Sue M. Copeland - Hands-On Dog Care

At-A-Glance Phone Numbers

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center:

(900) 680-0000; (888) 426-4435

Copyright 2000 Doral Publishing, Inc.
10451 Palmeras Dr., Suite 225 West
Sun City, Arizona 85373
800-633-5385

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the U.S.A.

Authors: Sue M. Copeland and John A. Hamil, DVM
Editor: Noreen Cartwright
Art Director: Lauryl Suire Eddlemon
Photographers: How-to photography, Kevin McGowan; cover photo, Gloria Kerr

Distributed by National Book Network

Printed on American paper by Patterson Printing

ISBN: 0-944-875-68-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
(Provided by Quality Books, Inc.)

Copeland, Sue M.

Hands-on dog care : the complete book of canine first aid /

Sue M. Copeland and John Hamil, illustrator Lauryl Eddlemon. -- 1st ed.

p. cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
LCCN: 00-100196
ISBN: 0-944-875-68-8

1. Dogs--Wounds and injuries--Treatment.

2. Dogs--Diseases--Treatment. 3. Veterinary emergencies.

4. First aid for animals.

I. Hamil, John. II. Eddlemon, Lauryl. III. Title.

SF991.C67 2000 636.708960252

QB100-238

To my dogs, Jasmine, MacGilla, and Boomer, the hands-on stewardship of whom provided the inspiration for this book. And to my husband, Rick, for his endless support and patience.

Sue M. Copeland

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to Karen E.N. Hayes, DVM, MS, author of our sister publication, HORSE & RIDERS HANDS-ON HORSE CARE (created and edited by Sue M. Copeland). Portions of this book were adapted from that one.

To obtain a copy of HANDS-ON HORSE CARE (1997, Horse & Rider, Inc., 400 pages, $29.95), call 1-800-952-5813 (order #ZB28) or visit your local book retailer.

THANKS ALSO TO:

Julie Beaulieu, for her invaluable help in coordinating the direct marketing of this book through the PRIMEDIA Special Interest Publications Horse & Rider, Practical Horseman, EQUUS, and Dressage Today.

Lauryl Suire Eddlemon, art director of this book and its sister publication, HORSE & RIDERS HANDS-ON HORSE CARE, for her talent, speed, and professionalism.

Kevin McGowan, master photographer, for being so generous with his time, studio, and talent. The book wouldnt look the same without him.

Susan Hamil, wife of Dr. John A. Hamil, for her patience with this project.

Chris George, and her Corgis Lucky and Daisy; and Marcia Long and her Briard Chance, and Cairn Terriers Fiona and Doogie, for spending the day in the photography studio. We couldnt have asked for better canine models than those Chris and Marcia provided.

Betsey Strohl, of Zia Golden Retrievers, for her youve got to do this! support, and for introducing us to Gloria Kerr, photographer of our dynamic cover photo.

Jasmine, 14-year-old Rottie and model in many of the how-to photos, for her endless patience and cooperation, and unique ability to portray an injured/ill dog.

Mitsuko Williams, veterinary medicine librarian and associate professor of library administration, the University of Illinois, for digging into her slide collection and providing the toxic plant photo on .

Dennis Paulson, of the Slater Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound, Washington, for the menacing Western Rattlesnake photo on .

NOTICE TO READERS

This book provides useful instructions, but we cant anticipate all of your working conditions or the characteristics of your dog, or his injury/illness. For safety, you should use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book. Consider your own skill level and the instructions and safety precautions provided. Neither the authors nor the publisher can assume responsibility for any injury to persons or dogs as a result of misuse of the information provided. Consult your veterinarian whenever you have a question about the care of your dog.

Hands-On Dog Care is like having a veterinarian on call in your homesomeone who can ask you the right questions and give you an action plan based on your answers. Having that kind of help at your fingertips provides a three-fold benefit: Your dog will get the best care possible; youll save on worry and expense; and your vet can provide your dog with the prompt, proper treatment he deserves (and will have fewer after-hour calls!).

This book is organized into three sections:

In ACTION PLANS, youll find most of the signs of illness or injury that your dog might exhibit in his adult life. Each is listed as youd describe it: If your dog has a bloody nose, simply look up Bloody Nose in the Table of Contents. (All signs are also listed in our Index.) Turn to the appropriate page, and youll be asked a series of yes-and-no questions, each pointing to an action plan. Youll be told whether to call your veterinarian, when, and any first aid youll need to administer before leaving for the clinic. If veterinary attention isnt needed, youll be given clear, concise instructions for at-home treatment.

Use HANDS-ON DOGKEEPING SKILLS as a step-by-step, photographic guide to the treatments recommended in Section 1. Do you need to rinse your dogs eye, clean his ears, trim his toenails, or bandage a foot? Youll find the how-to instructions here. Youll also find valuable preventive tips in this section, such as diet guidelines, vaccination information, a guide to toxic substances in your home, and a chart outlining normal dog behavior, so youll know immediately if something is amiss.

The GLOSSARY section is your personal, quick-reference guide to veterinary terms you might hear at your vets, or see in this book. Youll see any Glossary terms in our text marked (G) accordingly. When you see that notation, simply turn to this section for a clear definition of the condition or procedure.

Note: Each section is cross-referenced in the other two sections, using page numbers or the Glossary (G) notation to provide you with flip-to-it-ease.

You love your dog and want to provide him with the best possible care. Hands-On Dog Care was crafted to help you reach that goal. Its specifically designed to provide you with knowledge and information that can help you quickly identify a problem in your dog so you can work closely with your veterinarian to resolve it. Your ability to do so not only will benefit your pet, but also will benefit you and your veterinarian. Potentially dangerous signs you spot will get prompt and proper attention, giving your pet his best chance at a quick, seamless recovery.

Recognizing and understanding whats normal for your dog is a key part of being able to identify abnormal situations. This book will help you get a basic understanding of normal canine physiology and behavior, so you can clearly communicate with your vet should something appear to be amiss. Preventive care is also key. Youll find tips for maximizing your dogs health and wellbeing to help keep potential problems at bay. The payoff? Youll not only be doing right by your canine buddy, but could also save money on vet bills.