Customer Reviews

The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs

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If I was only going to have one book on how to care for my dog, this would be it, because it encompasses all the essential issues of having a dog in your life. There is a checklist of the basic supplies needed for a new dog. There are descriptions of the many diseases and parasites dogs can contract, and the vaccinations and titers tests that prevent some of them. She explains thyroid disease, pancreatitis, urinary stones, and many other diseases and their treatment. She discusses obesity, and makes the point that in our quick-fix society, many people, when there dog comes to them for attention, throw them a cookie, when playing with them would often be a much wiser choice.

Some of the issues covered in the training section are on introducing dogs to children, and the supervision by adults needed. She explains some of the different dog sports. There are wonderful, detailed instructions on how to teach basic dog manners - leave it, sit, down, stay, come, loose-leash walking, wait, crate training, housetraining, and more.

The first-aid section covers many emergency issues, including a list of poisonous plants, a checklist for a doggie first aid kid, how to take your dog's temperature, what to do if prevent your dog suffering from heat stroke, which can be life-threatening, and what to do if it does happen - most importantly to give the dog a cold bath, wrap them in a cold wet towel, and get them to the nearest vet as quickly as possible.

I love how the book is laid out, with little greyed in area "tricks of the trade" throughout the book, and I love that there are frequent titles over sections so I can quickly find a topic I'm interested in. I also love the quick summaries at the end of each chapter, and that there are lots of point-form checklists, and charts. There are adorable drawings throughout the book, where the teachers, nurses, doctors, etc. are also dogs.

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= Your best friend's best friend
Reviewer: Alan Alford from Marlboro, MA USA
Every loving breeder, who has ever sold a dog, has worried over whether she's given the new buyer everything he needs. This marvelous reference work from Darlene Arden will put to rest the concern of such breeders. The Angell Memorial Animal Book of Wellness is a "must" gift to accompany every puppy to its new home, and deserves a prominent place in every dog owner's library. It certainly has one in mine, where it's kept close enough for instant help each time one of my beloved pets shows the slightest sign of distress. In just the few short weeks since acquiring it it has brought me comfort on two occasions, and caused me instantly to take off to our veterinarian in a third. In 14 well-researched, easily read, heart-warming chapters, from Puppyhood, through the Middle Years, to the Senior years all dog-lovers dread, the author "holds the hand" of the dog owner through every possible medical concern and, in finale, comforts him in the final chapter of every human - canine love bond, "Saying Goodbye." This is one of the rare book investments that will earn, continuously, a return of its cost. I'm glad I found it.

Alan Alford

As a breeder of Labrador Retrievers, I am perenially seeking and seldom finding books that I can wholeheartedly recommend to my puppys' new families. Most books have serious flaws, some recommending outdated and questionable ideas or composed in unreadable jargon. This book has none of those flaws. In fact, the author contains inset definitions of terms that will help the reader translate other books. This book contains state-of-the-art veterinary medicine by some of the top specialists in the world. The author doesn't talk down to the reader but still somehow manages to explain the most up-to-date and important issues in caring for dogs.

Most importantly, this book deals with wellness and preventing problems, a concept that has been at the forefront of human medicine and is only now reaching veterinary medicine. Beginning at puppyhood, the book takes the reader through the innovative program designed by Angell Memorial Hospital to enhance canine health into old age.

I was particularly pleased with recommendations related to socializing and training dogs. Not a word of aversive training was mentioned in this book. This positive reinforcement approach will truly mean that the puppy develops into a mentally healthy member of the family.

I loved the illustrations too. Just adorable. I'll be recommending this book to every puppy family I have.

Kate Fulkerson, PhD
HighGarth Labradors

Darlene's Arden's book is an essential for the bookshelf of any dog owner, new or experienced. She covers EVERY aspect of care at every stage of your dog's life in an easy-to-read style. It includes a WELLNESS program, a way to KEEP your dog healthy, as well as ways to recognize illnesses and emergency situations. The behavior and training sections are wonderful.

This book is a must-have, and don't just hide it on the shelf. Keep it handy because you'll find that after a first reading, you'll be referring to it on a regular basis!

This guide to preventive health care for dogs is long overdue. Thoroughly researched with veterinarians at the appropriately renowned Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, I knew this book was a winner when I reached for it several times when worried friends called to ask for advice. It outlines Angell's preventive approach to health care. The three main sections cover puppyhood, the middle years, and the senior years. It starts with the basics for every dog - vaccinations, parasites, grooming, trimming nails, nutrition, diseases, surgery, and the need for obedience training. The puppy years section is so large that it covers half the book. The diseases are explained briefly in lay terms so that anyone can understand what happens in a given disease. Annual check up, first aid, and cancer form the middle years section, and the senior years section covers again gracefully, geriatric wellness, and loss. The whole book is easily understood.

The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book Of Wellness And Preventative Care For Dogs is a straightforward guide specifically intended for pet owners seeking to take proper and reasonable steps to help their beloved canine companions live long and healthy lives. From proper care during puppyhood; to checkups and cancer prevention in the middle years; to helping a dog age gracefully; and the inevitable day one must say goodbye, The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book Of Wellness And Preventative Care For Dogs covers all stages of life with sound and practical advice and is very highly recommended reading for dog owners everywhere.

This book is just great. It's full of information on how to keep your dog happy and healthy, and has lots of very useful explanations of technical terms (for example about dog illnesses). It is very readable - it's like having a good friend who knows all about dog health, explaining stuff to you.

The book is arranged very sensibly, and I know I will be able to easily find information when I need it. I will probably take this book away with me when we go on holidays with our dog - it's the sort of book that would be handy in an emergency.

I also liked the way that the author didn't push any particular views - I have lots of other dog books where I feel that the authors are telling you that you MUST treat your dog in a certain way. In this book, the author gently suggests to you that this is a good thing to do.

Clearly a lot of research has gone into finding the best information for this book, and I really wish that I had owned it when I first got my dog. I've had some bad vet experiences and when I got to the section about "how to choose a vet" I wished someone had suggested those to me a few years ago!

Overall, this is a calm and sensible book, one that I am sure I will be referring to many times in the future.

I am a dog breeder who is constantly looking for appropriate books to put in our "puppy care packages" when pets are taken home. I will never sell another pet without a copy of this book enclosed in the "puppy package". This book is an extremely well presented package of answers to almost all questions asked of breeders and vets by new pet owners. It makes a wonderful present for someone who is bringing home either a puppy or older dog, and would be a great addition to any dog owner's library. I read and review dog books frequently, and have rarely found one so thoroughly useful and well written. Brilliant job; it will make *my* life a lot easier as much of the time consuming education which I do with a new pet owner is covered herein.

Finding a book on veterinary medicine that is easy to read and refer to but still has exceptional information, is difficult. Darlene has captured both in her book. Whether a person uses western medicine or has a more alternative approach, Darlene's book can be utilized by either approach. One must first understand diseases and health issues before being able to choose a method of treatment. With Darlen's book, this is not a difficult task. She also captures dog behavior in a very realistic and positive light. A MUST HAVE for any dog owner.

The Angell book is a great reference book for any dog owner. It has useful information concisely written for easy use. I would highly recommend it.