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

This book is Out of Print.

This book was formerly known as Jones' Animal Nursing. This is a big book, both in volume and content. I would not limit its use to technicians (nurses), because I can see its value to students and veterinarians alike.

The book covers most everything that might come into the small animal clinic, including dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, rabbits, mice, and rats. Each disease and surgery is explained so that the nursing staff understands the background for the treatment and care. In my opinion, this is a valuable part of training. It is easier to understand how to care for a surgery patient if one understands the process that put the patient there.

The sections on feeding are up-to-date, with current nutritional teaching. The book also covers such varied topics as parasitology, dentistry, housing requirements, imaging, first aid, laboratory diagnostics, behavior interpretation, handling, control of hazardous waste, and anatomy. The anatomy chapter is excellently illustrated.

The book is liberally illustrated with photos and drawings as well as charts, graphs, radiographs, endoscopic images, MRIs, and scintigrams. Some of the photos are a bit dark and might have been better lighted. Maybe it's just my eyesight.

I really liked this book. It's very thorough and up-to-date. Plus, it covers much of which might be encountered in the small animal practice. I would recommend it for every clinic library.

Publisher's comments:

"This new edition of the classic core textbook has been updated to reflect changes in the RCVS Veterinary Nursing syllabus. All chapters have been revised or rewritten.

• Extensive coverage of exotic and small mammal care
• Extended coverage of animal behaviour problems
• Separate chapter on dentistry
• Process and Models of veterinary nursing
• Colour illustrations throughout"

Contents: Principles of health and safety; Client communication and practice organization; Legal and ethical aspects of veterinary nursing practice; Canine and feline anatomy and physiology; Anatomy and physiology of exotic pets; Genetics; Infection and immunity; Elementary microbiology; Elementary parasitology; Medicines: pharmacology, therapeutics and dispensing; Handling and control of small and exotic animals; Animal training and behaviour; Maintaining animal accommodation; Observation and assessment of the patient; Essential patient care; General nursing, the nursing process and nursing models; Nutrition and feeding; Laboratory diagnostic aids; First aid and emergencies; Fluid therapy and shock; Diagnostic imaging; Medical disorders of dogs and cats and their nursing; Anaesthesia and analgesia; Theatre practice; Surgical nursing; Reproduction, obstetric and paediatric nursing; Dentistry; Appendices; Index.

Published by British Small Animal Association & Wiley (May 2007)

Paper cover, 297 x 210 mm (11.688 x 8.25 inches), 652 pages

ISBN: 9780905214894.