No comments about The Official Book of the Irish Setter.

5 comments about The Cornell Book of Cats: The Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten.

1. After recently going through a mysterious illness with my 6 month-old kitten, I realized that my reference shelf is severely lacking in cat-care books. I used the Internet to research kitty fevers, loss of appetite, kidney malfunction, and any of the specific diseases my vet mentioned she was testing for, but despite the wealth of information available online, there is no replacement for an expertly-researched cat-care manual. Cat Fanciers maintains an outstanding cat behavior FAQ online, and the Cornell Book of Cats was one of the highly recommended titles. I am extremely pleased with my purchase. This is a book I will be consulting for years to come.
   
   The Cornell Book of Cats contains chapters authored by different subject matter experts. This does lead to some repetition throughout, but this isn't a book intended to be read from front cover to back. The reader should select articles based on his or her particular cat situation. Are you picking out a new cat and need to know which breed will best fit in your home? A new cat owner wanting to cure bad behaviors? A first-time kitten owner in search of medical and kitten-care info? A longtime cat owner with a slightly sickly cat who needs to know if the situation warrants a vet visit? A cat veteran who heard anecdotal home remedy advice and needs an expert opinion on the benefits and risks? Wondering what the reproductive cycle in cats, male and female, is like?
   
   The text is supplemented with high-quality black & white illustrations and breed photographs. Includes an index.



2. The title says it all. If you're not a vet, this is the next best thing, to help you know what to ask your vet when your cat has problems. Also is great for minor aliments and first aid.



3. This copy I bought for our local non for profit shelter. I have purchased at least 10 copies of this book. It is written in a matter that both the professional and the pet owner can understand. It proofs to be most valuable for a cat owner. Educates and helps the cat owner understand both health, anatomy and illness in a cat. Also, valuable when you bring your cat home to understand "just what did the vet say?"



4. I disagree with readers who say that the book is too general or out-of-date. It's a BOOK, not an article in a scientific journal.
   
   That said, I also disagree with readers who say that it's too complicated. I believe that it's an important book for any responsible cat owner to have on the shelf. If you're worried but aren't sure whether something is an emergency or not, you can check here before making a midnight call to the vet or racing to the emergency clinic. If your vet tells you that a condition is suspected or diagnosed, it's a great reference to start to learn more about it, or to help you formulate questions for your vet. No, it's not a replacement for a visit to a vet, but it's a help.
   
   Remember how every new parent read Dr. Spock's book 40 years ago? Well, I see this in the same light. A MUST for cat owners that provides information, helps allay fears, and guides you. If you have a serious question, it gives you the right technical terms to do more research. If you don't remember all of the details that you heard at the vet's, you can use it as a refresher.



5. "A cat is only technically an animal, being divine." - Robert Lynd.

   "The twenty-first century may be the century of the cat," says Franklin M. Loew, former Dean of Cornell University's renowned College of Veterinary Medicine in this book's preface, citing statistics according to which even at the end of the 20th century, the number of cats in the United States alone already equaled that of the entire human population of Europe (and with sinking birth rates among humans, it is not hard to guess where that particular trend is headed in the near and midterm future).

   Authored by the staff of Cornell's Feline Health Center, "The Cornell Book of Cats" is an indispensable reference guide for every cat owner who cares about his or her feline companion(s). The book provides detailed coverage on every aspect of feline life, from the cats' origin and breeds to cat (mis-)behavior, nutrition, anatomy, reproduction and all major instances of disease and infirmity. Particular attention is given to kittens, aging cats, skin and sensory disorders, internal disorders and medical emergencies. While the explanations do rely on a number of medical/veterinary terms, they are generally clear, comprehensive and easy to understand; in addition, most of the veterinary terminology is defined in a 22-page glossary at the end of the book. Numerous figures, tables, sketches, statistics and photos further illustrate the text; and treatment suggestions are provided for all diseases and disorders described. As the authors point out, this book is *not* intended to make a visit to the vet unnecessary in each and every instance (and sometimes, the remedies suggested here are only the beginning of the path to complete treatment) - but the book does help a cat owner determine when the often not inconsiderable expense of a visit to the vet is truly warranted. Moreover, it is a tremendous supplementary resource to even the best vet's recommendations, and it provides a wealth of background information on our four-pawed friends. Highly recommended.

