Reviews for Caring for a cat with hyperthyroidism

"Sarah Caney has produced another fantastic book to help cat owners – this time, for the clients whose cat has been recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The book is written in gentle flowing prose, with information that is almost at the veterinary level in terms of depth of understanding. The information is explained so clearly and expressed so simply that it is within the grasp of the average owner. Sarah explains the pathophysiology of the disease, why cats get clinical signs, and the chronology and progression of the condition. Importantly, she goes through all the different treatment options that are available, discussing the pros and cons of each alternative. This will help enormously - as there really is quiet a choice and the reasons why a vet may recommend one treatment over another can be difficult for a client to perceive. Many vets will take the opportunity of giving this text to owners with recently diagnosed hyperthyroidism, to help them play a more active role in deciding the treatment options for their cat. I cannot recommend this book too highly – owners will get a lot out of it, nurses will learn quite a bit, and even experienced feline clinicians will find out some new ways of thinking about how to treat different individual patients."

Professor Richard Malik, DVSc DipVetAn MVetClinStud PhD FACVSc FASM, Valentine Charlton Feline Specialist, University of Sydney, Australia

"A brilliantly written book, very well thought through and extremely thorough yet written in a way that owners will easily understand. This book will answer any query that an owner has about hyperthyroidism and greatly deepen owner understanding of the condition. A definite must for any practice that sees feline patients, and highly recommended for any owner of a hyperthyroid cat."

Andrea Harvey, FAB Clinical Fellow in Feline Medicine, University of Bristol, UK

"Having read Sarah’s book all I can say is how lucky the owner of a newly diagnosed hyperthyroid cat would be to have access to it. I would have given my eye teeth to have had a book like this to read when my first cat was diagnosed, and even though I have learnt quite a lot since (with my little hyperthyroid gang of six), this has made much of what I thought I understood so much clearer. It would have saved me many sleepless nights over the last few years.
 
This book is a must for every vet’s surgery and I will be nagging my practice to get a copy.  In fact, I think I will provide them with one as I think it is an absolute necessity."

Kathy Wilkinson, UK Cat Owner

Reviews for Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease

"Caring for a cat with urinary tract disease" is a comprehensive guide that covers signs, symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatment, management and prevention of lower urinary tract disease. Complicated veterinary procedures are discussed but the language is very accessible and an easy-to-follow glossary of terminology enables owners with no medical knowledge to understand the condition. The depth of the information makes it equally useful for veterinary nurses, cattery staff, breeders and re-homing charities.  
 
This book also emphasises the need for practical lifestyle changes at home to manage FLUTD and gives excellent advice on subjects such as reducing stress in a multi-cat household and encouraging cats to drink.

FLUTD is a complicated subject for owners to fully appreciate so it is wonderful, at last, to have one book that contains all the necessary information that can be recommended to everyone!

Vicky Halls – Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and
author of ‘Cat Confidential’, ‘Cat Detective’, ‘Cat Counsellor’ and ‘The Complete Cat’

Review in 'UK Vet:  The Journal for the Veterinary Surgeon in General Practice'  (Volume 14 No.4, May 2009) - (opens in new window)

Review in 'Your Cat' (Britain's best selling cat magazine) - August 2009 (opens in new window)

Reviews for Caring for a Blind Cat

''Caring for a blind cat” contains comprehensive yet accessible information on the anatomy, diseases and conditions of the eye together with practical step-by-step advice for owners. It addresses both gradual and sudden onset presentations and provides excellent advice on the specific needs and care of the blind cat. The case histories are particularly useful, as it's always good to know you are not alone when tackling a problem! "

Vicky Halls - Author and member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors

This book will be of great help and comfort to owners of visually-impaired and blind cats. It is both highly informative and very practical, and the case studies give a real insight to the resilience of cats and their near unending ability to adapt to change (often being far better at it than their owners).

Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore BSc BVM&S PhD MACVSc MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about blindness in cats. The book is fantastic - really easy to read and packed with information including a useful glossary of veterinary terms. I’ve found it helpful in explaining more about my blind cat’s eye problems and in advising me on how I can make life as easy as possible for her.

Amanda, UK cat owner

Review in VNJ (Veterinary Nursing Journal) - June 2009 (opens in new window)

Reviews for Caring for a Cat with Kidney Failure

A 'must-read' for owners and vets alike.  Sarah Caney is a leading expert on kidney disease in cats, and her book describes in clear language the various problems associated with kidney failure and - most importantly - what can be done to treat these problems This book is an invaluable tool for any owner wanting to work with their vet to find the right combination of treatments to give their cat the best possible quality of life, despite the diagnosis of kidney failure.

