Dog and Cat Dissection Guide: A Regional Approach
Reviewer: Hrvoje Smodlaka, DVM, PhD
Dog and Cat Dissection Guide: A Regional Approach is designed to facilitate gross anatomic dissection in laboratory settings for veterinary students. The book is divided into chapters on the basis of topographic anatomy. This book is an addition to the few dissection guides available for the dissection of dogs and cats.
In this dissection guide, the authors make a strong and consistent point about the clinical relevance for learning anatomy. Veterinary students should definitely appreciate this because it makes the study of anatomy more meaningful. It is also helpful that the authors are consistently trying to relate gross anatomy to radiologic findings throughout the guide, given that these are closely associated disciplines. In addition, each chapter has a section that discusses palpation of relevant structures and landmarks, which makes this dissection guide unique because it emphasizes the clinical importance of studying anatomy.
The dissection guide has a plethora of schematic diagrams and drawings of the anatomy of dogs and cats, which range from extremely good to modest quality, with drawings of modest quality typically not symmetric. In contrast, some good drawings are innovative and provide an outlook on gross anatomy not seen in other dissection guides. Cartoons are provided throughout the guide and are entertaining; however, some anatomic drawings also have cartoonish features, which diminish their anatomic accuracy. The current trend is to use color drawings in dissection guides because they provide more depth perception of an image.
In each section, the authors provide a list of structures that need to be identified, which makes this dissection guide extremely reader-friendly and easy to follow. This guide provides images to demonstrate dissection techniques to students, which is extremely helpful. The use of acronyms in some sections is inconsistent, and the anatomic labels on some drawings miss the noun in the anatomic name. Infrequently, drawings will be of an anatomic feature and the accompanying text will describe something different.
I recommend this book as an alternative to other dissection guides. I hope that the authors will expand on their existing framework in future editions because their unique approach to teaching anatomy has a great potential.—By Chris Pasquini & Susan Pasquini. 584 pages; illustrated. Sudz Publishing, 1222 S Highway 277, PO Box 1199, Pilot Point, TX 76258. ISBN: none. 2009. Price $69.95.
Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures—Canine & Feline (Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Series)
Reviewed by Laura D. Garrett, DVM, DACVIM
Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures—Canine & Feline is a comprehensive text of clinical veterinary medicine tests and procedures and is a unique and exciting addition to veterinary textbooks. Addressed to general practitioners and veterinary students, it will also be appropriate and useful for specialists-in-training and many specialist practices. Intended as a companion text for Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult, this book easily stands on its own. The authors and editors have nicely accomplished their goals of compiling up-to-date and detailed information on the stated subjects in an easily searchable and useable volume. With a format similar to that of the other Five-Minute Veterinary Consult books, the entries combine a paragraph format for basic test procedures and associated physiologic explanations with a bullet format for other information, including indications and contraindications for tests and sample acquisition and handling. Sections discussing test interpretation and clinical perspectives are also in a bullet format; these sections beautifully expand the dry details of how the tests are performed to the when, why, and what now of clinical practice. Overall, the layout of the pages is extremely user-friendly; occasionally, the formatting leaves a large part of a page empty with the same subject continued on the next page. This blank space may be confusing because it appears that the entry for that subject is complete; however, the headings on the pages clearly indicate the topic of each page and should help prevent confusion. The book is reasonably priced. This impressive textbook is well worth the cost and will make a valuable addition to any veterinarian's reference library.—Shelly L. Vaden, Joyce S. Knoll, Franics W. K. Smith Jr, & Larry P. Tilley. 763 pages; illustrated. Wiley-Blackwell, 2121 State Ave, Ames, IA 50014. ISBN 978-0-8138-1748-4. 2009. Price $99.99.
Small Animal Medical Diagnosis (3rd edition)
Reviewed by India Lane, DVM, EdD, DACVIM
With largely a new set of authors, this completely updated edition of Small Animal Medical Diagnosis continues to capture the logic of the problem-oriented medical approach in a user-friendly format. As with previous editions, the third contains numerous short chapters devoted to a single problem: a primary complaint, clinical sign, physical examination finding, or laboratory finding. Each chapter provides a brief description of relevant pathophysiologic processes and provides a mental model for sorting out the likely cause. Extensive lists of etiologies, usually categorized by mechanism, are also included for reference. In some instances, the comprehensive nature of the lists blurs the bigger picture and buries the most common causes in a long table, but readers can avoid this limitation by focusing on the big categories. Most chapters in the third edition also include a clinical vignette (ie, a short representative case example). I found these vignettes particularly useful as an intriguing introduction to the chapter and as a stimulating test of applied knowledge. There are minor variations in format in some chapters, but these do not detract from the overall quality or usefulness of the book.