   "A house without a cat, and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat, may be perfect house, perhaps, but how can it prove its title?" - Mark Twain.

No comments about Thinking Riding Book 1 Training Student Instructors.

No comments about The Bichon Frise (Terra Nova Series).

No comments about Belgian Tervuren (Comprehensive Owners Guide).

1 comments about New Dog: Choosing Wisely and Ensuring a Happily Ever After.

1. I have owned four dogs over the last 20 years. When my beloved 2 year old Weimaraner died suddenly about 9 months ago, I knew I would let my heart heal awhile and then delve back into puppydom again. I never really read any books on working with puppies in the past and with three children, I really wanted to do this right. I have read the book twice and have 4 weeks to "train" my older children (11 & 13) how we are going to approach having a new puppy in the house.
   The book covers a wide variety of topics and is a very easy read. You don't have to be a vet to read it. It is straight forward and the added quips from the author make me feel like we are having a chat about getting a dog over a cup of coffee. I loved this book and would highly recommend it. If I lived in the U.S. right now, I would hunt this guy down and make him be my vet!

5 comments about Holistic Care for Birds.

1. This book (written by a veterinarian) is excellent! I find the practical information wonderfully straight forward!



2. This is the best very informative, easy read book on birds I have ever read. Every bird owner should have it.



3. In HOLISTIC CARE FOR BIRDS, authors McCluggage and Higdon address preventative care as well as spiritual and emotional healing. They begin with a brief overview of `bird keeping' - Different birds have different needs..Not all birds like to be petted while others may become miserable without constant affection. Sometimes the difference is species specific, other times it is related to the bird's treatment by previous owners.

   Obvious physical problems may send you scrambling to the vet, but there are remedies you can keep on hand to deal with life's stresses and less serious physical injuries. For example, according to the authors, mild camomile tea in the bird's water bowl offers a soothing aperitif following a bad "out-of-cage" experience with the family dog or as a palliative for feather picking. Aloe juice used to treat human skin problems as well as Vitamin E and C can also be used to address bird wounds inflicted by cage mates.

   The authors address a range of treatments for ailments as diverse as sore feet and broken feathers to heart disease. They do not eschew veterinary care, indeed McCluggage is a DVM as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Higdon has written a number of books on happy, healthy pets (Lovebirds, Quaker Parrots, etc.). The book includes a section on nutrition, as the best health care involves diet.




4. I LOVE this book! I use it as a reference guide, and I find it easy to read, logical, and very very helpful! PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU OWN A BIRD!



5. This book is very informative and easy to understand. I would use it as a reference manual and it has some very interesting recipes for birdy treats.

5 comments about The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events.

1. This book is more a bon bon than anything substantial. But if you like dogs, you'll find this book a hoot. The premise is simple: dogs have had an impact on history.
   
   The book commences with a chapter on dogs as sentinels. Thereafter, we read stories of the role of dogs in the lives of people as varied as Saint Patrick, Sigmund Freud, Richard Wagner, Charles I, Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington, Sir Walter Scott, Frederick the Great, Christopher Columbus, George Armstrong Custer, and so on.
   
   In the last chapter, the author asks the question (page 291): "If dogs have had such an influence on human culture and history, it is quite reasonable to ask, why is it that we don't see canine contributions cited in standard political, social, and cultural histories?" The author provides no definitive answer, but his book is a lot of fun to read. Dog lovers will enjoy seeing "The Pawprints of History." One caution: There are a number of very bad factual errors in the chapter on General George Custer; this at least raises in my mind the accuracy of historical accounts elsewhere. But this is still an enchanting book.



