Abstract
This textbook aims to provide an up-to-date reference covering all aspects of canine and feline medicine. The text is divided into two main parts. The first section gives a problem-oriented approach to medical syndromes such as cyanosis and ataxia. These chapters give an informative review of the pathophysiology of the syndrome followed by the general diagnostic approach to such a case. The second section, the bulk of the text, follows a more traditional systems-based format. All of the sections that one would usually expect to find covered by a medicine text are present, along with some more unusual but very useful sections on ophthalmology, dermatology and even behaviour.
The book is a multi-author text, with contributions from 32 authors, the vast majority of whom are based in the UK, providing a pleasant change to have medicine discussed from a European perspective. As with all multi-author texts there are some discrepancies of style and variation in the depth of coverage of subjects. It is inevitable in a book of this size that there are some inaccuracies and a few topics that would benefit from a more up-to-date perspective. Throughout the book, excellent use is made of tables and line drawings. The book suffers a little from the lack of colour, although a small number of the black and white figures, particularly those illustrating cytology, ophthalmology and dermatology, are then reproduced in a colour-plate section.
Unlike many medicine texts that are written from a canine perspective a great effort has been made to incorporate information on feline medicine. Where conditions in the cat differ significantly from the dog, the system section has been subdivided such that there are separate sections on feline ocular disease and haematological disorders for example. A whole chapter is devoted to infectious diseases of the cat.
The preface of the book states that it is aimed to be a reference source for undergraduates, through small animal practitioners, to those studying for RCVS or European Diplomas. This is possibly a little ambitious for any text and those studying for higher-qualifications may find, in places, it lacks a little in depth. However, the breadth of subject matter is excellent and as such it provides a valuable source of information both on specific disease conditions and when faced with a problem case. As such, the book will be a valuable addition to any practitioner's shelf and certainly achieves its aims of making the ‘text accessible … concise and clinically relevant’.