BOOKS FOR VETERINARIANS
Avian Medicine (3rd edition)
Jaime Samour
699 pages. 2016. Mosby (an imprint of Elsevier). ISBN 978-0-7234-3832-8. Price $174.00.
The third edition of Avian Medicine has changed substantially, compared with previous editions, and those changes make it a valuable addition to the reference library of any veterinarian who examines and treats birds. Detailed and concise descriptions and illustrations are provided for basic procedures such as blood film and cytologic evaluations, sample collection and storage, and nursing care. Surgical procedures are succinctly described with text and helpful images, as are many common diseases. This book is intended to provide pertinent information in a concise manner for busy practitioners. It is not a comprehensive guide for all subjects, and those interested in detailed information on species-specific anatomy, physiology, or disease will need to consult other reference sources.
New to this edition are chapters on behavior and cognition, breeding and neonatal care, oiled bird management, and feather destructive behavior. The sections on analgesia and fluid therapy have been expanded and updated. Whereas the previous editions of the book tended to be primarily focused on raptor medicine with brief mention of other avian species, this edition appears to have a better balance of information among raptors and psittacine, passerine, and other avian species. The tables and appendices in particular have been updated and streamlined, making them much easier to consult, and they now include reference intervals for ECG, echocardiographic, and radiographic evaluations.
Overall, this book will be a good reference for anyone interested in avian medicine regardless of experience level. From the detailed information on basic techniques to advanced fracture repair, this edition has something for everyone and is a welcome addition to this reviewer's bookshelf.
Reviewed by Kristin Sinclair, DVM, DABVP
Kensington Bird & Animal Hospital LLC
Kensington, Conn
Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice: Companion and Aviary Birds (2nd edition)
Bob Doneley
467 pages. 2016. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4822-6020-5. Price $121.95.
At first glance, the second edition of Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice: Companion and Aviary Birds appears to be small in size (467 pages; page size, 10.25 × 7.75 inches), which might make someone wonder how comprehensive the book can be. But upon further investigation, the table of contents reveals a surprisingly extensive and complete listing of most topics that voluminous textbooks might cover. Although this book presents subject matter in a more superficial manner than other more voluminous books, that might be a welcome feature for busy practitioners or veterinary students who seek a quick read about a particular topic. This book can be easily read from cover to cover or used as a quick reference for specific topics when needed. The information provided for each topic is concise but appears to be adequate. Novices may prefer greater detail in the Surgery and Clinical Techniques chapters, but those chapters are thorough and serve as useful quick references. If greater detail is needed, then other reference books can be consulted.
The book includes chapters on anatomy, physiology, husbandry, grooming, nutrition, physical examination, clinical techniques, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, diagnostic techniques, supportive therapy, behavioral problems, egg incubation, pediatrics, anesthesia, surgery, and oncology, as well as an extensive drug formulary. Most of the text in those chapters focuses on disorders and diseases of various organ systems and body regions. The chapter on differential diagnoses contains numerous conditions with differential diagnoses presented in a bulleted format. That format is also occasionally used in other chapters. Illustrations and photographs are plentiful, appropriate, and of excellent quality.
Overall, this reasonably priced book will be an excellent addition to any avian practitioner's library and will be useful for veterinary students as well. Although it is not exhaustive, it is definitely useful and practical and may become my first go-to book for quick reference.
Reviewed by James McKinley, DVM, DABVP
Amwell Bird Hospital
Hillsborough, NJ
Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery
Brian L. Speer
908 pages. 2016. Saunders (an imprint of Elsevier). ISBN 978-1-4557-4671-2. Price $165.00.
Dr. Brian Speer, the editor of Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, is an expert in the field of avian medicine, having devoted the majority of his career to studying, practicing, and mentoring others in this ever-changing and challenging discipline. He does not look at avian patients as exotic; they are just the species that he treats. He refers to exotics as “that which we know the least about.” I completely agree with that assessment.
This book contains the words current therapy in its title and is similar to the canine and feline versions. The topics covered in the book were carefully chosen and focus on issues that are currently relevant to avian practice. Each of the 87 book contributors is an expert in his or her subject matter and provides cutting-edge information in a user-friendly format.
