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Did you know that spiders die on their feet and undergo ecdysis (i.e. molting) on their backs? Neither did I until I cracked open the latest edition of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Manual of Exotic Pets; a book that did not disappoint. This is the thirty-ninth title in the “Manual” series that is published by BSAVA and has twenty-three chapters written by a consortium of 23 contributors. In addition to covering many species of animals now considered as exotic “pets” the textbook provides a chapter on European legislation as well as American legislation addressing exotic pets and their welfare as well as wildlife. These two chapters were well written addressing an area that many times is left lacking as there has in the past been some confusion as to the definition of an exotic pet as well as scrutinizing the legality of personal ownership of animals that may be deemed dangerous or unpredictable in household surroundings.
Among the animals that are addressed in this book are the following: rodents, rabbits, ferrets, skunks, otters, hedgehogs, primates, crocodilians, birds both large and small breeds, chilians, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates (spiders, snails and scorpions). Each chapter addresses the animal in a concise format that includes: biology, husbandry, diagnostic approaches, common conditions, supportive care, anesthesia and analgesia, euthanasia and references/further reading on that animal that the reader may find of interest. The language is scientific in nature, but understandable by those in various stages of education or careers and is complemented by beautifully produced charts for ease of reference in a busy setting. I actually found myself feeling sorry for the spider who is the recipient of euthanasia even though I suffer from arachnophobia, becoming faint of heart at the sight of an eight-legged critter sharing my side of the sidewalk and cheered for the person who invented “humane sedation” when the end is near.
In providing reasoning for why this book is a must have for any practitioner or technician who is involved in exotic or wildlife medicine, I would refer the reader to the Forward which talks about the history of veterinary medical education (of veterinarians and technicians) and how it has evolved to include exotic medicine due to the popularity of exotics as pets. In support of this statement, this book is in its fifth edition with no end in sight of the future editions that will be produced as more and more unusual animals are regarded as the perfect “pet.” Any practitioner or veterinary technician who sees this book will not only want it but the other thirty-eight books in the series on their bookshelf. Anyone who is not sure what genre of veterinary medicine they want to pursue will become enamored with exotic animal medicine after reading this book therefore making BSAVA responsible for the huge influx of exotics practitioners and technicians that are sure to follow.
The two parts of this book that really moved me in terms of educational usage were the charts and the pictures. The charts which are easy to read and a great quick reference, list such need-to-know information as biological data, parasites, routes of pharmaceutical administration, drugs, blood chemistry and urine values and diseases while the pictures truly are worth a thousand words of lecture in a stuffy lecture hall. The most enduring pictures in the book are the opossum pictures. After looking at the pictures of Virginia Opossums I felt the need to leave the apple cores outside of the trashcan that night…just in case.
John Wiley Publishing, 2010.
ISBN: 9781905319169