Leaders of the Pack: Women and the Future of Veterinary Medicine
Julie Kumble, MEd & Donald F. Smith, DVM, DACVSâ€
169 pages. 2017. Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-1-55753-772-0. Price $17.99.
†Deceased.
Leaders of the Pack: Women and the Future of Veterinary Medicine is a 7-chapter book co-authored by a veterinary surgeon (Smith) and director in women's leadership (Kumble). It is meant to encourage women to develop leadership skills that will contribute to the welfare and advancement of the veterinary profession and society by providing a thought-provoking exploration of the women who have helped lead the veterinary profession and into why there is still a gender difference in leadership positions. This book also explores how gender plays a role in leadership styles and offers possible solutions for bringing more of a balance to leadership roles in veterinary medicine in terms of gender proportion.
The book is organized into easily readable chapters that examine different aspects of leadership with key take-home points summarized at the end of each chapter. Each chapter explores how advancement of individual leadership will also lead to greater societal changes in both the veterinary profession as well as for women leadership in general.
The numerous examples of women leaders presented in the book motivates and inspires readers to become more involved in the profession, whether by taking a more active role in the local community or becoming involved at a more national level. Overall, this book is well written and reasonably priced.
Reviewed by Kathryn Sharbrough, DVM
Abraham's Equine Clinic Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Necropsy Guide for Dogs, Cats, and Small Mammals
Sean P. McDonough, DVM, PhD, DACVP Teresa Southard, DVM, PhD, DACVP
200 pages. 2017. Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-119-11565-6. Price $74.99.
Necropsy Guide for Dogs, Cats, and Small Mammals is a valuable resource for veterinary students, new practitioners, and veterinary pathology residents. The organization and concise text allow for accessibility of quality information without excessive detail. The book is organized into 4 main sections: basic necropsy introduction, necropsy guide by organ system, special tips for special situations, and guide for ancillary testing. The organ system chapters include practical reviews of anatomy and prosection and lesion interpretation tips. Common artifacts, nonlesions, and postmortem changes are also explained for each organ system. The color figures, legends, and tables complement the text by providing clear visual guides and summaries. The appendices provide quick references for common queries. This practical reference will improve the necropsy quality of any veterinarian who takes full advantage of the information provided, and use of this book throughout the veterinary curriculum should improve the necropsy skills of graduating veterinarians.
Reviewed by Danielle D. Nelson, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Washington State University Pullman, Wash
Managing the Laboratory Animal Facility (3rd edition)
Jerald Silverman, DVM, DACLAM
401 pages. 2017. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4987-4278-8. Price $89.95.
The third edition of Managing the Laboratory Animal Facility is a well-written, practical guide for both new and experienced managers and leaders of laboratory animal care and use programs. The underlying theme of the book is to continuously improve operational efficiency and efficacy by effective use of human, fiscal, capital, and information resources and time management. It emphasizes the importance of trust within the work team and describes methods to motivate and empower employees. It also characterizes the differences between managing and leading a group. The author deftly draws on contemporary management theory and his extensive experience as a facility director to provide realistic examples of and solutions to animal facility management challenges. It is also easily adaptable to institution-specific situations and cultures. This edition incorporates information on lean management principles and current references on a variety of the topics discussed. In addition, it expands upon the calculation of per diem rates. I encourage managers at all levels within an animal care and use program, from supervisors to directors, to read this informative and easy-to-understand manual.
