UA Pages Past GLEN BLACKWOOD
GLEN BLACKWOOD, owner
of the Great Lakes Fly Fishing
Company, lives in Rockford,
Michigan, with his family and a
trio of English springer spaniels.
For the past 25 years, Glen
has surrounded himself with
sporting books, rods, artwork
and guns. When not at the store,
Glen can be found wandering
with rod and gun close at hand.While small in size, this
book is large in scope.MVP: Most Valuable Paperback
T
he impetus for this column came from another Upland
Almanac columnist along with a phone call from a
friend whose English setter Ruger had a porcupine
encounter last spring. Dr. Hank Clemmons’s column
(Summer 2019) regarding dog first-aid kits caused
contemplation; soon followed the tale from my friend of Ruger
and his snout full of quills. These two separate yet intertwined
discussions led me down a path of dog first-aid books and their
importance to hunters in the field.
There is an abundance of canine first-aid books available.
Some are medically technical
in format, while others are
written in a style that is
more user-friendly for the
“companion/pet owner.” As
bird dog handlers, therefore,
what do we actually need?
First and foremost are not
only the contact information
of your local veterinarian but also the contact information
of veterinarians where you might travel. I rarely encourage
folks to write in books, but in this case, it is a must. Second,
the book needs to be compact so that
one can carry it afield without it being
a nuisance. Accidents rarely happen
at the truck. Third, it must be broad
based, covering the myriad of traumas
your partner could (hopefully never)
experience. Venomous snakes and cacti
are not serious threats in my Michigan
covers, yet I have experienced both
elsewhere. Fourth, it must be user-
friendly. Again, experience has taught
me that when an incident occurs,
both the handler and the dog become
stressed. Quickly being able to find and
understand a suggested treatment afield
is a must. Field Guide to Dog First Aid:
Emergency Care for the Outdoor Dog
by Randy Acker, DVM, meets those
criteria.
Acker, a graduate of Colorado
State University’s School of Veterinary
Medicine, currently practices in Idaho.
Published by Wilderness
Adventures Press, this paperback,
updated in 2018, is now in its third
edition and retails for $15. While smallin size, 7 by 4.25 inches, this
book is large in scope. The
first page is reserved as a
place to write a veterinarian’s
contact information. The book
discusses common ailments
such as diarrhea, lameness and
lacerations, as well as more
tragic issues such as poisons,
stomach torsion and – heaven
forbid – traps and gunshot
wounds.
The usefulness of this
book continues with each medical issue reviewed. He
describes each issue in a concise, comprehendible fashion.
Then he addresses symptoms, causes and field treatment in
the same style. Adding to the book’s utility are line drawings
by Christopher Smith and Roger Cruwys. These illustrations
correspond well with the author’s text. Utilizing the book’s
index of issues, I was able to find a potential ailment, read
the text and understand a field treatment in under a minute.
Granted, I did this while at my desk, not under the stress
of an actual emergency in the field. My
point is this book is written and illustrated
in a simple and understandable manner.
Along with the content of diagnoses and
treatments, the author also discusses
prevention, preparation and other useful
first-aid techniques such as how to muzzle
a dog and the application of bandages.
Additionally, he includes a list of
suggested first-aid supplies and a dosage
chart for over-the-counter medications
and their prescribed uses. I must mention
there is a call to action to purchase the
dog first-aid kit he sells through his
veterinarian clinic in this book, along with
other sources for such kits.
I am glad to report Ruger is fine.
Unfortunately, when the incident
occurred, the owner’s copy of this title
was inside his truck alongside his first-aid
kit. This episode was minor, but not all
are. In preparation for the fall, I suggest
reading Acker’s book and carrying it in
the field. You will be in the company of
two MVPs: your dog and a most valuable
paperback.