This is the fourth edition of this popular text authored by Dr. Stephen DiBartola, a well-respected professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. Dr. DiBartola has also contributed to several other texts and has written multiple peer reviewed articles.
This new edition incorporates several new contributors including Kate Hopper and Deborah Silverstein. Also new to this edition is a chapter discussing fluid therapy and electrolyte disorders in renal failure and a chapter addressing macromolecular plasma volume expanders. The text begins with a discussion of the physiology of body fluids and then moves on to discuss electrolyte disorders, acid-base disorders, fluid therapy, and special therapies (including transfusions, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and nutrition).
Each chapter contains numerous tables and figures augmenting the written material. The chapter that covers the technical aspects of fluid therapy also contains numerous pictures to illustrate the procedures discussed. There are no appendices included; however, the index and table of contents are both easy to use and complete. Each topic in the text is covered very thoroughly and at great depth. Because of this, some topics may be difficult for the reader to understand and may require some previous exposure or further study.
This text fulfills the author’s purpose of providing information about fluids, electrolytes, and acid-base in one place very nicely. It is intended for the small animal practitioner, but would also be invaluable to veterinary students and veterinary technicians, especially those studying for state or national board exams. It has proven to be the go to source for anything pertaining to fluids, electrolytes, or acid-base in small animals.
Publisher: Elsevier Saunders 2012
744 pages; Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1-4377-0654-3