The book contains over 800 excellent-quality, colored photographs and a myriad of diagrams, algorithms, charts, and tables. It is divided into 4 sections, namely Advances in Avian Medicine; Advances in Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Surgery; Advances in Welfare, Conservation, and Practice Management; and Pattern Recognition. Each section is heavily referenced, and many of the cited references were published as recently as 2015. Given the recent exponential increase in avian medical literature, this book, as with all textbooks, contains some outdated information. Some of the topics I found most interesting were pathogenesis of infectious disease and the updates on avian bornaviral disease, behavior, cardiology, nutrition, reproduction, diagnostic imaging, and practice management.
This book does not provide in-depth details about the various problems of all different types of birds, which is fine because that would likely have resulted in an unnecessarily voluminous book that contained a lot of information that is already known. In particular, this book does not provide a comprehensive review of poultry medicine, which is also acceptable because many excellent textbooks on the treatment and care of backyard poultry have been recently published.
I cannot say enough about the high quality and timeliness of this moderately priced textbook. It is obvious that many people put an extraordinary amount of thought and effort into its content. This book is a must-have for all avian practitioners regardless of whether they are just beginning to examine pet birds in their practice or are established practitioners trying to keep up with the current standards of avian practice.
Reviewed by George A. Messenger, DVM, DABVP
Fisherville Animal Hospital & Bird Clinic
Concord, NH
Arthropod-borne Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat (2nd edition)
Michael J. Day
220 pages. 2016. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4987-0824-1. Price $69.95.
Dr. Michael Day, editor of the second edition of Arthropod-borne Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, has assembled a strong group of experts to author its 14 chapters. This hardcover edition features descriptions and illustrations that can be used as excellent resources for the diagnosis and treatment of arthropod-borne diseases in dogs and cats and the identification of the arthropods that transmit them.
Dr. Day realized early on that softened quarantine and travel restrictions in Europe and the United Kingdom would likely result in an increase in the risk for various diseases, including those transmitted via arthropods. The spread of arthropods associated with climate change, pet travel, or other factors would allow many diseases that were previously confined to limited geographic regions to become more widely distributed. That realization has become reality and is equally applicable to the United States and other areas of the world, which makes the comprehensive content of this textbook clinically relevant throughout the world.
For each disease addressed, the discussion includes a description of the arthropods that transmit the disease and the clinical signs, pathophysiology, and immunologic effects associated with the disease. Diagnostic testing modalities are thoroughly described for each disease. The text primarily focuses on zoonoses (one health) and international obligations for disease prevention. This book will be a good resource for veterinarians as well as all other medical professionals and students.
Reviewed by Jay R. Stewart, DVM
Aumsville Animal Clinic LLC
Aumsville, Ore
Guide to the Dissection of the Dog (8th edition)
Howard E. Evans & Alexander de Lahunta
327 pages. 2017. Saunders (an imprint of Elsevier). ISBN 978-0-323-39165-8. Price $88.95.
Evans and de Lahunta's Guide to the Dissection of the Dog is the standard veterinary student dissection guide. Each new edition brings a fresh perspective for veterinary students. The eighth edition includes > 25 new images that provide readers alternate views or show additional stages of dissection for specific anatomic regions or that correlate with images commonly obtained by radiography, CT, and MRI. The book contains 6 chapters, which are preceded by a directory of illustrations for quick reference. The chapter on the nervous system has been expanded by 8 pages to include cross-sectional illustrations of the CNS that identify the prominent nuclei and nerve tracts of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The content focuses heavily on the musculoskeletal system, viscera, arteries, veins, and nerves, and the book will be useful for first-year veterinary students and as a quick reference for veterinary practitioners. The book contains particularly detailed illustrations of the vasculature and peripheral nerves of the limbs, vertebral system, cranial nerves, and bones of the skull. Most of the figures depict in situ organs or tissues; the most notable exceptions are images of the dissected heart.
In my opinion, this edition is an improvement over the seventh edition and, for the price, will continue to be a useful reference to the anatomy of dogs for both veterinary students and clinicians.
Reviewed by Brian G. Caserto, DVM
VetPath Services
Stone Ridge, NY
Complications in Small Animal Surgery
Dominique Griffon & Annick Hamaide
949 pages. 2016. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-95962-6. Price $149.99.