This book fills a gap that exists between the quick-reference texts that have proliferated recently and more extensive medical reference texts. It provides an approach to problems in manageable and meaningful chunks to create conceptual understanding, rather than providing an outline of facts and recommendations. The book is probably most useful for veterinary students and new graduates overwhelmed by the amount of information in other texts but facing animals with problems in their clinics. It would also be a handy off-the-shelf reference for practitioners faced with rare problems or hoping to avoid overlooking a key differential diagnosis. Students who work through the book in a thoughtful manner can be expected to gain skills in problem identification and the mechanistic diagnostic approach. Working through the clinical vignettes also strikes me as an excellent way to prepare for the national licensing examination, with more learning gained than anticipated from practicing multiple-choice questions. In summary, this book should be an excellent investment for veterinary students and small animal practitioners.—By Michael D. Lorenz, T. Mark Neer, & Paul L. DeMars. 502 pages; illustrated. Wiley-Blackwell, 2121 State Ave, Ames, IA 50014. ISBN 978-0-8138-1338-7. 2009. Price $74.99.
The Biology of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Snakes of the World: A Scholarly Handbook for Identification and Treatment
Reviewed by Dalen W. Agnew, DVM, PhD, DACVP
The Biology of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Snakes of the World: A Scholarly Handbook for Identification and Treatment is not a book for the typical veterinary practitioner or even most of the veterinarians who examine snakes on an occasional basis. It is intended for parasitologists, herpetologists, research libraries, zoos, diagnostic laboratories, and avid herpetological veterinarians who need to know everything about the parasites they might identify in their patients. To say this book is comprehensive is an under-statement: it represents an exhaustive and meticulous, but elegantly organized, review of the literature collected by 2 of the most eminent scientists in the field of parasitology. It satisfies its claim to be a scholarly handbook for identification and treatment.
This paperback book is organized into sections of general information detailing the terms of coccidian systems and life cycles as well as techniques for their collection, storage, and identification. Coccidian species of each snake family are then catalogued in a standardized format, which includes host, locality, other hosts, geographic distribution, descriptions of the various life cycle forms, prevalence, type of sporulation, prepatent and patent periods, site of infection, endogenous stages, potential for crosstransmission, pathology, archived materials available, and general remarks. Additional chapters discuss sarcosporidiosis, cryptosporidiosis, and strategies for management and treatment of diseases associated with coccidiosis. Tables and drawings that summarize life cycles and morphology make this text particularly useful. Although the jargon and density of information initially appear daunting, the efficient but elegant writing style, consistent format, and glossary make this a readable book, although most readers will likely use it solely as a reference. There is no other book like it. It will serve scientists in other fields well as a model of how an exhaustively complete, yet highly useable, book can be written and sold at an affordable price.—By Donald W. Duszynski & Steve J. Upton. 430 pages; illustrated. CreateSpace Inc, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing LLC, an Amazon.com Co (https://www.createspace.com/3388533). ISBN 1448617995. 2009. Price $70.00.
Ultrastructural Pathology: The Comparative Cellular Basis of Disease (2nd edition)
Reviewed by Katherine M. Kocan, PhD
The second edition of Ultra-structural Pathology: The Comparative Cellular Basis of Disease has been considerably reorganized and updated from the first edition that was published in 1994. The second edition is a comprehensive reference on the comparative cellular basis of disease. The reorganization has resulted in an atlas format in which the text is reduced and the size and arrangement of the electron micrographs, diagrams of cellular processes, and tables of pathogens facilitate rapid access of information. Throughout the book, comparative pathology is emphasized by use of a variety of vertebrate species as well as invertebrates in which the biological processes involved in diseases are similar to those of vertebrates. The basic elements of cellular components are detailed throughout the book, and the illustrations and electron micrographs are of high quality, large, and arranged for easy viewing. Part I of the book focuses on normal and pathological cellular structure, and part II provides details on pathological processes of organelles. The subsequent sections are dedicated to inflammation and hemostasis, infectious diseases, toxicological diseases, pathological growth, and diagnostic pathology. Several of these chapters are authored by experts in their fields. The reorganization of the book, with complete tables of infectious agents and updated references, and the addition of illustrations to display complex cellular processes contribute to the book's value as a reference text. I highly recommend this book as a valuable resource for students, researchers, pathologists, and veterinary health-care professionals.—By Norman F. Cheville. 973 pages; illustrated. Wiley-Blackwell, 2121 State Ave, Ames, IA 50014. ISBN 978-0-8138-0330-2. 2009. Price $299.99.
Superbugs: E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and More!
