Guest Review by W. Greg Upton, DVM (Click on stars for an explanation)

This book is Out of Print.

For many years, the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine has been a familiar reference for many small animal practitioners. Prior issues are known for the high-quality, comprehensive chapters on most medical problems dog and cat practitioners can expect to encounter. This new sixth edition follows in the same tradition. Most of the chapters are newly written. (I did run across one chapter that had been carried over from the last edition at the author's request.) The contributing authors in this edition are generally well known in their fields; many of the authors will also be familiar to readers because they are consultants for the Veterinary Information Network.

The hardback comes in its familiar two-volume set. The book is divided into 18 sections containing 279 chapters (up from 184 chapters in the last edition). The chapters are well organized, and the editors took extra steps to forestall similar descriptions being repeated through out the book (a single chapter explains the basics of routine procedures, from venipuncture to joint taps, to sampling for viral cultures). The illustrations and black-and-white photographs are of good quality. Each chapter is well referenced, but you won't find the references in the book. As a space-saving feature, the references are available on the accompanying CD-ROM, and on the website (if one gets the online e-dition). There is an increased use of algorithms throughout the book. Most of these are very useful, but a few provide little benefit beyond what is described in the text.

One should spend some time reading through the chapters rather than just using the book as a reference to research cases. There are some interesting chapters on topics not directly related to medical cases that will broaden one's perspective on practice. For instance, a chapter entitled Clueing-In Customers gives an interesting description on how the Mayo Clinic achieves excellent customer service. Other timely topics include Rational Use of Diagnostic Tests, Over-The-Counter Human Medications, and Gene Therapy.

Perhaps the most innovative feature of this new edition is the incorporation of computers and the Internet to expand on what a textbook can do. Elsevier offers this edition of the book in two ways: the standard sixth edition that includes the two-volume set and the CD-ROM, and an e-dition, which includes the above plus access to the online edition. The CD-ROM includes the references and a large selection of client information sheets that can be printed out. The online edition includes that and more. You have access to the entire textbook online and can easily search the contents via its search engine. The website also contains updated chapters (currently 39 listed updates), grand rounds case presentations (currently 8 listed), video clips, an online searchable drug index, 90 client information sheets, a listing of current relevant news items, a section of current featured articles from the Veterinary Clinics Of North America: Small Animal Practice, and a section on abnormal lab findings.

I have enjoyed having the online access version; I've come to depend on it when away from the office. The client information sheets have proven useful too. Elsevier states that the online access to this edition will continue until the next edition comes out in print. One can view free sample book chapters at www.vetmedtext.com.

I think the editors, publisher, and the authors have done a great job. I like having timely online updates as new information becomes available; it's comforting to know that the information is current. I would recommend the e-dition to any small animal practitioner.

Saunders, an Elsevier Imprint (publication date: 2005).

Hardbound, 2208 pages in two volumes, approx. 1200 illustrations.

ISBN: 9781416001102.

(Editor's note: See also VSPN reviews for Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 6th Edition, Volume 1 and Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 6th Edition, Volume 2.)