Do I Need to See the Vet?: For Both Puppies and Adult Dogs

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Dogs are wonderful pets but they make lousy medical patients. Because
they cannot talk, they cannot tell their owners what is wrong when they
are not feeling well. As a result, most owners panic when their dog
suddenly seems lethargic or in pain. A trip to the vet is often
inconvenient and always expensive. This book, by veterinarians Bob
Porter and Wendy Ing, is designed to help dog owners decide if their
pooch needs to see the doctor. Home remedies are suggested for minor
problems. There is even a handy recipe for anti-skunk spray. Other
chapters help owners identify major problems that require qualified vet
care.

The book is divided into short, easy-to-understand chapters that cover
such situations as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation,
coughing, ear infections, eye problems, skin problems, sprains and
strains, bleeding wounds, bug bites and allergic reactions, dragging the
bum, and dental disease. There are also several chapters on things
owners can do to keep their pets healthy; these include chocolate
toxicity, mouse and rat poison, and riding in the back of a
truck—don’t do it!

There are even chapters on peculiar behavior to reassure owners that
they do not have the only dogs in the world who eat poop, twitch while
they sleep, or have snorting and hiccuping fits for no apparent reason
at all. The well-organized layout and clear-headed prose will be
appreciated by owners who are looking for fast answers during a medical
emergency. Every dog owner should have a book like this for quick
reference.