About the book
Marley may have been the worst-behaved
dog, but Layla was probably the sickest.
Her life spotlights an alarming crisis in canine health.
dog, but Layla was probably the sickest.
Her life spotlights an alarming crisis in canine health.

Illness and disease are increasing at alarming rates among dogs in the U.S. Currently, about one out of every three dogs gets cancer, and, even with treatment, half of those canine cancer patients don’t survive. At least 10 percent of
U.S. dogs have allergies. Rates of allergies vary widely by breed, however, with the most popular breeds (especially Labrador retrievers and German shepherds) generally exhibiting higher rates. Other serious health problems also are rising, including chronic intestinal inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and neuromuscular disorders. Although the causes and treatments of these maladies often seem perplexing, a wealth of research in veterinary science points to some answers.
Layla's Life presents the latest research on these and other serious health issues plaguing U.S. dogs today, with an emphasis on their known and probable causes, as well as the most-effective treatments. Weaved into this in-depth research is the remarkable story of Layla, a Labrador retriever who exhibited a stunning number and severity of these illnesses in her short five years. Although we are a long way from fully understanding canine illnesses and their causes, veterinary scientists have made enormous headway. Unfortunately, many of their findings are buried in highly technical research reports within restricted-access scientific journals. This book transforms those often-perplexing research findings into easy-to-understand lessons that any dog-lover can put into practice. Further, linking these lessons to a real case like Layla’s exposes the realities of these illnesses and offers guidance for coping with their emotional, financial, and logistical implications.
Expected publication: 2017/18
U.S. dogs have allergies. Rates of allergies vary widely by breed, however, with the most popular breeds (especially Labrador retrievers and German shepherds) generally exhibiting higher rates. Other serious health problems also are rising, including chronic intestinal inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and neuromuscular disorders. Although the causes and treatments of these maladies often seem perplexing, a wealth of research in veterinary science points to some answers.
Layla's Life presents the latest research on these and other serious health issues plaguing U.S. dogs today, with an emphasis on their known and probable causes, as well as the most-effective treatments. Weaved into this in-depth research is the remarkable story of Layla, a Labrador retriever who exhibited a stunning number and severity of these illnesses in her short five years. Although we are a long way from fully understanding canine illnesses and their causes, veterinary scientists have made enormous headway. Unfortunately, many of their findings are buried in highly technical research reports within restricted-access scientific journals. This book transforms those often-perplexing research findings into easy-to-understand lessons that any dog-lover can put into practice. Further, linking these lessons to a real case like Layla’s exposes the realities of these illnesses and offers guidance for coping with their emotional, financial, and logistical implications.
Expected publication: 2017/18