VSPN Review by Stephen Cital RVT, RLAT, SRA                                                                                           You may purchase this book on Amazon.com
(Click on stars for an explanation)

However, I was less excited when I began reading. Expecting to get primate specific information and helpful tips when dealing with this most special of special species I instead found much generalization on the topic of primates. As a result, I am left, not knowing if I can take and use the information and clinical advice to treat a tamarin or a gorilla. Most of the contributing authors did a good job at separating out specie- specific problems and treatment methods, but the editor’s chapters in particular, after rummaging through spelling and grammatical mishaps were disheartening. At times I also felt like I was reading “The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” instead of a clinical medicine text. The book also tends to showcase defining of words rather than useful clinical material.

The color photographs are a nice touch and the formulary is useful. The formulary seems to be the most helpful part of the pocket handbook that interestingly enough, doesn’t fit in ones pocket. I think both veterinarians and technicians could find much of the information contained in the text useful in a general sense, but other resources may be easier to discern primate specific information from and give better clinical advice. I give the book two out of five stars.

Publisher: CRC Press

ISBN: 978-1-4398-6728-0