Reviewed by Guy H. Loneragan, BVSc, PhD
The author has penned an intriguing historical perspective of the microbiological and technological discoveries that led to the modern antimicrobial era in Superbugs: E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and More! He further opines, in a well-reasoned manner, on the likely drivers in the preantimicrobial and post-antimicrobial eras that have led to the emergence, accumulation, dissemination, and maintenance of resistance determinants over time (even over millennia). Although this book is a reasonably enjoyable read, I cannot determine who the most appropriate target audience for this book is. The author includes specific information, such as FDA file numbers, sponsors, and uses, on approximately 500 approved antibacterial products as well as full-text reproductions of US Senate bills S. 2313 and S. 549 from the 110th Congress. However, the book's succinct narrative (85 of the approx 330 pages) read more like a novel than a scientific resource, and many of the author's most crucial claims lack supporting citations. For me, the book offers a juxtaposition in that it also includes a methodical reference of approved antibacterial products; this list may be most useful to scientists, but the narrative is seemingly aimed at nonscientists. Who would benefit most from both approaches? It may well be that the best audience for this book is staff and interns of elected officials who desire a nontechnical discussion of the issues as well as a comprehensive product listing.—By Thomas K. Shotwell. 330 pages. Biontogeny Publications, 215 Tryall Ct, Runaway Bay, TX 76426. ISBN 978-1-4392-1298-1. 2009. Price $26.99.
Who's In Charge? Leadership during Epidemics, Bioterror Attacks, and Other Public Health Crises
Reviewed by Ronald D. Warner, DVM, MPVM, PhD
Many of us might wonder how we would manage the next public health crisis if it happened in our neighborhood and we were in a leadership position as an elected official or public health authority. Who's In Charge? Leadership during Epidemics, Bioterror Attacks, and Other Public Health Crises is a well researched and easily readable book that offers valuable insight into many leadership challenges that politicians, health authorities, and medical scientists faced when dealing with some large and widely publicized public health crises.
The author first describes and defines the role of leadership in both an elected representative and an appointee. The author then gives a concise and effective review of public health achievements and the histories of biowarfare and bioterrorism. After providing that background, the types and styles of leadership displayed during the 2001 anthrax letters crisis, 1993 water-borne Cryptosporidium outbreak, and 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic are examined. Leadership in other crises (1976–1977 swine flu, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, foot-and-mouth disease, H5N1 avian influenza, and the current novel H1N1 influenza) is examined in light of scientific uncertainty at the time, zoonotic potential, relationships with the media, legal considerations, and the socioeconomic impact.
In addition to informative time-line descriptions, the author intersperses first-hand accounts from many of the principals (ie, the whys, hows, and lessons learned). All of these are thoroughly documented in the extensive source notes. These narrative accounts and the author's insights into public health leadership are highly recommended reading for all current and future public officials, comparative medical scientists, and anyone interested in crisis management. This text is a valuable contribution.—By Laura H. Kahn. 235 pages. ABC CLIO, 130 Cremona Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93116. ISBN 978-0-275-99485-3. 2009. Price $49.95.
Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant (2nd edition)
Reviewed by Jody P. Rockett, DVM
Comprising 19 chapters that range from professional conduct to laboratory skills, the second edition of Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant is a concise, accurate textbook, and the author is to be commended. The format is excellent, and the content has been chosen well. Professional conduct, foundation skills, law and policies, office procedures, practice routines, patient restraint, pharmacy skills, laboratory skills, infectious diseases, nursing skills, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, and surgical assistance are all addressed.
Each chapter identifies critical skills and provides concise instructions for the preparation, procedural steps, and follow-up required of each task. In addition to the superbly written instructions, veterinary assistants will undoubtedly appreciate the tips and reminders sprinkled throughout the chapters.
New additions to the appendices, specifically the comprehensive competency record, cement the quality of the second edition. One cannot help but love the cartoons at the start of each chapter that make one smile. These features, along with a user-friendly style and reasonable price, make this text an excellent choice for veterinary assistants and veterinary hospitals that perform in-house training.—By Paula Pattengale. 685 pages; illustrated. Wiley-Blackwell, 2121 State Ave, Ames, IA 50014. ISBN 978-0-8138-1302-8. 2009. Price $49.99.
Anaesthesia for Veterinary Nurses (2nd edition)
Reviewed by Lois Sargent, DVM
I used the original edition of Anesthesia for Veterinary Nurses as a supplement to our required textbook for the past couple of years and found it to be a good reference. However, when the second edition of Anesthesia for Veterinary Nurses became available, I was anxious to see the comparison. The changes have definitely resulted in several improvements.
Pictures, charts, and tables are now in color, which makes them easier to view. Charts are more prominent with the addition of color. The second edition has many of the original authors, who have earned advanced degrees and become specialists in the fields of anesthesia and critical care medicine. This is evident in their expanded descriptions, which give readers a greater understanding of the pathophysiologic aspects of anesthesia.
This book is written for those in the United Kingdom, with reference to the laws regarding safety of the personnel who administer anesthesia, color of the oxygen tanks, and perhaps the description of the physiology of ventilation; the latter can be used as a review by any veterinarian or veterinary technician. A minor error is evident in the charts and their legends. The legends still refer to black and white arrows when they have been converted to other colors, and some refer to dotted lines but none of the lines are dotted. However, I definitely recommend this book to those who have an interest in anesthesia and pathogenic conditions associated with it.—By Liz Welsh. 400 pages; illustrated. Wiley-Blackwell, 2121 State Ave, Ames, IA 50014. ISBN 978-4051-1-8673-5. 2009. Price $67.99.
