Review by Kathy Lyon (Click on stars for an explanation)

You may purchase this book on Amazon.com.

This is a great book on techniques, restraint positions, and use of instruments. Probably more for the technician than the clinician, both should read it and discuss what techniques will be acceptable to the veterinarian. Discussions prior to need, going through the book chapter by chapter, would be an excellent idea for the staff. Sort of a regular in-clinic CE if you will.

There are many illustrations of treatments and tool use. Most of the book is taken up with cats and dogs, with smaller chapters toward the back of the book for rabbits and small rodents. Each procedure is examined step-by-step, including which instruments and supplies to have ready, whether or not the handler will need an assistant, sterile handling techniques, possible complications, and to the right of each topic, Rational and Amplification explains the why and a bit more detail on the procedure/outcome.

I did note that this book furthers the theory that cutting toenails close to the quick will cause the vein to recede, a topic recently explored on VIN—some doubts were expressed that this is actually true.

While any veterinarian with a license will probably know how to do most of these procedures or will have at least seen most of them performed, some of these techniques will be novel and add to the clinician’s repertory of skills. Having this book in your library will provide a valuable asset for your technicians and hone the skills of the clinician.

Wiley Blackwell (2009).

Paper cover, 396 pages.

ISBN 978-0-8138-1304-2.