Small Animal Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods, 5th Edition

“This textbook strikes a good balance between informative text and illustrative diagrams, graphs and photographs, and is relatively easy to read…This layout is one of its main appeals; readers can skip to the section that most interests the and quickly refresh their memory on differentials for the particular clinical sign or elevated blood parameter that is troubling them, the nread through the potential further tests to pursue a diagnosis…Overall, this book has clear potential to be used as handy reference material by the small animal clinician looking for a quick and simple approach to investigating a particular worrying clinical sign or parameter. Veterinary Students considering a career in small animal practice, or who find themselves confused by lenghty explanations in other clinical pathology textbooks, may also find it illuminating and more enjoyable to use.“Vet Record, May 2012 “The text was obviously crafted with one consistent thought:‘what will the general practice vet be asking here?’ The book has wonderful algorithms and ‘causes of…’ tables that succinctly guide the practitionerthrough problem-based scenarios; they helpfully indicate when something is rare or common in a general practice population…Overall, Willard and Tvedten is a superb quick-to-read book and my new recommendation.“EJCAP, Aug 2012”The fifth edition is similar in structure to the previous editions but has been updated effectively and despite the stated concerns of the authors that currency is impossible in a profession that is continually advancing, they have come as close as possible to meeting this challenge. The text is logically structured, with chapters based on body systems. Each chapter contains comprehensive lists of appropriate laboratory tests for various clinical presentations…One of the benefits in reading a text such as this is the attention paid to the provision of the context in which the tests are used. The authors have excelled in this and in doing so have provided a readily accessible reference not only for the laboratory tests detailed, but also provided a systematic review of medical conditions and disease in general.“Australian Veterinary Journal, September 2012

Willard is Professor of Small Animal Medicine, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.