Jacquie Mellor, UK cat owner

The booklet Caring for a Cat with Kidney Failure is a very thorough document. Easy to read and clearly outlines the whole process from noticing possible symptoms of kidney disease in our beloved pet cat to listing the possible outcomes of treatments available and how to continue managing the condition. It is very comforting to read a document written by an experienced veterinary specialist who respects both the emotional connection owners have to their pets as well as the owners capacity to understand the complexity of the condition. This is more than an information document, I believe it is a handy reference booklet I can see myself referring to time and again as I manage my cat's kidney disease.

Suzanne, Australian cat owner

Spread the word – a book that will help take away some of the feelings of guilt, failure and helplessness of being told your cat  has kidney failure!  AND it will help understand the tests and treatment suggested for your cat  meaning that you can ask sensible questions about why certain  tests haven’t been done etc.  

Advances in treatment for kidney failure seem to take forever to filter down to individual practices and be introduced, perhaps because vets feels owners may only be willing to try diet and medication.  Hopefully this book will enable  owners to try a more hands-on approach if they and the vet are comfortable with this and give more cats a better quality of life.

Kathy Wilkinson, UK cat owner

Declining kidney function is a reality that most cats face as they get older; in fact, it may even be considered age-appropriate. Dr. Sarah Caney's book is thorough and informative, yet remains easy to read. I recommend it for any caring cat person who wants, or needs, to know more about "kidney failure" in their kitty. Sarah is not only an expert in this scientific area but also at explaining the condition and potential treatments so that you will understand what your vet may recommend to enhance your kitty's quality of life for as long as possible. A reassuring read!

Margie Scherk
DVM, Diplomate ABVP (feline practice)
Editor Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
President American Association of Feline Practitioner

This very clearly and thoughtfully written book will be of great benefit and comfort to anyone with a cat that develops kidney disease. It should also be essential reading for all vet students and veterinary surgeons so that they can know how to best help their patients.

Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore
BSc BVM&S PhD MACVSc MRCVS
RVCS Specialist in Feline Medicine
Head of the Feline Clinic
University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Feline renal insufficiency is a common diagnosis in general practice. Most vets have a sound approach to the complete investigation of these cases – including haematology, full urinalysis, urine culture, determination of the urinary protein to creatinine ratio and systolic blood pressure, and sonography of both kidneys and the bladder.

Feline clinicians have no doubt got better at diagnosing these cases earlier using “wellness” and geriatric examinations, and pre-anaesthetic screening. No doubt we can also do a better job treating these cases – using the wide range of excellent “prescription diets” currently available, and in some cases adjunctive measures such as blood pressure control, phosphate binders, and in a minority of cases, ACE inhibitors and possibly calcitriol.

But we have a PROBLEM. We are increasingly 'time poor' – and it's hard to make the time required to fully discuss what we have done diagnostically and therapeutically, and what the clients “need to do” for their cat with newly diagnosed renal insufficiency patient. It’s also hard to always be systematic and talk about everything that needs to be covered, and to present the data in a way that is both FRESH and tailored to the individual client. This is easy to do on a quiet day, but not so easy when you have a waiting room full of clients! And not so easy to do when it’s the third cat you have diagnosed with renal insufficiency this week!

This is where Dr Sarah Caney’s outstanding e-book Caring for a cat with renal failure has so much to offer. Sarah has taken a great deal of time and effort to produce a document that clearly and GENTLY goes through everything a client needs and wishes to know about the approach to the diagnosis and management of feline renal insufficiency. The writing is lucid and easily digestible. I can almost hear Sarah saying these things to a client as I read the text! The length of the monograph (some 40 pages of text, richly decorated with pertinent photographs) is sufficient to cover all the key aspects of diagnosis, management and prognosis – and the approach is flexible enough to cover every case scenario likely to be encountered by small animal practitioners. There is also a glossary of terms, a representative case study and a list of additional on-line resources.

Importantly, cat owners are re-assured that they are not the cause of the problem, but rather PART OF THE SOLUTION. It offers hope and guidance, but without providing unreasonable expectations.

In my view, every owner with a newly diagnosed case of renal insufficiency should read this book. It does not replace a long conversation with their clinician – but it should augment and amplify all the points covered in the examination room, so the dialogue will be reinforced and illuminated. It also provides additional information in more detail than is possible to provide in the time generally available for such a consultation.

There is no doubt in my mind that routine use of this text will lead to improved vet-client communication, and improved compliance with therapy measures. This will likely translate into better case management. I am sure this will impact favourably on clinical outcomes, and thus be of great benefit to many geriatric cats.

Professor Richard Malik
DVSc DipVetAn MVetClinStud PhD FACVSc FASM
Valentine Charlton Feline Specialist
University of Sydney, Australia

Review in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery - Published 2008 (opens in new window)