During my residency, my peers and I often reflected on the challenges posed by surgical complications. Which complications were predictable? How could we avoid them? More importantly, how could we manage them? Complications in Small Animal Surgery is a textbook that provides useful and thorough answers to those questions.
The text begins with discussions of surgical infection (section 1) and general postoperative complications (section 2). From there, complications associated with a comprehensive list of procedures relating to individual systems (eg, reproductive tract and urinary tract), surgical indications (eg, fracture repair and plastic and reconstructive surgery), and locations (eg, hip and stifle joints) are addressed. Each chapter includes the definition of and risk factors, diagnostic approaches, treatments, outcomes, and prevention methods for the complication being discussed along with a survey of relevant literature. In some chapters, particularly those describing well-researched procedures, references to relevant literature are incorporated throughout. The format of each chapter varies somewhat. For example, relevant topics are described in paragraph format in some chapters and in bulleted format in others. Nevertheless, the information provided for each topic is practical and comprehensive and supplies readers with necessary guidance to assist with the immediate care of animals that develop surgical complications. The related literature is summarized and referenced in a useful manner.
This book is well priced for its size and thoroughness. Because this book deals with complications rather than indications and techniques for the original surgery, it is best considered a supplement to a comprehensive general surgery textbook. It will be a useful reference for veterinarians who perform various surgical procedures as part of their practice, particularly with regard to preoperative client communication about preventive strategies for and management of potential surgical complications. Surgical specialists, educators, and residents will also find the book to be a useful addition to their libraries.
Reviewed by Laura Nelson, DVM, MS, DACVS
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Mich
Joint Disease in the Horse (2nd edition)
C. Wayne McIlwraith, David D. Frisbie, Christopher E. Kawcak, & P. René van Weeren
408 pages. 2016. Saunders (an imprint of Elsevier). ISBN 978-1-4557-5969-9. Price $194.00.
The second edition of Joint Disease in the Horse is an extensive update of the original work that was first published in 1996. The 4 editors are joined by 8 other contributors, who are well respected in the field. The text is arranged in a 2-column format and is interspersed with a multitude of high-quality color photographs and bound by a hardcover. Chapter 9 contains a centrally located appendix that provides a guide to the radiographic anatomy of the joints of equine limbs. One of the strengths of this book is the included images. The book is full of photomicrographs, intraoperative arthroscopy photographs, schematics, digital radiographs, and ultrasonographic, MRI, and CT images.
The content of the book is divided into 5 sections. The first section covers general principles of joint pathobiology and contains chapters that describe the general anatomy and physiology of joints and their biomechanics before delving into various disease processes that affect joints. The information provided does a more than adequate job of guiding readers through the pathogeneses, etiologies, and general treatments for traumatic and septic arthritis, posttraumatic osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis dissecans, and subchondral cystic lesions. The second section covers general principles of diagnosis and treatment as well as briefly describing synovial fluid and serum biomarkers. The third section covers treatment principles for traumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis and provides detailed information on the mechanisms of action for medications commonly used for the treatment of joint disease. A welcome addition to this section is a new chapter on physical rehabilitation. The fourth section covers the specifics of anatomy, clinical diagnosis, imaging diagnosis, and treatment of joint disease by region. Separate chapters are devoted to each joint of the appendicular skeleton. Each of those chapters contains an anatomic description, imaging parameters, and rendered CT images of the joint being discussed to aid readers in understanding the proper needle placement for arthrocentesis; however, in-depth descriptions of surgical techniques for individual joints are beyond the scope of those chapters. The fifth and final section covers new frontiers in equine joint disease research.
The editors have done a good job collecting and organizing a wealth of information in a fairly concise manner. The book is well suited for a wide range of practitioners of various experience levels who have an interest in equine sports medicine and treating joint disease in horses.
Reviewed by W. True Baker, DVM, DACVS
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Lexington, Ky
Equine Clinical Immunology
M. Julia B. Felippe
325 pages. 2016. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-118-55887-4. Price $149.99.
