Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: How to Tell if Your Dog Is Sick and What to Do Next
Owner-to-Owner Dog Health Series; Volume 1Author: Jana Rade
Yeah, I know, I wrote this one, and I'm tooting my own horn. I have put my heart and soul into writing it so others could benefit from all our hard-earned experiences and the learning curve I've gone through over the years.
The purpose of the book is to help you better understand what your dog is telling you about their health and how to best advocate for them. This guide will help you learn how to see and how to think about any changes in your dog’s appearance, habits, and behavior.
This is, actually, an award-winning book now, folks. It has won the Dog Writers Association's of America 2017 Maxwell Award for a book on health, behavior, or general care, and the 2017 Morris Animal Foundation Canine Health Award for the best science-based book about canine health issues. I am still trying to get over that. It is very humbling. But perhaps a sign that it is a worthy read.
The book covers a variety of common symptoms, including when each of them might be an emergency. It's available in paperback or Kindle.
Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author: Dr. Nancy Kay
This book has been out there for a while now, but I still consider it a must-read for any dog parent serious about their dog's health. I believe it's the single most important book you can ever read. Right after mine, haha. All kidding aside, it will help you realize how much your dog's health lies in your hands and how much control over your dog's health care can you really have.
It starts with finding a veterinarian for your dog, how to best work with them, understanding all the options that are out there for your dog's treatment and how to discuss them with your vet. It covers how you should prepare for a vet visit, what your reasonable expectations are, and when to seek a second opinion. It is a real wealth of information to help you advocate for your dog's health.
Were this book available back when Jasmine's health challenges started, it could have all saved us a lot of frustrations and grief.
Your Dog's Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Author: Dr. Nancy Kay
A companion to Speaking for Spot, this book goes into details about what you should reasonably expect from your vet. Make no mistake, it is much more than you'd think. Do you know how to build a partnership with your veterinarian? Do you know it is reasonable to expect your vet to discuss all treatment options regardless of the cost? Do you know you should be able to acquire a written cost estimate as well as referrals for second opinions and specialized care? Do you know you should be able to discuss your internet research and be able to communicate with your vet via email?
That and more important topics are covered in detail in Dr. Kay's book.
The Canine Thyroid Epidemic: Answers You Need for Your Dog
Author: Dr. Jean Dodds
I suspected Cookie had issues with her thyroid function for some time. We did testing at a local lab, we discussed the living daylights out of it, but I couldn't get anything conclusive to back up my gut feeling. That's when I decided to grab Dr. Dodds' book to see whether I should pursue the issue further.
This book is an eye-opener. I read it in one breath, and it confirmed my suspicions. Right after that, I decided to test again, this time at Dr. Dodds' Hemopet. What do you know? Cookie's thyroid function was indeed inedaquate. It is crucial to test thyroid function and interpret the results properly. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time and money and leaving your dog to suffer.
So many dogs go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed when it comes to thyroid. Every dog parent will benefit from getting a proper "learn-on" on the subject.
All Hands on Pet!: Your How-To Guide on Home Physical Therapy Methods for Pets
Author Pt. Susan Davis
Every dog can benefit from physical therapy whether it is to help treat an existing problem or to prevent one. This hands-on guide can help every dog parent to discover the amazing world of physical therapy.
I already described the benefits and impact of physical therapy in my foreword, which I had the honor to write. For me, physical therapy is one of the top go-to treatment options. There is no downside, your dog can only benefit.
This book features:
- 38 photos with directional arrows, plus informative explanations in an approachable style
- Fills the gap where the demand for physical therapy services for pets outweighs the availability of qualified providers
- Cross-references to Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Animals: A Guide for the Consumer
- Prudent tips, techniques, and advice typical of that given to author's own clients
- Real stories of courage from the author's actual patient caseload
I definitely recommend every dog parent includes it in their library.