The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home edition)
Reviewed by Karina Valerius Osterday, DVM, MS, DACVIM
The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition) provides a concise and thorough reference tool for pet owners, veterinary staff, and veterinary students. This edition is based closely on The Merck Veterinary Manual, which is a popular reference manual for veterinarians.
The goal of the editors is to provide a comprehensive resource on the most common diseases of pets. The book is divided into 9 sections. Dogs, cats, and horses each have 2 sections. The first section for each of these species covers husbandry and behavior, and the second section covers common disorders. Disorders are further organized into chapters and grouped on the basis of body systems, such as blood, heart, digestive, hormonal, eye, ear, immune, musculoskeletal, neurologic, reproductive, pulmonary, skin, urinary tract, metabolic, and multiple body system disorders. Another section is devoted to birds, 1 section is devoted to exotic pets, and 1 section (section 9) is devoted to special subjects. The glossary at the back of the book defines common medical terms. I find section 9 to be the most helpful section for pet owners. It provides practical information on pet health and emergency care as well as information on routine diagnostic tests, common drugs, poisoning, pain management, traveling with pets, cancer, and the human-animal bond. There are many illustrations in the manual, and they are well done. I assume the choice for use of color was performed in an effort to maintain an affordable manual; however, more brightly colored illustrations may attract the attention of pet owners. The manual is fairly priced considering the extensive amount of information provided.—By Cynthia M. Kahn & Scott Line. 1,345 pages; illustrated. Merck & Co Inc, One Merck Dr, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889. ISBN 978-0-911910-22-3. 2007. Price $29.95.
