on November 6th at 3:26 pm 
The millions of pet owners who seek expert, in-depth information to help keep the animals in their lives healthy can now turn to a source based on the one used by their veterinarians. The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health is the first complete health guide for pet owners, and is based on The Merck Veterinary Manual, the trusted and best-selling reference used by veterinarians for more than 50 years.
Available wherever books are sold, The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health focuses on preventive care and delivers animal health advice in everyday language that people with all kinds of animal companions–dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, reptiles and other exotic pets–can easily understand.
The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health is published on a not-for-profit basis through an educational partnership between the global research-driven pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc., and Merial Limited, a leading global animal health company. The book is authored by more than 200 veterinary health experts and offers reliable, comprehensive animal health information on topics of concern for all pet owners.
“In 2006, pet owners spent an estimated $9 billion on veterinary care for their animal companions,” said Cynthia M. Kahn, editor. “The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health should help pet owners communicate more effectively with their veterinarians to keep their animals healthy. No other book offers as much health information on as many types of pets as The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health.”
Merck and Merial bring years of experience in animal health care and medical publishing to The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health, which translates comprehensive medical information about animal health into simple and clear layman’s terms for the pet owner.
Comprehensive Resource
The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health contains 85 chapters, more than 1,300 pages of information, and informative, two-color illustrations throughout. With a focus on preventive care, the book covers a wide range of topics from guidelines for selecting the right pet and providing a safe and healthy home, to descriptions of the signs and treatment of common diseases and disorders that affect all pets.
In addition, special sections address topics such as:
- Emergency care and first aid
- Descriptions of common diagnostic tests, including complete blood counts, bacterial cultures, biopsies and urinalysis
- Diseases that can be spread from pets to people, such as ringworm, toxoplasmosis, plague, rabies, West Nile virus infection and avian influenza (bird flu)
- A list of common drugs and vaccines for pets
- A guide on traveling with pets
Reflecting the Significance of Animal Health
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health will be donated to the Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation established in 2004 by animal expert Joan Embery. Ms. Embery is a global champion of wildlife and environmental initiatives and widely recognized for her work with the Zoological Society of San Diego. “My ranch is home to some 50 horses, personal pets, and exotic animals from around the world,” said Ms. Embery. “But whether domestic or exotic, the one thing all of my animals have in common is their need for appropriate, good quality health care. For the first time, pet owners like me, have an easy-to-read version of the manual veterinarians have been using for years.”
Availability & Cost
The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health costs U.S. $22.95 (paperback) and is available for purchase online and wherever books are sold.
