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The Dog Care Handbook: Things I Wish My Vet Had Told Me

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The Dog Care Handbook is a self-help book written for thoughtful dog owners. It will improve your knowledge of dogs, your relationship with your vet and your understanding of important and common diseases that our dogs might develop. Many dog owners find that visiting the vet is stressful and costly. The outcomes can sometimes be unsatisfactory. Every dog owner should be able to find a vet they can trust who will respect your perspective and work within your budget. This book will help.

The text covers the entire lifespan of pet dogs from puppyhood to old age, in chronological order. Preventative health is covered in detail. Major conditions of the skin, the heart, the joints, the kidneys and other organs are explained fully in lay language. One chapter deals specifically with emergencies, another with home nursing, a third covers old age. Colourful anecdotes and case examples are sprinkled throughout. Numerous illustrations are provided which make it easy to medicate your dog or provide first-aid. The information and advice in this book are based on up-to-date scientific evidence where-ever possible. When there is a paucity of knowledge the author gives his own perspective based on years of clinical practice in the UK.

No other book for the public provides such a wide-ranging remit covering the health and well-being of pet dogs.

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2024

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Christopher Little PhD

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Chiara Cooper.
323 reviews17 followers
April 9, 2024
I think every dog owner would benefit from having this book at home!

I always considered myself a seasoned dog parent as I had dogs all my life and several at the same time; in fact, when I was born my family already owned a dog, so I always (and still do) consider them a normal part of my life. This is to say that I thought my knowledge of anything related to dogs was pretty extensive. Well, after reading this book I can say I was wrong!

I found it extremely informative and helpful, and I'm sure I can already see myself turning to this book before messaging or calling my vet in an agitated state. For example, I could have easily saved myself a lot of money when I went to the vet with my newly rescue dog, only to be told that she had kennel cough and no medicine was needed!

I also found the structure of the book very logical and easy to follow, but also convenient to find what you need as and when. The anecdotes and real cases help the reader put all in perspective and convert words into facts.

I do think anyone with a dog or wanting to be a dog owner will find this book really beneficial, and I especially loved the part on how to choose a dog, explaining in detail and backed by science why "pure breeds" are not healthy in general, but in particular some trendy breeds should not be picked at all. I'm a fan of crossbreeds, especially because I'd never buy a dog or any animal really.

Now go on and buy the book, you'll thank me later.

Thanks to the author, 5m Books and Literally PR for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
2,657 reviews23 followers
April 3, 2024
The Dog Care Handbook: Things I Wish My Vet Had Told Me by Christopher Little PhD was one of the best books I have sitting in my book shelf. This book is Brilliant and full of useful information to help you care for your family dog. It will improve your knowledge of your family dog or other dogs, it will help you understand of all the important common diseases that your pet might develop and what to do if this happens. It will help you with your dog to have more understanding when you visit a vet as this can be a traumatic time for you and your dog, especially as you will need to find a Vet you can trust and who will respect your wishes and work with you and your budget.

This wonderful book covers your dogs entire lifespan from being a puppy to old age. I found this so interesting from the first page till the very last page. It is full of information on preventable health which is covered in great detail, from major conditions of their skin, heart, joints, kidneys, and other organs, diseases etc especially as it is explained clearly and you can understand what is going to happen next and what you will need to do next.

There is an excellent chapter that deals with specific emergencies and what to do if needed. It has
Numerous illustrations are provided which make it easy to medicate your dog or provide first-aid, i.e. what to do if your dog is choking etc. There is information what to do if your dog has a wound, or has a dreaded grass seed in between their toes, or has a lump or your dog is constipated as this does happen!

Then, it has a great section of Emergencies; and what to do if this happens which I found brilliant. This covers, Dog fights, road accident, heat stroke, bloating, weakness in your dogs legs, when you dog has eating chocolate, garlic, onions etc. It even covers what to do if your dog has got bitten by an Adder snake! Ingested Slug bait - Metaldehyde to batteries!

This book keeps on giving............There is a chapter on "What to do if things go wrong" and covers what you can do if you can't afford the tests and treatments, How to go about changing your vet to how to make a complaint.

This is a Must Dog Bible handbook and a very helpful book, it just keeps on giving and a must to have in your house.

As a dog lover and owner to a Westie and a Cavapoo this book has been a gem especially as my Westie Millie is diabetic and now blind it has been a traumatic time for all of us but this book has helped me understand more about the condition and what to do if something happens to Millie and Charlie in the future.

A Big thank you to Literally pr for making me a part of a Book Tour I was invited to do and especially Christopher Little PhD.......If I could give 10 stars I would!






Profile Image for Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings).
1,703 reviews278 followers
April 3, 2024
As a potential dog owner myself I will be reading this book from cover to cover, as the information is invaluable to someone like me, who knows absolutely nothing about dogs health and ownership. The amount of knowledge and intense detail that the author has incorporated into this indispensable guide is just phenomenal. Who knew so much was needed to be known in order to be a thoughtful dog owner?