Equine Clinical Immunology is edited by Dr. M. Julia B. Felippe, an associate professor of Large Animal Medicine at Cornell University and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. It contains 32 chapters written by various contributors with expertise in equine medicine and includes information on basic immunology, vaccination, hypersensitivities, immunodeficiencies, transplantation, and regenerative medicine. The book's target audience includes veterinary students as well as seasoned practitioners.
The authors have done an excellent job of relating the immunologic mechanisms underlying some common disorders of horses with clinical outcomes. Most chapters include sections entitled Definition, Signalment and Clinical Signs, Immunologic Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Treatment and an extensive list of references. Approximately half the chapters include 1 or more helpful boxed inserts titled “Take home message” that summarize key information; however, the book would have benefited from more consistent usage of those inserts. Latter chapters are devoted to specific diseases. The images in most chapters are relevant and of high quality.
Although a substantial proportion of the book's content is specific for horses, many of the topics covered (eg, inflammatory disorders, immunosenescence, and immunotherapies) will be of interest to those who work with immunologic conditions in other species. As Dr. Felippe notes in the preface, “the immune system participates in the cause and/or effect of the great majority of diseases.” This book will be a valuable addition to the library of a broad range of veterinary students, practitioners, and researchers.
Reviewed by Jeff Isaacson, DVM, PhD
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln, Neb
Erythrocytes of the Rhesus and Cynomolgus Monkeys
Chester A. Glomski, Alessandra Pica, & Jessica F. Greene
254 pages. 2016. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4987-3359-5. Price $119.95.
Erythrocytes of the Rhesus and Cynomolgus Monkeys provides a comprehensive and historical review of the scientific literature back to the early twentieth century. The authors cover a variety of topics that include the physiology of erythropoiesis, preanalytical variables that affect the erythrogram, differences in erythroid profiles associated with biological changes such as pregnancy and aging, and selected conditions leading to anemia. An additional focus of the text is the evolutionary biology of the erythrocyte from invertebrate through mammalian species including macaques. Most of the illustrations are reproductions from original publications dating back to 1875.
Approximately 40 pages of the text detail published results for the RBC count, Hct, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration from clinically normal rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. Those results were compiled from 78 publications dating from 1928 through 2014. The populations from which those results were obtained were defined on the basis of species, sex, and age range. Additional information such as the number of animals, weight, and whether the animals were sedated with ketamine is also noted when available.
In general, the text is well referenced but some sections, particularly those on bone marrow, would have benefitted from the inclusion of more recent publications and illustrations. Although interesting from a historical perspective, the older references provide limited value to modern nonhuman primate husbandry and medicine. The section on anemia is again a collection of results from a wide range of publications that documented observations and findings over approximately 100 years and includes only minimal insight into the clinical diagnosis and management of anemia.
Overall, this book will benefit specialists in the fields of erythrocyte physiology and evolutionary biology or individuals with an interest in understanding how our knowledge of macaque erythrocytes has evolved over time. However, in my opinion, its clinical relevance for veterinarians and other professionals who work with nonhuman primates is limited.
Reviewed by Kirstin F. Barnhart, DVM, PhD, DACVP
AbbVie Inc
North Chicago, Ill
Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits (4th edition)
Stephen W. Barthold, Stephen M. Griffey, & Dean H. Percy
371 pages. 2016. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-118-82424-5. Price $149.99.
Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits is a classic textbook in the field of veterinary pathology and laboratory animal science. The fourth edition, which comes 9 years after the third edition, contains substantial updates. The chapters on the mouse, rat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, and rabbit have been updated and are well organized by anatomic features; general information; viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases; aging; and other aspects of pathology. The description of each condition or lesion is concise but thorough, which makes for easy reading. The book contains over 450 lovely color figures, which include gross necropsy and histopathology photographs. Each section of each species-specific chapter contains an up-to-date and appropriate bibliography for the conditions and diseases described. It also has a comprehensive index that is organized by both keywords and conditions or lesions within each species, which makes finding information about a specific disease or lesion easy. The online resource consists of a large electronic file that contains all the color figures in each chapter by species. This book will be a great addition to the library of all veterinary and medical schools, veterinary and other medical pathologists who work with animals, and laboratory animal veterinarians, technicians, and managers.
