There are a bunch of books on Amazon on how to care for a sick or injured dog-- and how to know if it's serious enough for the vet. Which one is the best, most practical one?
Natural Health for Dogs is fantastic. I have used it for several years. It's perhaps one of the best resources ever written and it's very inexpensive. You can find it al http://www.dogs-4life.com/canine-longevity.html