ohmidog!

In the foreword to “The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook,” author Betsy Brevitz, DVM, mentions a few of the new veterinary tools, treatments and procedures that — while rare five years ago — have become commonplace since then: CT and MRI scans, joint replacements, radiation therapy and a host of new drugs and vaccines.

All those advancements in veterinary medicine are one reason she wrote the book — a revised version of the “Hound Health Book,” published five years ago. “The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook” was released last month (Workman Publishing, $18.95).

It’s a handy volume, well-organized and highly readable, with easily located advice on dealing with everything from digestive issues to behavioral problems. Written mostly in question and answer format, and in a straightforward, no-bull style, it’s the kind of book that could save you an unnecessary trip to the vet, and ensure you make a necessary one.

Brevitz spent 10 years as a magazine journalist before deciding to switch careers and enrolling in veterinary school at at 35. She practices in northern New Jersey. The first book was an offshoot of an “Ask the Vet” column she started writing for the website Urbanhound.com, not long after it was launched in New York.

The book devotes chapters to digestive problems; skin problems; fleas, ticks and worms; eyes and ears; heart and circulation; respiratory problems; bone and joint problems; and behavioral issues, among others.

Every dog owner should have a place to turn for quick and up-to-date answers to questions about their dog’s care, and this book — while it doesn’t replace the veterinarian — fills that role nicely.

Be the first person to leave a comment on this entry, and we’ll send you a free copy. (Be sure and provide us with a way to get in touch with you.)

Otherwise, you can always order it from Amazon.com.