I think you should read this book cover-to-cover for greatest benefit. The indexing and organization are poor for referencing on an as-needed basis...making it fairly useless in an emergency situation.

Although this is an older book, it is indispensable if you want to be well-informed about your dog. Unlike many newer dog care books I've looked at, this one gives the in-depth detail a concerned dog owner wants. I've turned to it more times than I can count! It may not be the best choice if you just want a real general guide, but if you want a detailed, comprehensive dog care book, this is it!