2. This is an excellent and well-researched book describing how humans and dogs have interacted through history. It includes a wealth of interesting information about both individual and societal attitudes towards dogs and how those attitudes impacted events. Although the book is about the role of dogs in history, the stories humanize historical events by showing how compassion towards or fear of dogs affected individual people and societies. Great book.



3. Dogs are my passion, in this wonderfully written book I've found that I am in GREAT company. It was well written, some of the stories could have been shorter. But it made me laugh and cry, and after almost every chapter I was amazed at what I didn't know about the people in the chapter. The research was extensive for this book. So if you love dogs and you love history you will really love this book.



4. This interesting book discusses the relationships between several noteable people and their dogs. At least one cynical Washington D.C. politician said that "if you want someone to love you in this town, buy a dog," and you will find he was not the first one to conjure up that thought. The author shows how people such as Florence Nightingale, Frederick the Great, Robert Burns, and Sigmund Freud were all warmly touched by the positive side of their dogs. These people, who somehow seemed so intensely boring in History class, never seemed so human as when interacting with their dogs. Dogs have served as companions for many others who needed a consistent friend, and they often served as inspirations for those who enriched our artistic and aesthetic lives (perhaps because they were so cheerful and so honest). Oh, by the way, the author gives us some pretty interesting lessons in history and the arts, too, so this story is not just about the canids. If you are looking for a good book to curl up with, and read to, your animal companions, give this one a try.



5. Entertaining anecdotes, but not really what it promises. It's more a collection of famous people and their beloved dogs with a few notes (some of them are real stretches) about how the author believes the dogs might have affected them. Not particularly convincing, but sweet.

No comments about Parrotlopaedia: A Complete Guide to Parrot Care.

5 comments about Sugar Gliders As Your New Pet.

1. Upon purchasing this book i immediately thought, 'Yes! My Sugar Gliders' will live prosperously now!'. However after 20 minutes of using this book, the smug grin was wiped off of my face. My favourite sugar glider 'Leslie Hughes' had died of lung cancer. The chapter 'Teaching your Sugar Glider to smoke Cigars' was partly responsible for this I feel.



2. I have owned my sugar gliders for ten years (hopefully I'll have them at least 5 or more). A lot of time was spent researching with books, the internet, and message boards. Sugar gliders are great pets, but they not easy pets (on a scale of 1 to 10 - a 9). Nor are they good pets for everyone during all points of life. They live a long time and take as much care and money as a dog or cat.
   
   I bought this book a few years ago when I first owned my crew. I ended up throwing it away because it was so bad. First off, the pictures are very pretty and glossy (typical of this publisher) but they are all of the same animal which shows you the scope of the author's experience--someone with lots of glider experience would have shots of many different animals.
   
   Furthermore, the advice offered in this book is mediocre--in fact some of the husbandry advice could actually HARM a sugar glider (ex- NEVER FEED CATFOOD - the ash in it can block up a glider's intestinal tract and kill him).
   
   There is very little info in it about handling/bonding with gliders or their complex personalities--and how to deal with day-to-day issues and emergencies (trimming sharp nails, bonding, benefits of neutering, Leadbeater's mix--proper diet, how to deal with injuries and self-mutilation, etc). The thing this book mostly talks about is breeding and the genetics of breeding which is not useful if you just want a pet.
   
   There are much better books (Caroline MacPherson comes to mind) and resources (ex- ISGA website and Glider Central website) to learn about sugar gliders and their necessary care.



3. I followed the guidelines as outlined in this book and found that it only made brief mention the most important parts of raising sugar gliders. The dietary information is largely incorrect, and upon review of the book by my veteranarian I've decided this book is only good for the pictures. It is best to speak to a vet experienced with sugar gliders and NEVER rely on a book such as this one.



4. This book i feel was not very helpful! It did not have a variety of pictures. All of the pictures were of the same animal and it was always relieving itself! The did not include most of the information I found that I really needed to tame and care for my two sugar gliders



5. I liked this book becuase it was very helpful, but it is har to understand. This book was a very intresting book to read but I think much of the information was way to scientic and hard to understand. The pictures are great! The book was very helpful taking care of "Joey."