The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats (Prevention Pets) [Paperback]

Amy D. Shojai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2001 | Series: Prevention Pets

Is there an animal doctor in the house?

Most likely, the answer is no. And when an accident or other emergency threatens your pet, every minute counts. Don't be unprepared! Open The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats and learn:

* Basic first-aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR-- step-by-step!
* Which over-the-counter human medications can help-- or harm-- your dog or cat
* What to keep in your pet's medicine chest (many essential items are probably in your house already!)
* How to quickly pinpoint what's wrong with your pet, using the First-Aid Symptom Finder

Plus, you'll discover a comprehensive A-to-Z guide to more than 150 common-- and not-so-common-- injuries and conditions, including:

* Abscesses (page 60)
* Bites from Animals (page 90)
* Car Accidents (page 117)
* Choking (page 131)
* Gunshot Wounds (page 224)
* Heatstroke (page 237)
* Hot Spots (page 245)
* Jellyfish Stings (page 269)
* Poisoning (page 311)
* Snakebites (page 350)

Each at-a-glance entry tells you when to call the vet, which supplies or medications you'll need, what immediate action you should take, and what you should do as follow-up care.

By knowing what to do in an emergency and then acting quickly and confidently to take the proper steps, you could save your pet's life. The next time medical help is not quickly available, reach for The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats. It's a pet owner's second best friend.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's every pet owner's nightmare: suddenly your four-legged friend isn't breathing. What to do? There is no 911 for pets, so it's up to you to save a life. The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats is a straightforward guide that covers both major problems--CPR, heat stroke, and strangulation--and minor ones, such as swollen tails, ingrown nails, and flea allergies. Beginning with simple tests and explanations of general care issues like dehydration examinations and triage, this guide then moves on to an alphabetical listing of every possible situation, from arrow wounds to worms.

The individual sections are good for both general reading and instant assistance. Each one starts with a notice of when to call the vet--immediately, the same day, or as needed. It also lists what items from your pet's medicine chest will be needed, which may include anything from corn syrup to towels and panty hose. The information that follows this simple checklist is divided into "do this now," "special situations," "follow-up care," and "the best approach." Whenever necessary, simple sketches are included to help show proper technique, such as fashioning an instant muzzle from a pair of nylons, or how to cover a dog's head in case of an ear-flap injury. Relying frequently on common household items like antihistamines, turkey basters, Gatorade, and plastic wrap, this guide assumes most of us won't have special medical training or supplies and focuses on very specific and simple methods of helping your pet achieve the best possible care. Even more importantly, many suggestions are included on prevention of accidents--isn't it easier to get that window screen repaired than to rush your kitty to the vet after a bad fall?--Jill Lightner

From the Back Cover

The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats

Is there an animal doctor in the house?

Most likely, the answer is no. And when an accident or other emergency threatens your pet, every minute counts. Don't be unprepared! Open The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats and learn:

* Basic first-aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR-- step-by-step!
* Which over-the-counter human medications can help-- or harm-- your dog or cat
* What to keep in your pet's medicine chest (many essential items are probably in your house already!)
* How to quickly pinpoint what's wrong with your pet, using the First-Aid Symptom Finder

Plus, you'll discover a comprehensive A-to-Z guide to more than 150 common-- and not-so-common-- injuries and conditions, including:

* Abscesses (page 60)
* Bites from Animals (page 90)
* Car Accidents (page 117)
* Choking (page 131)
* Gunshot Wounds (page 224)
* Heatstroke (page 237)
* Hot Spots (page 245)
* Jellyfish Stings (page 269)
* Poisoning (page 311)
* Snakebites (page 350)

Each at-a-glance entry tells you when to call the vet, which supplies or medications you'll need, what immediate action you should take, and what you should do as follow-up care.

By knowing what to do in an emergency and then acting quickly and confidently to take the proper steps, you could save your pet's life. The next time medical help is not quickly available, reach for The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats. It's a pet owner's second best friend.

About the Author
Amy D. Shojai is the author of 12 books about dogs and cats. She lectures around the United States on pet-related topics and is frequently interviewed on national radio and TV. She lives with her husband and pets in Sherman, Texas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 439 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; 1 edition (March 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579543650
• ISBN-13: 978-1579543655
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Medical Books > Veterinary Medicine > Small Animal Medicine
  • #22 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Pets & Animal Care > Cats

More About the Author

Amy 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 26 nonfiction pet books. She is also the author of the dog-centric thriller LOST AND FOUND and writes THRILLERS WITH BITE. Her award-winning work appears in the Herald Democrat newspaper, http://www.puppies.About.com and cats.About.com and she's published several thousand articles and columns during her career. 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 and Honorary Lifetime Member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. She frequently speaks to groups on a variety of pet-related and writing 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More Important Than You Can Imagine! December 29, 2004

By Gina Bongiorni

Format:Paperback

I have had a wonderful dog for six years and have learned a lot along the way. I have learned more from this book than I learned in those six years. This book is so important for all pet owners. We need to be prepared to help our pets when they get minor illnesses or have serious medical problems. The book has more than 150 health care topics listed alphabetically. The book is quite easy to read, and by simply turning to a page you will know whether or not you need to call the vet immediately, later, or not at all.

The list of components necessary for a good first aid kit is helpful as well. Also, the book gives a chart of human medicines that can and cannot be used for dogs and cats along with correct dosage.

Even if you do not plan on reading the book all the way through, purchase it and tuck it away on a shelf, because you never know when you may need it!

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars August 13, 2003

By Ann Harrison

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Excellent book and good for quick reference. Has at home medicines that an animal can and cannot take. I would definately recommend this for any animal lover or owner.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to taking care of pet emergencies... October 10, 2002

By Yasmine F. Galenorn

Format:Paperback

Ms. Shojai has done a wonderful job in this book--with everything the layperson needs to know when something goes wrong with their four-footed companion.

I've used this book several times and I'm happy to say it's been informative, easy to understand, and downright interesting. I highly recommend it.