Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life

Speaking for Spot is one of the best gifts I've received this year and already I have put it to good use. My older dog was vomiting intermittently and losing weight and, despite many trips to our vet over several months, conservative treatments seemed to make little difference. After reading Speaking for Spot I realized that this was definitely a time to seek a second opinion and am happy I did. We now have an established diagnosis of gastric inflammatory disease and have begun a regimen with special diet and several prescription medications. The book was a tremendous help in preparing for the visit to the specialist, in knowing what questions to ask my vet and the specialist, in deciding what testing I did and did not want or need to do, and in knowing what questions to ask about the medications that were prescribed. It was a great feeling after our most recent appointment to come away knowing that it was a treatable problem and to feel like I had known enough to ask the right questions so that I really understood what was going on. The book has an information packed chapter on vaccinations and I plan to re-read that before our annual checkup in January. Thank you Dr. Nancy Kay.

For "animal lovers," who want to provide our pets with the best care, our choices are daunting. The information available to us (the internet, yikes)! is vast, there is an array of general and specialty veterinarians and pet hospitals, and even university vet programs offer services. How do we sort through choices and decisions? With this book! It is filled with information and advice on how to provide the best care for the animals we love, They count on us! To make the most informed choices given all the information (and, sadly, misinformation) out there, one thing is essential: Good communication with our pets' doctors. Just as in human medicine we have become more active participants in our health care, communicating with and learning from our physicians instead of just following "doctors orders," without asking questions, we can do the same for our animals. In fact, it's even MORE important because they can't do it for themselves! The author of Speaking for Spot, Dr. Nancy Kay, has created a great resource for pet guardians. This book will save anyone time, money, and frustration. It will help readers get the best possible care for their furry loved ones. You will know how to find the right doctor, how to understand what's happening to your pet--be it routine exams/check-ups and vaccinations, an acute illness, or a chronic condition that needs on-going management. And you will come to better understand how care is delivered to your pet, how to make decisions, and how to make the most of your relationship with your veterinarian and their hospital or clinic. We're all vulnerable and often overwhelmed when our cherished pet is ill, hospitalized, facing a delicate operation, or going through diagnostic testing. What could be better than a book that helps us navigate that experience as effectively and compassionately as possible? Don't put off reading this book, or wait until your pet is facing illness. The book is a great primer so that when something outside the routine occurs, you will be prepared. Develop a good working relationship with your veterinarian now; this book tells you how. (If you plan to adopt a pet in the future, this is also good book to "train" you as a new pet owner). Read this book. Your pet will thank you, you will be the best guardian you can be, and your vet will thank you. If you follow the advice in the book, you will know that a healthy pet is best cared for by you and your veterinarian working together. From routine veterinary office visit which by themselves can easily be a stressful, anxious experience, to illnesses that test all your composure as a dedicated pet owner, your experience will be far less difficult if you read "Speaking for Spot." By way of disclosure: I am not an objective observer about "Speaking for Spot," since I have been fortunate to know and work with Dr. Kay personally. In my association with the author, I have found she is "the real deal." The book only confirms what I have seen first-h

I am a long time pet owner and have recently been forced to make a difficult decision for my beloved dog. I wish I had had this book to help guide me through it. I now have a new puppy in my life and feel more confident now that I have such a valuable resource at my fingertips. I have used it several times already. The information is well organized and easy to read. Dr. Kay's style is personal and very down to earth. Every responsible dog owner will love this book!

There are many difficult decisions that pet owners have to make throughout the lives of their animals. Because of this, Speaking for Spot should be on the "must have" list for every dog owner. Dr. Kay helps you make decisions from how to buy a puppy to what is an appropriate vaccination schedule. This book will be very helpful in starting conversations with your own veterinarian. As I read the book I found myself wishing that Dr. Kay lived closer to me as I would love to have a vet that I felt was so compassionate for her patients and clients . I feel that there is something for everyoneto learn from Speaking For Spot.

As a veterinarian, I will be recommending this book to all of my clients! Dr. Kay gives dog lovers the tools they need to get the best care for their dog. From choosing a veterinarian and a clinic, to advice on vaccinations, to money matters, Dr. Kay provides clear, concise guidelines. Speaking for Spot tells you what symptoms to report to your veterinarian and what questions to ask your vet about their diagnosis and recommendations. Chapters discuss how to make the big decisions, such as cancer therapy, surgery and the end of life decision making is discussed with clarity and sensitivity. And Dr. Kay's anecdotes are so true - I've seen them all in my practice!! Most importantly, Speaking for Spot helps dog lovers communicate with their veterinarians so that they get the care they want for their dogs, avoiding misunderstandings, unanswered questions and doubts about the medical decisions being made. If all my clients read Speaking for Spot, my job would be so much easier and my patients would be getting the best care that they deserve! Thank you, Dr. Kay!!