Synopsis

No other quick reference comes close to providing this much accurate, timely, and clinically useful diagnostic and therapeutic information. It's like six books in one — Diseases and Disorders, Procedures and Techniques, Differential Diagnosis, Laboratory Tests, Clinical Algorithms, and a Drug Formulary. Plus, it includes free access to a fully searchable companion website featuring an electronic version of the text, a searchable drug formulary, and 100 customizable Client Education Sheets in both English and Spanish.

• This text brings together the expertise of 21 internationally recognized authorities as contributing editors and 300 leading clinician-authors into a single, comprehensive source.
• A wealth of high-quality illustrations clearly demonstrates key concepts and procedures.
• Section I: Diseases and Disorders provides at-a-glance coverage of more than 700 common medical problems, arranged alphabetically for immediate access. Each entry presents the topic in the sequence it follows clinically, including: history and physical exam findings, diagnostic testing, treatment (including specific medications and dosages), prognosis, and recommended monitoring. References for each topic support the data presented.
• Section II: Procedures and Techniques offers illustrated, step-by-step instructions for understanding and performing 89 important clinical procedures.
• Section III: Differential Diagnosis displays nearly every possible cause for 263 different clinical disorders.
• Section IV: Laboratory Tests summarizes essential information needed for interpreting more than 150 laboratory tests.
• Section V: Clinical Algorithms provides decision trees for the diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making processes involved in managing more than 90 of the most common clinical conditions/disorders.
• Section VI: Drug Formulary is a compilation of dosages and other relevant information for more than 300 new and current medications.
• A companion website includes the complete text of the book in a fully searchable format, which allows quick identification of any topic and its related information in the six different sections. The website also includes 100 customizable Client Education Sheets, each available in both English and Spanish.

Reviewer: Kathryn L Wycislo, BS, DVM(University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: This concise yet complete compilation of the multitude of diseases encountered by small animal practitioners updates the first edition published in 2007. Algorithms, explanation of techniques, interpretation of laboratory tests, a drug formulary, and access to client handouts round out the book.
Purpose: The second edition is intended to improve upon the first edition without tinkering with what appealed to so many readers. By striving to create a balance among disease mechanisms, diagnosis, differential diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and outcome, the editor wanted readers to be able to say, "This is exactly what I wanted to know." The book accomplishes a feat that is quite difficult in veterinary medicine — presenting the useful information necessary for optimal and appropriate patient care while filtering out the extraneous information that can be quite useless to practitioners and students who need a quick but thorough review of a disease, behavioral issue, or technique.
Audience: While the editor does not specifically identify an audience, the book is appropriate for general small animal practitioners, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students. This is a great resource for small animal practitioners at any level, from the new graduate to the general practitioner to the internal medicine resident. The format is ideal for third- and fourth-year veterinary students.
Features: Practically every disease process is covered in a mini-format that highlights the important aspect of the disease, along with how to appropriately diagnose and treat it. This part of the book is the most innovative, as it gives readers a 5- to 15-minute review that rarely lacks pertinent information. Algorithms, differential diagnoses lists, and explanations of laboratory tests present an additional level of information, along with many techniques and procedures. Helpful hints and some illustrations are scattered throughout. References appear at the end of each chapter. The one shortcoming of this book is that some of the less common or less important topics are covered primarily only on the website. While this is not a problem if the reader has access to a computer and adequate time to spend online, it potentially could pose a time nuisance for some students and practitioners.
Assessment: "This is a great resource for veterinarians of all kinds and veterinary students. A real must-have! The editor has produced another succinct, thorough resource that rarely disappoints and has evolved appropriately from the first edition. I would refer to this book over Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Clinical Consult: Canine and Feline, 4th edition, Tilley and Smith (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007) any day. "