Complete Care For Your Aging Dog [Paperback]

Amy D. Shojai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2003

In this unique guide to aging pet care, Amy Shojai explains: how to entice your older pet into getting more exercise € what changes to expect as your pet ages € which pet-specific over-the-counter medications every owner should keep on hand € and tips on everything from choosing the right products and food for your aging pet to performing nursing care at home. These are the definitive guides to turning back the clock-and keeping senior dogs and cats vital, happy, and active throughout their golden years.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amy D. Shojai is a nationally known authority on pet care and behavior, a spokesperson for Purina, and the award-winning author of more than a dozen nonfiction pet books. She frequently speaks to groups on pet-related issues, and appears regularly on national radio as well as television.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (July 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451207890
• ISBN-13: 978-0451207890
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,548,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Amy D. Shojai, CABC a nationally known authority on pet care and behavior, is a certified animal behavior consultant, a spokesperson for the pet products industry, and the author of 23 nonfiction pet books and over 1,000 articles. Her award-winning columns have appeared in the Herald Democrat newspaper, at Purina's CatChow.com, About.com, Sergeants.com e-newsletter, the NBC-Universal site PetSide.com, HomeAgain.com and ivillage.com. She appears twice-monthly on the "Pet Talk" segment at KXII-CBS, and hosts the weekly "Pet Peeves" at PetLifeRadio.com and is an expert on Animal Planet DOGS 101 and CATS 101.

Ms. Shojai addresses a wide range of fun-to-serious issues in her work, covering dog and cat training, behavior, natural and allopathic health care, nutrition, first aid, aging pets, "the bond" and cutting-edge medical topics. Her work has been honored with over three dozen writing awards and she is a two-time recipient of the "Friskies Writer of the Year" award.

Ms. Shojai's work empowers pet lovers by providing the information they need to make informed decisions for their cats and dogs. The former veterinary technician specializes in translating "medicalese" into easily understood jargon-free language, making it accessible to all pet lovers.

Ms. Shojai has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and in USA Weekend, The New York Times, Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Woman's World, and many other leading newspapers and magazines. She has also been a featured pet care expert on Animal Planet Dogs 101, Cats 101, Petsburgh USA/Disney Channel program, Good Day New York, Fox News: Pet News, NBC Today Show, WGN-Chicago "Pet Central" and "Animal Planet Radio" and many others.

Ms. Shojai is a certified member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, founder and Past President of the Cat Writers' Association, a member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and Past President of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. She frequently speaks to groups on a variety of pet-related issues, lectures at veterinary and writer conferences, and conducts training and behavior demonstrations around the country.

She and her husband live with Seren(dipity) the Siamese wannabe, Magic the German Shepherd, and other assorted critters at Rosemont, their thirteen-acre "spread" in north Texas. Find more information about her work at www.shojai.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for owners of senior dogs, November 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Care For Your Aging Dog (Paperback)

This is the book to buy if you want to know if your dog really is a senior dog, what defines aging in a dog, how to recognize the difference between aging and illness, and how to provide just the right care for your furry senior friend. As the name says, it's a "complete" and thorough guide with plenty of tips to help you help your dog live happily and healthily through their golden years.
A multi-dog owner and dog-writer from Ohio.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for the Dog Lover, August 4, 2003

By 

Susan T. Lennon (Rocky Hill, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Care For Your Aging Dog (Paperback)

Amy Shojai's _Complete Care for Your Aging Dog_ is a fabulous book for all dog lovers. Not only is it a must-have reference -- meticulously researched, easy to navigate, excellent examples -- but it is filled with heart and soul and love, mirroring all the best characteristics of our beloved companion canines. This is a book written by someone who obviously *cares* about dogs and the people who share their lives with them; even if your dog is still young you'll benefit by reading it. Ms. Shojai demystifies the aging process and her L.O.V.E. program for health validates and puts into practical terms the intuitive sense we often have that something is just "not right" with our companion. Throughout the book, Ms. Shojai emphasizes partnering with your dog's veterinarian to help your dog realize optimum health and longevity. I can't recommend it highly enough!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on senior dog health, March 28, 2011

By 

Debra M. Eldredge - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Care for Your Aging Dog (Paperback)

This great new update includes information from previously interviewed specialists along with their current locations and affiliations in case you need to track them down. Going to specialists in many of the areas she covers allows Amy to include up to date, hard to find health information that can make life easier for you and your senior dog.

The book is divided into two parts. Part One deals with the whole aging process of your dog. Useful tips on nursing care, advanced care and in the end, making choices for your elderly pet are all dealt with in depth.

Chapter Three has a great acronym for senior dog care: L.O.V.E. The "L" stands for "Listen with your heart". You know your elderly dog better than anyone else. So your intuition will go off when your dog is "not right". Respect your instincts! "O" stands for "Observe for changes." Carefully observe your dog's behavior as well as obvious signs of ill health such as diarrhea. Is he suddenly reluctant to go down the stairs when it is dark out? Do you have to get up in the middle of the night to let him out? A diary or journal can be extremely helpful in tracking any changes for his health history.

For the letter "V" Amy has "Visit the Veterinarian". Most senior pets should have at least two physical exams a year. This exam should be a thorough checkup from nose to tail. Bloodwork and a urinalysis may be suggested as well. Letter "E" stands for "Enrich the environment". Nutrition, exercise, grooming and mental stimulation are all important facets of great care for your senior dog.

Part Two of the book is A to Z Health Concerns. Amy goes through a wide range of potential senior dog ailments. Each ailment or condition section lists senior symptoms and treatments from conventional to alternative as well as nursing care and comfort care suggestions. Recommendations include the latest in the field of geriatric canine health care.

Sprinkled throughout the book are many heart warming, occasionally heart wringing, "Golden Moments" with real life accounts of senior dogs. This is a book that should be on every dog lover's shelf as, sooner or later, you will have a senior dog in your life.

Review previously published on DogMedia Examiner.com