Friday, September 26, 2014

My Book is available: Laughter & Tears: A Veterinarian's Memoir and Advice

This is to let my readers (and their friends) know that the book I have written  Laughter & Tears: A Veterinarian's Memoir and Advice is now available as an e-book through Amazon. In 3-4 months it will be out in paperback (and I will send another announcement). The e-book is $5.99 and the paperback should be about $12.99.

Here is the link
 to Amazon.

Amazon does include a brief description of my book, but: I'd like to share my own thoughts.

This veterinarian’s memoir is inspired by an almost forty year career that overflowed with wonderful people and their devoted pets. In this book you meet animal lovers who struggle with guilt even though it is obviously time to say goodbye to their pets. You share the anguish of those who have no idea how to select the right pet and are shocked when their choice turns out to be totally inappropriate. You read about a house call where a client has a heart attack only moments before her pet is put to sleep; you witness a Rottweiler escape from his owner and lunge at my face. I will describe the cruel and sordid picture of corporate veterinary America where monetary ambition is considered more important than the practice of quality medicine. The stories of my own pets are scattered through the book. Each is introduced with a short novelized autobiography (and a picture). You laugh out loud when my Golden Retriever, Bailey, compares road kill to the delicacies in a buffet line. But, for the most part, this is a poignant story of people and the pets they love.

The last section is an appendix with 13 valuable lessons. Included are topics ranging from selecting the right pet to why you should feed a measured amount of a quality pet food.  Suggestions for easier house training and essential obedience training are reviewed. I offer advice on how to identify the exceptional veterinarian as well as how to save money on your pet’s medications and veterinary care. More appropriate and safer vaccination protocols are examined in detail. (Are your pets still getting vaccinations every year? You need to read and understand why they should not be!) Why your pet should be neutered, ear disease, and understanding your cat are all discussed before the closing lesson on euthanasia embraces the inevitable heartbreak we face with each of our pets. If you enjoy reading about people and their pets, you’ll love this book. If you want to partner in your pet’s health care, this will be a great help.    

Please send me your comments; praise or criticism, I'd still like to hear.

Kenneth H. Cohn, DVM