The Book Shelf Review from the Boxer Review
How to Buy & Raise a Good Healthy Dog is mostly about breeding and raising a dog. It contains 1 chapter on the buying of a dog, 1 chapter on general health care (covering about 65 pages) and 3 appendixes on genetics, food and nutrition and microchips. This is another Doral publication which was written by breeder (Yorkshire Terriers) and judge Terri Shumsky. The illustrations are effective particularly in regard to the birthing process. As a matter of fact, the information given in the "Having Puppies" chapter is exceptional and useful for both the novice and experienced breeder. The chapters on "birth to one year" are okay but if a breeder or new owner is looking for more complete information relative to the raising of a pup, I suggest the 4-part article by Josie O'Reilly which just recently was re-printed in the Boxer Review.
I think that the information on general health care is quite sufficient for most dog owners. Other books which have been reviewed in this column (The Merck Veterinary Manual,Hands-On Dog Care, The Purina Encyclopedia of Dog Care & the Five Minute Veterinary Ready Reference) are perhaps too extensive for most health questions. Shumsky's book fills a niche of providing just about enough information. Before I wish you a good read, I would like to call your attention to 2 other books which were reviewed earlier. Although not exactly in competition to Shumsky's books, they address a healthy dog, too. They do so, however, in a holistic manner and are a worthy book to be bought or checked out from your library or borrowed from a friend. Take a look once again at:
Martin Goldstein DV.M. The Nature of Animal Healing Ballantine Books, 1999, & Pat Lazarus Keep your Dog Healthy the Natural Way Fawcett/Ballantine, 1999
"This booklet makes it easier for the lay person to communicate with their vet and then you can get to the root of the problem quickly." Steve Robinson, DVM. Oakland, CA