Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2010) 12, 997
BOOK REVIEWS
Manual of Clinical Procedures in Dogs, Cats,
Rabbits and Rodents
Steven E Crow, Sally O Walshaw, Jennifer E Boyle,
3rd edn. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2009, 408 pages,
paperback, ISBN: 9780813813042, £34.99, US$64.99.
This book is divided into four main sections; routine
clinical procedures, specialised clinical procedures,
emergency procedures and routine clinical procedures
in small mammals.
The book starts with the basics, including manual
restraint of animals, and progresses to simple proce-
dures such as venepuncture, injection techniques
and fine needle aspiration. More specialised tech-
niques are also covered, including thoracocentesis, ab-
dominocentesis and cerebrospinal fluid aspiration. All
the text is clearly laid out, with an easy to follow step-
by-step approach. Informative line drawings are
included where appropriate to aid in proper under-
standing of the procedure being described.
One of the great strengths of this book is the inclu-
sion of many techniques often lost in the cross-over
Atlas of Small Animal Ultrasonography
Dominique Penninck, Marc-Andre d’Anjou,
Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2008, 528 pages, ISBN:
0813828007, £114.99.
This text is a very comprehensive compilation of ul-
trasound techniques and findings for each individual
dog and cat organ. The book is easy and enjoyable to
use. When reviewing this book, I was unable to think
of a body part that was not included. The authors
have found a way to evaluate every organ effectively
with ultrasound.
The book is organized first by body system then by
organ. Each organ section describes the scanning tech-
nique, normal findings, and then sonographic features
of disorders. Interventional ultrasonographic proce-
dures associated with the organ are also included.
Photographs and diagrams illustrating scanning
techniques enhance the text and understanding of
the procedures. Approaches and angles are simplified
between books written for nurses and those meant
for clinicians. Worthy examples would be skin surgi-
cal preparation, ear care and appropriate pedicure
methods.
The only significant criticism would be that some of
the techniques are described differently in this book
than in other more specialist texts, and to facilitate
ease of use a loss of detail in description of some pro-
cedures has to be accepted.
This book would be very useful for veterinary
students and veterinary nursing students just em-
barking on their clinical training, but would also
not be out of place on a practice shelf, as a quick
reference guide to performing some of the less com-
monly used procedures for more experienced
practitioners.
Andrew Francis BVSc, CertVC, MRCVS,
Senior Clinical Scholar in Cardiopulmonary Medicine
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,
University of Edinburgh, UK
when you are given several different ways of viewing
them. There are many high quality ultrasound images
in each section highlighting normal versus abnormal
findings. Many small animal texts do not give the
cat equal attention, but thankfully the authors chose
well and include plenty of cat specific images and
descriptions.
There are in-depth sections on performing a thorough
echocardiogram and multiple tables showing normal
values. There is an excellent flowchart on the ultrasonic
approach for detecting portosystemic shunts.
This book is appropriate for both the beginning and
experienced ultrasonographer. It is the best teaching
and reference guide I have seen for small animal
ultrasound.
Elaine Wexler-Mitchell, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Care Clinic, Orange,
California, USA