Customer Reviews

Dog Health & Nutrition for Dummies

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read many books on dog nutrition and this one is the best.

This book presents both sides of the diet dilemma in an unbiased fashion, and backs it up with research from credible institutions and offers suggestions for improving whichever diet you use -- store bought or home cooked. In addition, the author is highly credible in her field -- she is an expert in canine sports medicine and is a full professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She teaches medical and veterinary students. She has her DVM and Ph.D. Honestly, you can't get much more credible than that!

The book is not extremist in approach; rather it presents sensible questions about just what is in manufactured dog food, and how do we know it. It then rounds out the picture by presenting alternative diets (home-cooked food) but presents drawbacks there and how to correct them. It addresses supplements as well.

While other topics are also presented beside nutrition (helping your dog age gracefully, training, etc.), I bought it mainly for its nutritional content, and I was not disappointed. The book cites research on nutrition from very credible institutions (Tufts University Veterinary School, as well as others). In addition, if you prefer to cook for your dog, it tells you how and where to send your food so you can find out if your are presenting a balanced meal. It offers other helpful hints as well.

The book is very well written, mainly in active voice, and on a level the layman can understand. This one belongs on your book shelf!

Although this is a "for dummies" book, I think it is really a nice book overall that has information for anyone ranging from someone getting their first dog to someone who is very active in the dog world. The author does not "dumb down" any of her information or presentation and presents everything in a clear, informative manner.

The content is very broad and covers just about anything you might need to know about health and nutrition including structure, drugs, parasites, first aid, holistic/alternative therapies, and many more. The author even presents issues such as the hotly debated food issue with a relatively fair and balanced approach. Although she does take a side, she presents the postives and negatives of each side and lets the reader know that there are various schools of thought out there should s/he choose to research further.

The book is attractively laid out with pictures, diagrams, charts, and cute little markers in the margin denoting things such as a "tip", "warning", "technical stuff", etc. It is an easy read that you are sure to pick up some new information from, regardless of your current knowledge about dogs. I highly recommend it to anyone.

first the bad: the nutrition aspect of this book a *really* lacking. while the author initially states that meat should be the base of any dogs meal, absolutely NONE of the recipes she includes have more than 30% meat (give or take). there is no mention of how to discern a good dry or canned food (if you want that try Dr. Pitcairn's books), and while I can understand her hesitation about raw diets, she completely fails to point out that common sense and basic hygeine can take care of a lot of those problems. in short, the nutrition sections were useless.

the good: the health and first aid sections are top rate and those make this book a must have for ANY dog owner. Luckily the bulk of the book covers these issues (the nutrition section is very small), and that makes this book a worth while purchase. one of the most useful things is a list of things that is included is a list of what to have in a pet first aid kit.

overall I'm only giving the book 3/5 stars because I feel that a book titled "health and nutrition" should thoroughly cover nutrition and this book just doesn't cut it. I highly recommend buying it used (which I did) and keeping it around just for the "health" information.

Inside and out this book will keep your dog healthy. You will learn how to nip potentially deadly health problems in the bud, how to recognize the signs of a healthy dog, and learn all that you need to do should your dog become ill.

I am an aspiring veterinarian who will need 8 solid years of dog education to earn my DVM degree. This book is an excellent start for me because it introduces me to the regimens of canine health and nutition. This book is quite an education for even me: somebody who reads dog books all the time.

You can't go wrong buying this book.

Wonderful book and one that every dog owner should have. It was easy to read and you don't need a masters degree in nutrition to understand it. Dr. Zink is down to earth in her advice on nutrition as well. Dr. Zink gives references on nutritional research for her remarks along with recipes for those who prefer to cook for their dog all in a non-biased format.

I found this book to be very useful for the layperson. It's written in simple terms and the author has done a good job explaining the "basics" of dog health, including nutrition. It's hard to find a non-bias reference book on canine nutrition that's not endorsing a specific feeding "style".
Coming from an animal care background, I can easily recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about caring for their furry friend.

This book is extremely comprehensive in its coverage but is also an easy read. Contrary to the title, this book does not treat you like a dummy. It treats you like an intelligent and responsible dog owner who simply needs a little extra information on what to do when your dog is sick, how to feed your dog well, and how to recognize signs of trouble. Who knew that dogs can take Pepto-Bismol for stomach upset too?

This book lays out the fundamentals of dog health and nutrition in typical "dummies" format. This is not simply a dietary guide; it's about well-rounded canine health, including training, grooming, and socialization suggestions.

I'm still flipping through this book and I know it will be a reference in my home for years to come. I have "Dogs for Dummies" as well, and though I enjoyed it, I refer to this one more often.

I'm still reading this book but I have learned a wealth of knowledge already. I am far from a new dog owner at one time in my life in one way or another my family had eight (yes 8) dogs! I love scouring the internet, magazines, and books for ways to be a better dog owner and now I have a manual right her at my fingertips! Within the first 30 min of reading I was able to find a helpful trick for my Shih Tzu Wally's ear problems, just a bit of athlete's foot powder sprinkled in there! And I was also able to find out the estimated caloric need of my little guy. I googled away and never found caloric requirements! I recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about getting a dog, owns a dog, or has love (and/or contact) with a canine friend!

Overall a good book, although sometimes it is overly basic and at others lacks detail it does have a particularly good first aid section. It is well laid out, clear, and easy to read. Well worth the investment to have on hand as a reference. Definitely a good buy for the first time dog owner!