Reviewed by Jerrold M. Ward, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Global VetPathology
Montgomery Village, Md
Handbook of Small Animal Imaging: Preclinical Imaging, Therapy, and Applications
George C. Kagadis, Nancy L. Ford, Dimitrios N. Karnabatidis, & George K. Loudos
601 pages. 2016. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4665-5568-6. Price $279.95.
Handbook of Small Animal Imaging: Preclinical Imaging, Therapy, and Applications is the 23rd book of a 29-book series (as of this date) in Imaging in Medical Diagnosis and Therapy edited by Andrew Karellas and Bruce R. Thomadsen. The series is based in human medicine and covers a wide range of therapeutic and imaging topics. The series originated from the need for medical physicists to keep abreast of rapidly advancing technologies and their ultimate applications in patient care.
The authors’ goal for this book was to collate knowledge of the technology and advancements in small animal (primarily rodent) imaging and therapy, as well as the combined use of multiple imaging modalities in relation to clinical (human) imaging. This goal is clearly reached. This is a well-organized textbook with sections covering small animal handling and care, therapy and ethics, ionizing radiation imaging, nonionizing radiation imaging, hybrid imaging (including an interesting chapter on exotic imaging approaches), imaging agents, therapeutic research platforms, image quantification, and applications. The details provided for each topic are advanced, with many contributors covering essential information that is carefully and extensively referenced.
This textbook will be a useful reference for researchers, advanced students, and scientists in the fields of medical physics, imaging, and targeted therapeutic technologies.
Reviewed by Karen L. Morrow, DVM, MS, DACVR
Winter Garden, Fla
The IACUC Administrator's Guide to Animal Program Management
William G. Greer & Ron E. Banks
289 pages. 2016. CRC Press (an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 978-1-4398-4905-7. Price $79.95.
The IACUC Administrator's Guide to Animal Program Management is an excellent and comprehensive guide to supplement other resources that should be on the shelves of all Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) administrators’ libraries. It contains 23 chapters and 11 appendices that include a wide range of topics important for IACUC administrators, such as roles and responsibilities, protocol review and approval, program and facility reviews, facilitating communication, policies and guidelines, and example job descriptions for key IACUC staff. Importantly, this guide is a compilation of learning and practices that have been successfully implemented at animal care and use programs (ACUPs) and shared by IACUC administrators during the annual Best Practices meetings since 2005. Thus, it is a resource rich in practical applications for various methods that enhance animal research oversight in different ACUP settings. It also contains information about practices that have not worked well and details why they have not worked. The book contains chapters dedicated to some of the most challenging areas for IACUC administrators, such as training programs, occupational health and safety, emergency disaster plans, and whistle-blower policy. The authors of this book have > 50 years of collective experience in research compliance management. On the basis of their own personal experiences and > 15 years of overseeing the Best Practices meetings to learn from other IACUC administrators, they have thoughtfully and artfully compiled a wealth of applied insights to provide a useful guide that will serve as a great resource for both inexperienced and experienced IACUC administrators.
Reviewed by Leticia V. Medina, DVM, DACLAM
AbbVie Inc
North Chicago, Ill
BOOKS FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS
Dictionary of Veterinary Nursing (4th edition)
Denis R. Lane, Sue Guthrie, & Sian Griffith
310 pages. 2016. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-6635-1. Price $59.95.
The fourth edition of Dictionary of Veterinary Nursing is a thoroughly updated and compact (4.7 × 7.3 × 0.5 inches) basic veterinary dictionary that is an easy-to-use quick reference. It is printed on high-quality paper and has an attractively decorated sturdy cardstock cover. It contains over 60 uncluttered explanatory line drawings that are all highlighted in an eye-pleasing medium-green color and 27 concise, well-organized, and information-packed appendices.
The authors of the book are from the United Kingdom, and a few of the appendices contain uniquely British data that will be confusing and of little use for US audiences. The appendices that provide biochemical and hematologic reference intervals for dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, and horses are comprehensive (eg, an entire page is devoted to ferrets alone). Separate appendices on basic husbandry, proper handling, and biological data for caged birds, pocket pets, fish, and other small animals are refreshing additions to this edition. Simple explanations of mathematical formulas and fluid therapy calculations are particularly helpful. Other appendices provide a short list of infectious diseases of dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, and birds and a 9-page summary of the effects and treatments for various toxins. Unfortunately, the appendices do not include any information about ruminants.
