cover image Dr. Jim's Animal Clinic for Dogs: What People What to Know

Dr. Jim's Animal Clinic for Dogs: What People What to Know

Jim Humphries. Howell Books, $15 (286pp) ISBN 978-0-87605-756-8

Humphries, for nine years the host of a talk-radio show devoted to pets, puts Dr. Doolittle-style advice in a Dear Abby format, presenting his discussion as callers' questions and ``Dr. Jim's'' expert answers. As a result, the writing tends toward the chatty and can be repetitious. Fortunately, the contents are grouped into fairly specific themes (e.g., ``Senior Pets,'' ``Nails, Teeth, Eyes and Ears''), so readers can locate needed information with relative ease. Little here is new, but some sections merit close attention, particularly the thorough methods for ridding a dog of fleas and for recognizing and treating skin disorders and food allergies. Another welcome feature is Humphries's willingness to recommend specific brands of dog food and other products. And for those who enjoy reading advice columns for confirmation of their fellow humans' stupidity, there is much to harvest (e.g., one woman worries about the upcoming family vacation with the dog, because the vet has prescribed an ointment with the directions to apply it ``locally''). (Nov.)