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

This book is out of print.

I would be willing to bet that most veterinarians will initially scan the book for illustrations when they discover that Robert Miller has graced this book with his brilliant (and funny) drawings.

This is an excellent book to keep in the clinic library for a promising technician to enhance his/her skills and comprehension of the tasks at hand. One assumes that formal training will have given the technician a basic understanding of the job, and previous practical experience will have enhanced this training. This book, when added to the mix, should produce a superior assistant.

The sections are well organized toward the goal of education. Some of the information will, of course, be a repeat of basic technician classes, but I think that this context will help pull together all of the information. The sections begin with an explanation of the concept and are followed by a discussion segment to further explain the concept.

The book opens with terminology and requests that the "student" be prepared with a medical dictionary, a writing instrument, and paper (or a computer). Learning the terminology may seem redundant to the graduate technician, but this section illustrates a useful method to remember important terms and prepares the technician for basic proficiencies such as meeting employer expectations and assisting in surgeries. In between, the reader also learns the various steps and procedures needed to be a useful assistant.

The steps described may seem basic (e.g., bandage removal: lay bandage scissors on counter, place patient record adjacent to it, wear gloves); however, I can think of no other book that is equally detailed for beginning techs. Many of these steps, while seemingly needless to more experienced techs, can be essential to the well being of the patient. Important headings are bolded and tables are in shaded boxes.

I recommend this book for every clinic. However, I also recommend that the clinician read the book prior to its distribution to staff; the veterinarian may want to mark procedures that differ with clinic policy or add notes, if necessary. There are some instructions that I (personally) consider overkill, such as rinsing cleaned and sanitized cat litter boxes with sterile water.

I can see where this book would become an integral part of the clinic library. It would be good to use one book that is passed from person to person so the margin notes can appreciated by subsequent readers.

The book will lie flat for no-hands reference. The front cover unfolds out of the way for ease of reading.

Wiley-Blackwell (2009). 683 pages, black-and-white drawings and procedure illustrations, and a few photos. ISBN: 978-0-8138-1302-8.

Editor's Note: See also the VSPN Review of this book.