that sometimes, the most profound medicine doesn't come in pill bottles but in warm fur, soulful eyes, and the simple, perfect presence of a being who loves us exactly as we are.

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Key Themes in Dog medicine

animal assisted recovery
sibling abuse trauma
clinical depression memoir
human-animal bond
domestic violence survival

Quotes from Dog medicine

The resulting crescent-moon scar on her temple became 'a slow leak that drained me of hope, self-love, and faith.'
These words became her internal narrative.
College and New York City brought new wounds.
You are stupid and weak. You are fat and ugly.
I just hate being.

Characters in Dog medicine

Julie BartonThe author and protagonist struggling with trauma
ClayJulie's older brother who was abusive to her
WillJulie's boyfriend during her time in New York
Bunker HillThe golden retriever puppy who aids Julie's healing

About the Author

Julie Barton is the New York Times bestselling author of Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me From Myself, a memoirist and writing mentor renowned for her candid exploration of mental health and resilience.

With an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and an M.A. in Women’s Studies, Barton weaves personal trauma and healing into her work, drawing from her own journey through depression and the transformative bond with her dog. Her writing has appeared in Brain Child Magazine, The Huffington Post, and literary journals like Louisiana Literature, earning a Pushcart Prize nomination.

Barton’s Substack newsletter, Glimpse, offers updates on her eclectic projects, including her children’s book Vixen: A Reindeer Tale. She teaches writing workshops globally, helping others craft narratives of meaning and recovery. Dog Medicine, translated into seven languages, became an instant bestseller and remains a touchstone for readers navigating mental health challenges.

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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

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@Raaaaaachelw

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Chapter 8

Dog medicine

OverviewOverview of Dog medicine

One book. Many ways to hear it.

When a Golden Soul Meets a Broken Heart

The Darkness Descends

See every word as you hear it

The Breaking Point

Return to the Nest

Get more out of Dog medicine

Medicine Comes in Many Forms

The Healing Bond

See every word as you hear it

When Darkness Returns, Light Finds a Way

New Beginnings in Seattle

Get more out of Dog medicine

Crisis and Community

Healing Together

See every word as you hear it

Full Circle

You made it to the end of Dog medicine

Key Themes in Dog medicine

Quotes from Dog medicine

Characters in Dog medicine

About the Author

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FAQs About This Book

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Is Dog Medicine worth reading?

How does Bunker help Julie Barton in Dog Medicine?

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1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

One book. Many ways to hear it.

When a Golden Soul Meets a Broken Heart

The Darkness Descends

See every word as you hear it

The Breaking Point

Return to the Nest

Get more out of Dog medicine

Medicine Comes in Many Forms

The Healing Bond

See every word as you hear it

When Darkness Returns, Light Finds a Way

New Beginnings in Seattle

Get more out of Dog medicine

Crisis and Community

Healing Together

See every word as you hear it

Full Circle

You made it to the end of Dog medicine

Users also liked

Discover more

Overview of Dog medicine