Customer Reviews

Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook (Howell Reference Books)

5 star:		(99)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have been meaning to write a review for this book for quite awhile, but when I found myself turning to it (yet again) last week after receiving a difficult diagnosis for my beloved geriatric dog, I thought it was time to sit down and express my appreciation for this book.

I am not fond of reviews that insist I "must! " have this or that, so please forgive me if I sound strident in my insistence that this really "should! " be in the possession of everyone who has a dog to care for. Here lies information that can help you out of the trenches and decide when you should wake up your vet in the middle of the night, when to wait till morning, and when to try handling things yourself. This is also the place where I learned how to monitor my pets vitals so I can get an idea of what may be going on and to provide my vet with some of the information needed to hit the ground running. Out of the several pet care books I have (Pitcairn's being one of them) THIS is the book that I grab first and it's the one my neighbors come over to examine when thier dog seems "off" and the one my family calls and asks me to read parts of over the phone (I will share this book, but I won't loan it). I wish they'd all get thier own copy, but at least one of us has it on hand.

As someone who has four large, geriatric dogs I love dearly, I wouldn't be without this book. Plenty of other books are going to provide you with glossy color photos and generic information, but when you need information--real, solid stuff you can leave teethmarks in, this book is what you need. General care and functioning is covered very well, but this volume really shines when things seem serious, even scary and it fleshes out those pre- and post-vet questions like no other.

PS--Pitcairn's book, which I mentioned in passing, is a nice general resource that is especially helpful for those interested in learning about feeding thier pets natural, whole-food diets. I like my copy quite a bit, but I can best describe it by saying I'll loan that book to a friend for a week or so, not so with Home Veterinary Handbook.

One of the most difficult tasks for the loving dog owner is deciding when a malady needs a vet's attention. This book helps to make this task easier. As a multiple big dog owner, I can't afford to run to the vet every time one of my dogs is not feeling his or her best. This book allows me to research a malady to help make the important decision: does my dog need to see a vet? This saves me money and gives me peace of mind. It also gives me the information I need to have an educated conversation with my vet about treatments, when and if they are necessary. It's like having an assistant on call 24 x 7.

This is by far the best health care guide for dogs. From the quick index of symptoms on the inside cover, to the great coverage of many diseases and disorders in canines, this is a well-written and easy to understand book, that goes beyond the basics most dog care books give you, without becoming too technical. My vet actually kept one on hand in his office for quick reference.

This book pays for itself 1000 times over! It gives the dog owner peace of mind and also saves thousands of dollars on costly, unecessary trips to the vet. An excellent source of information!

I show and occasionally breed dogs. This book was given to me as a gift a year ago and in that short time it has already *saved* the life of a puppy, correctly diagnosed dog's ailments/problems and given detailed instructions on how to treat them, and was a great tool in preparing for and whelping our last show litter. Beginners can learn so much from this book as well as being an excellent reference for the more "seasoned" dog fancier too. The authors have that special feel for the dog as not only DVM's, but as avid dog lovers, exhibitors and breeders as well. HIGHLY reccomended as a **MUST HAVE** for any dog owner!!!!!

I have been an owner/breeder of wolves and wolfdogs for almost 20 years. Since many veterinarians will not examine or treat wolves, we who own them must learn how to treat them ourselves. This book has taught me more than all my other veterinary books combined. It has saved the lives of several of my animals, plus saved me 1000's of dollars in vet bills. I have bought several copies to share with friends and relatives, and for years I made my customers buy a copy before I would sell them a puppy! It is by far the best book in my vast collection of dog and wolf books.

Dr. Giffin has done it again with this updated version of his original best-seller. This book clearly explains the symptoms of canine illnesses in a user-friendly, understandable, and organized fashion. No other book compares in terms of its comprehensiveness, readibility, and authority. This book will make an excellent gift for anyone who has a dog.

Believe it or not I actually used this book the first day I received it. My huskie cut his foot and the first aid treatment was at my finger tips! The book contains symptoms, diagnosis and especially informs the owner when a vet visit or emergency visit is required. Every dog owner should have this book on hand for emergencies, symptoms and treatment to take appropriate action for the benefit and health of their beloved pet. The same as having a first aid book for the human side!

Once in a while a book comes along which in the field of practical applications... is a real treasure. This is one of those books. Full of photos and easy to read text, not to mention helpful advice, "this is it"-- for the dog owner who really cares. It will not turn you completely from being independent of your vet, but it will help in determining which symptoms and cases where you would just have to run to him. For example, in the section "Intestines", it describes the most common irregularities, like diarrhea, the color, consistency, odor, frequency, condition of dog, common causes, and finally the treatment section. And it does not stop there. It will then give related problems about the intestines, from malabsorption syndromes to colitis, obstructions, constipation, voluntary retention, mechanical blockage, damaged nerves, flatulence and coprophagia (yeech!), et.al. And that is just a section, as I said, under Intestines. Whether you have one dog, or several kennels, professional breeder, backyard breeder, or no breeder at all, and just interested in the well-being of man's best friend, it will turn you from a feeling of uncertainty into a confident owner. It's the "leash" you can do.

This revised and expanded edition is one of my prime sources of information regarding the health of my dogs. It will save the owner, as it has saved me from needless worries, (or make it worse, depending really on the personality of the owner), and a lot of expenses. Read it, you'll like it.

I have three wonderful incredible dogs that I share my life with. All three were rescued from various shelters and adoption centers. They have had an assortment of health problems and issues to deal with. This book has accurately described every single problem we've run across including hip displaysia, entropion, rain rot, and "sometimes dogs just sneeze" as my husband tries to tell me. If you have a dog you care about at all, you must own this book!