The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health: The Complete Health Resource for Your Dog, Cat, Horse or Other Pets - In Everyday Language

A book that should be in the library of every pet owner and pet lover: The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health is an outstanding resource. Written by veterinarians and animal health specialists, the book is still aimed at the public at large. It's easy to understand and also easy to find information quickly. The book covers health issues in common and exotic pets, but there are also some unusual and interesting special subjects. I found the chapter on diseases spread from animals to people (zoonoses) fascinating because I like this sort of off the wall stuff. Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health is a book I will keep handy and will refer to often for the well being of my pets.

This book is a long time in coming. I have always had the "official" copy of the Merck Veterinarian Manual and refer to it often. But this book is really good for the layman who wants to understand what is going on with their pet, and doesn't have the time to figure out the medical jargon in the "big book." Very thorough and all inclusive. An excellent resource and must have for people who have animals.

This is a great at-home reference for pet owners. Gives a good deal of background and description for most of the ailments that your pets (dogs, cats, horses, birds, and some exotics are covered) will encounter in their life. No way a replacement for professional veterinary care, but a great guide to give you more details than your vet can during visits. A must have for all concerned pet parents!

I bought this book for my 14-year-old daughter who's active in 4-H and wants to be a vet (that's why she's always pestering us to get more pets). Anyway, this book gives her all she needs to answer whatever questions may pop up. She uses it as a reference rather than reading it cover-to-cover. So far she's used it to look up issues about koi (fish), dogs, birds, lizards and llamas. It has a huge amount of facts and to me (a non-vet) it looks very authoritative. Great for pet-crazy kids!

If you want an excellent source for information on the diseases and health issues that can affect your cat, dog, horse, bird, gold fish, or reptilian pet look no further than to the Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health. Like its counterpart for human medicine it is a source for accurate and thorough health information.