Your Healthy Pet : A Practical Guide to Raising Happier, Healthier Dogs and Cats

Answers questions about animal health problems, including fleas, allergies, obesity, bladder conditions, diarrhea, and injuries

Marder, the pet columnist for Prevention and a professor at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, takes on issues of "whole-body fitness" and good manners (one of her chapters is titled "How to Tame a Jealous Pet") in addition to standard physical matters. Sometimes, she observes the obvious. "The holidays are wonderful times for people and their pets," the author writes, and later cautions: "Try to hang your ornaments and tinsel far out of your pet's reach." However, in many cases Marder gives common sense free rein--to the shared benefit of pet owners and their pets. For instance, she loses no time in recommending sand-based cat litter and hoodless litter boxes (cats seem to prefer them); wisely, she advises a minimum of 15 minutes of (supervised) feline exercise daily. Her counsel on coping with fleas is succinct and reasonable, without seeming too optimistic. Moreover, the book considers the basic span of pet ownership, from initial choice (and suggestions on the requirements and distinctions of different breeds) to the problems brought on by ageing. However, the book offers no real surprises or improvements on familiar information. Prevention Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The author, a columnist for Prevention magazine and an assistant professor at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, has compiled a general guide to healthcare for cats and dogs geared toward the average pet owner. She succinctly discusses such topics as vaccinations, allergies, dental care, behavioral problems, and geriatric pet care and provides useful tips on recognizing symptoms and conducting home health examinations. However, her comments on diet and nutrition for the average pet are brief, she offers no discussion of such issues as generic foods or the use of controversial preservatives in commercial foods, and she focuses on the possible shortcomings rather than potential benefits of home-cooked diets. There's little here that is not covered in greater depth in such titles as Terri McGinnis's Well Dog Book ( LJ 12/91) and Well Cat Book ( LJ 6/1/93) and Delbert Carlson's Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook ( LJ 10/15/92). Not essential.
- Jennifer King, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.