The author’s experience as a clinical vet for more than 40 years, having academic literature widely published, as well as lecturing in both the UK and abroad, more than credits him as a worthy scholar to advise on such a responsible subject.

There’s not much to add to my review that isn’t said in the blurb. This self-help book is the complete bible and life saver for all dog owners, whether you’re a seasoned owner, considering looking after a dog or are a complete newbie to the world of pet ownership. This hand-care book will take you from the planning of getting a dog, which breed is right for you, choosing your vet, medicine, illness, neutering along with a continual chronological guide through the whole life of your pet, even advising how to cope with its loss. I can’t recommend this book highly enough, it should be in everyone’s home and I hope you have a wonderful journey and relationship with your dog using the extensive advice supplied by Dr Christopher Little.

#TheDogCareHandbook - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Siobhain McCormick.
809 reviews34 followers
April 10, 2024
I honestly believe that every dog owner should have a copy of this book. Ideally before or just after getting your furry friend. Not only The Dog Care Handbook full of helpful information it is accessible and written in such a way that you are not left with more questions than answers. I have always been around dogs and my family have always had one, even before I was born. Even so I found things and answers to questions in this book I had not come across before!


The structure of the book is easy to follow and understand and logically laid out. You can easily find the section that is most relevant to your current need and narrow down your search. On top of this the tone of the book was refreshing. It was never condescending but came across as helpful and informative only. New or current dog owners are sure to find this beneficial and likely save a lot of money and visits or calls to the vets that can cause a lot of stress to both dogs and owners. On top of that, there is also a great deal of information on how to choose the right dog for you and potential issues dogs may face, even ‘pure breeds’ who often can have more issues than mixed. I know for a fact new owners or those who are looking to get a new dog, ideally by adoption (my own opinion) will benefit from.

If you are a dog owner or plan to be and want the best for your furry friend you need to get a copy of this book.


My thanks to the author, 5m Book and Literally PR for the copy of this book.
Profile Image for Laura.
622 reviews38 followers
March 24, 2024
🌟BookTour and Review🌟

My Review ⤵️

The Dog Care Handbook: Things I Wish My Vet Had Told Me by Christopher Little is a comprehensive guide for dog owners in the UK. It aims to improve their knowledge of dogs, their relationship with their vet, and their understanding of common diseases that dogs may develop. The book addresses the stress and high cost associated with vet visits, offering advice on finding a trustworthy vet who respects your perspective and budget.

The book covers all stages of a dog's life, from puppyhood to old age, focusing on preventative health measures and common health conditions. It also provides information on emergencies, home nursing, and caring for aging dogs. The inclusion of colorful anecdotes and case examples, as well as illustrations for medication and first-aid, makes the information easily accessible and practical for dog owners.

Author Christopher Little draws on his years of clinical practice in the UK to provide evidence-based advice, filling gaps in knowledge with his own perspective when necessary. The wide-ranging topics covered in the book make it a valuable resource for dog owners looking to better care for their pets.

Overall, The Dog Care Handbook is a must-read for UK dog owners seeking to improve their understanding of canine health and build a stronger relationship with their pet and vet! Every dog mummy and daddy should have access to this book!


5 stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
6,839 reviews107 followers
April 12, 2024
The Dog Care Handbook - Things I Wish My Vet Had Told Me - By Christopher Little.
The text covers the entire lifespan of pet dogs from puppyhood to old age, in chronological order. Preventative health is covered in detail. Major conditions of the skin, the heart, the joints, the kidneys and other organs are explained fully in lay language. One chapter deals specifically with emergencies, another with home nursing, a third covers old age. Colourful anecdotes and case examples are sprinkled throughout. Numerous illustrations are provided which make it easy to medicate your dog or provide first-aid.
This is a really good book to have. Very insightful. You will learn a lot with this book. I love the part that helps you to choose a dog. The book was very easy to follow. It has a guide on how to give medication with illustrations also how to put drops in with illustrations. The illustrations are very helpful. It covers the whole lifespan of puppy to old age. I'm glad I got sent this book. Very very helpful. 5*.
Profile Image for Bookread2day.
2,472 reviews63 followers
April 1, 2024
An excellent source of advice on dog care from a vet, when choosing a dog.

This is the book I wish I had read when choosing a dog many years ago. I chose the vet the nearest to me, once again I wish I had been able to read a book like this back then as vet Christopher Little knows what he is talking about and explains how to choose your vet. If you are thinking of buying a puppy or have bought a puppy, this handbook comes with all the very best information you could possibly need.
Profile Image for Helen Simpson.
1,133 reviews37 followers
April 19, 2024
As a dog parent and have been for over a decade. My knowledge of every dog related I thought was ample. Reading this book, I found it very helpful, especially with help regarding the care for my dog, leading not to have to go to the vets. Cost effective and a must-have for any dog or would be dog owner.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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