Guest Review by Ned Gentz, DVM, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, NM 
(Click on stars for an explanation) |
This book is Out of Print. |
The first two editions of Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, published in 1978 and 1986 respectively, were taxonomically based. The format for the third and fourth editions in 1993 and 1999 changed to a current therapy style. While the fifth edition in 2003 revisited the taxonomic basis of the first two editions, this new sixth edition again returns to a current therapy format. However, this new edition strikes out in new directions with a stated focus to foster a conservation biology ethic and to bridge the gap between captive and free-ranging wild animal medicine.
There are 57 chapters divided into four sections. Section I covers general topics and conditions affecting multiple species and includes a subsection on conservation medicine. Section II covers poikilotherms with topics on fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Section III touches on avian medicine. Section IV covers mammals and is the largest section, with separate subsections concerning bats, rodents, primates, carnivores, marine mammals, elephants, and artiodactyls.
Among the most informative chapters are several up-to-date reviews on such hot-button topics as West Nile Virus, the epidemiology of which was originally deciphered by a zoo vet, Bronx Zoo pathologist Dr. Tracey McNamara. Other similar informative reviews include those on avian influenza, amphibian chytridiomycosis, bat paramyxoviruses, simian retroviruses, and elephant herpes viruses. The most disappointing chapter is one on behavioral training of zoo animals for medical procedures, an ideal topic for inclusion in such a book, but unfortunately only two pages in length.
The books in this series are the "bibles" of zoo and wild animal medicine. Authoring a chapter in the previous edition achieved a personal career goal for me. This book is recommended for any veterinarian or veterinary student working with (or planning to) or possessing an interest in zoo and wild animal species. Wildlife biologists should also find this book to be of interest. Of course, this book would be considered essential for ACZM board preparation.
Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri, USA (2008).
495 pages. Hardcover.
ISBN: 978-1-4160-4047-7.