Reviewed by Lynn C. Anderson, DVM, DACLAM
Charles River Laboratories Inc Wilmington, Mass
Handbook of Laboratory Animal Anesthesia and Pain Management: Rodents (Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series)
Cholawat Pacharinsak, DVM, PhD, DACVAA Jennifer C. Smith, DVM, DACLAM
196 pages. 2017. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4665-8567-6. Price $55.95
Handbook of Laboratory Animal Anesthesia and Pain Management: Rodents is the 16th volume in the Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series. Rodents are the species most extensively used in biomedical research, and many experimental procedures require some form of anesthesia. Thus, this book is a logical addition to the series. The editors and contributing authors include veterinary anesthesiologists and laboratory animal veterinarians experienced with the use of rodents in research. The intent of this book is to provide a quick reference for anesthesia and pain management of laboratory rodents. The intended audience is principal investigators, technicians, and staff who use and care for rodents in research settings, especially those who work at small institutions that lack the resources of a large organized program or newly established research programs that need to implement rodent care and use protocols. As with previous volumes in this series, this book uses a bullet-point format to provide a quick reference on topics. It is organized into 9 chapters that cover the basics of anesthesia including pharmacology, equipment and monitoring, pain management, species considerations and special techniques, euthanasia, and regulatory requirements as they relate to anesthesia and analgesia of rodents. The chapter on regulatory requirements provides a comprehensive discussion of US laws, regulations, and standards related to the anesthesia and pain management of rodents. The chapter on pain management was especially well organized and provides a succinct and concise outline of the topic and includes useful tables of common analgesic agents and dosages for rodents. In contrast, the chapter on pharmacology was too broad in its scope and included discussion of anesthetics that have no relevance to rodent anesthesia today. The major flaw of the book is that it falls short of its stated purpose to provide a ready reference for small or newly established programs. Many practical details related to anesthesia are omitted or simply referenced. Although adequately referenced, readers will need to have other textbooks or access to an extensive library to fill in the missing details. It was especially curious that, unlike the chapter on pain management, the chapters on anesthesia did not include tables of anesthetic agents and dosages commonly used in rodents. Overall, readers will likely find this book to be a supplement to other anesthesia and pain management references and not the practical handbook it was intended to be.
Reviewed by Ronald P. Wilson, VMD, MS, DACLAM
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, Pa
The Laboratory Bird (Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series)
Douglas K. Taylor, Vanessa K. Lee, & Karen R. Strait
161 pages. 2016. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4665-9362-6. Price $59.95.
The Laboratory Bird is a welcome new volume in the Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series. Birds have become important animal models in biomedical research, and this book fulfills a relatively empty niche in this field.
The book consists of 6 chapters that cover a wide range of biological features present in the class Aves. The authors focus on the Orders and avian species most commonly used in research, such as Anseriformes (ducks and geese), Columbiformes (pigeons and doves), Galliformes (chickens and quails), Passeriformes (passerines and songbirds), and Psittaciformes (parrots). The section on anatomy and physiology provides a succinct review of the unique characteristics and features that characterize this class.
The husbandry chapter is one of the strongest chapters of the book and provides solid and abundant details about specific husbandry requirements and environmental enrichment for different bird groups. Many birds used in the laboratory for biomedical research are very sensitive and prone to multiple medical conditions owing to poor husbandry techniques and insufficient or inadequate environmental enrichment. This chapter provides readers with the necessary information to maintain the physical and mental health of laboratory birds in accordance with ethical and welfare demands and expectations.
The chapter on diseases and medical care describes common medical disorders observed in birds maintained under laboratory conditions. Although this chapter is not comprehensive enough to replace traditional avian disease and medicine books, it contains sufficient information to aid nonveterinary laboratory personnel in identifying clinically abnormal research subjects. Clinical procedures are adequately described; however, the additional inclusion of a large number of high-quality photographs depicting those procedures would have improved the didactic value of this chapter considerably. The book contains useful sections about federal and state regulations and the procurement, transport, and quarantine of birds. Occupational health and safety considerations for laboratory personnel are also included. The last chapter contains a detailed list of various avian professional organizations, diagnostic laboratories, and food and equipment suppliers.
In conclusion, this book is a must-have for those who work with birds in every aspect of biomedical research. Veterinary technicians, laboratory personnel, institutional animal care and use committee members, and researchers will find in this book a reliable source of information about laboratory birds.
Reviewed by Miguel D. Saggese, DVM, PhD
Western University of Health Sciences Pomona, Calif