Although the few British-specific appendices and definitions, typical British spellings, and a fairly high price might be disincentives for some US students and instructors, I believe this book will be a welcome supplemental reference for many students enrolled in veterinary technology or veterinary assistant programs.
Reviewed by Walter B. Stein, DVM
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, Ill
Laboratory Animal and Exotic Pet Medicine: Principles and Procedures (2nd edition)
Margi Sirois
230 pages. 2016. Mosby (an imprint of Elsevier). ISBN 978-0-323-17299-8. Price $69.95.
Compared with the first edition, the second edition of Laboratory Animal and Exotic Pet Medicine: Principles and Procedures has been expanded to include exotic pet animals and has been substantially improved in terms of informational organization and image quality. This book provides core information for veterinary and laboratory animal technicians, and throughout the book, consideration is provided regarding whether particular species are used as traditional laboratory animals or exotic pets.
The book is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 provides a general overview of the principles of laboratory animal medicine. Part 2 consists of 11 species-focused chapters, and each chapter addresses unique anatomic features, specific housing needs, clinical procedures, common diseases, and euthanasia considerations for the species being discussed.
Overall, this book will be a valuable resource for technicians who work with exotic pets. The practical guidance complemented by high-quality images serves as a welcome resource for any veterinary technician. Various study resources such as key terms and points, learning objectives, review questions, and technician notes are provided throughout the book and help encourage self-study. The introduction to concepts and considerations within the field of laboratory animal medicine is easy to follow and provides a brief glimpse into the field. However, the more technical information provided is not current in the field, and the book would benefit from the incorporation of more current methods and expectations in laboratory animal medicine. Additionally, original sources from which specific information was obtained are not always provided, and references are generally lacking throughout the book.
Reviewed by Carrie Freed, MLAS, DVM, DACLAM
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
BOOKS FOR CLIENTS
D IS FOR DOG: AN EASY GUIDE TO VETERINARY CARE FOR DOGS
Terrie Sizemore
285 pages. 2016. Terrie Sizemore. ISBN 978-1-52387-655-6. Price $15.00.
D is for Dogs: An Easy Guide to Veterinary Care for Dogs is designed to provide basic pet care information to owners and animal enthusiasts. Busy veterinarians would love to have a book they could recommend to their clients that reviews the answers to many important questions that are frequently discussed during office visits and also provides guidelines for when to seek help from a veterinarian.
The text is uncluttered with many clear, colorful photographs, which makes the book easy and quick to read. In my opinion, the helpful sections on emergencies and first aid, finding lost pets, microchipping, and doing your own pet examination should be presented at the beginning of the book rather than at the end to better highlight their importance. Unfortunately, the very important section on choosing a veterinarian does not provide any real guidance or explain why a good partnership with a competent veterinarian is essential to a pet's health and longevity.
The text contains numerous typographic errors (eg, Bordatella is used instead of Bordetella, Cushing disease is described as hypoadrenocorticism, and Addison disease is described as hyperadrenocorticism). Additionally, the formatting is not consistent. Some sections are numbered, whereas some are bulleted, and the items in some lists are consistently capitalized, whereas the items in other lists are not capitalized. Although the long section on diagnostic testing contains some useful information, the descriptions and reasons for the tests become blurred because information regarding treatments and preventive care for the diseases covered is also included in that section. I believe it would have been better if the information on diagnostic testing and treatment and prevention was presented in separate sections. Also, the numerous photographs, albeit often very cute, may mislead readers. For example, contrary to the what is portrayed in the associated photographs, veterinarians rarely recommend the use of ice packs or oral thermometers, and the mad, or dumb, form of rabies does not cause dogs to lie on their backs. The section on vaccinations should include information on the various vaccines for canine influenza virus and possibly lessen the emphasis on vaccination against coronavirus because it is not generally recommended. Readers should also be provided a reference link to the most recent American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccination Guidelines.
In conclusion, although the premise for this book is laudable, the book itself needs to be reworked before I can recommend it to my clients.
Reviewed by Susan E. Anderson, DVM, DABVP
Animal Clinic of Windermere
Windermere, Fla
