J. small Anim. Pract. (1976) 17, 201.

Book Review

Choose and Bring up your Puppy By Kay White. pp. 121. Elliott Right Way Books, Kingswood, Surrey. Paper- back, 40p.

Kay White is a professional journalist, a dog breeder and a friend of the veterin- ary profession. These qualifications are an excellent background to the writing of a book which is intended for the potential dog owner, but which should be able to meet the critical scrutiny of the small animal veterinary surgeon.

The book is presented in a convenient paper back form; as one would expect the style is always extremely readable, the text being interspersed with some charm- ing and often amusing illustrations.

The approach to buying and keeping a dog is straightforward, and full of com- mon sense. Mrs White deals with the initial decision as to whether a household really needs a puppy, and if so, where and how to buy it.

This is the first book of its type with which I am familiar, which shows any understanding of the way in which a small animal practice functions. There is discussion on visits, appointments, fees, referrals, emergency and out-of-hours work. Very early in the book it is made quite clear that there is not a National Health Service for animals. The very limited role that Welfare Societies have in the treat- ment of animals is also stressed.

Most of us, when presented with this kind of book, turn immediately to the sec- tion on illness where it is common to encounter a mish-mash of folk lore, veterinary mythology and inaccuracies, sometimes harmful, very rarely useful. Mrs White’s approach is to give sensibly some guidance on the signs of ill-health in the dog and then advises that a veterinary surgeon be consulted. Proving that she is human, she can’t resist the temptation to suggest what the likely treatment or diagnosis hight be-not always correctly!

I think Mrs White has written an extremely useful, unassuming little book which the practising veterinary surgeon can confidently recommend to anybody em- barking on the adventure of owning a dog. Not the least of its virtues in these in- flationary times is the price of 4Op which must represent excellent value for money.

IAN HUGHES

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