I was wondering if any of you have any good suggestions as a beginners guide to veterinary medicine. I'm currently a volunteer and was looking for something that covers all the basics and has a lot of information that is fairly easy to interpret for someone that is new to the field. I was thinking about buying "The Clinical Textbook for veterinary technicians sixth edition, the Merck veterinary manual, and also The veterinary Drug Handbook (pocket edition). Any suggestions? I'm basically looking for something that covers it all, very thoroughly and clearly, well at least most of whats out there. Anatomical charts and pictured illustrations are definitely a plus too : )
Recommendations on Books
- Thread starter Spintix
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2007
- Messages
- 2,126
- Reaction score
- 34
Not familiar with the other book tech book, but I found this one to be pretty good:
http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Pr...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240459682&sr=1-1
Taught me why you should always fill those CBC tubes to the specified amounts.
I would highly recommend you look for used books as you can find some for dirt cheap you wouldn't buy otherwise. Most of them will be modern enough for anything you will be exposed to before vet school.
"The Five minute veterinary consult: Canine and Feline" is a nice resource. I got an older copy for $10 from a closing clinic.(compared to ~$80 for the newest) Was really useful when trying to figure out the differentials for a murmur in a kitten and what tests could be done.
Fossums "Small animal surgery" is also fun to flip through. I got a copy of the first edition recently for $24 off ebay. (Compared to $170 for the 3rd edition)
http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Pr...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240459682&sr=1-1
Taught me why you should always fill those CBC tubes to the specified amounts.
I would highly recommend you look for used books as you can find some for dirt cheap you wouldn't buy otherwise. Most of them will be modern enough for anything you will be exposed to before vet school.
"The Five minute veterinary consult: Canine and Feline" is a nice resource. I got an older copy for $10 from a closing clinic.(compared to ~$80 for the newest) Was really useful when trying to figure out the differentials for a murmur in a kitten and what tests could be done.
Fossums "Small animal surgery" is also fun to flip through. I got a copy of the first edition recently for $24 off ebay. (Compared to $170 for the 3rd edition)
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
- Messages
- 285
- Reaction score
- 2
I totally reccommend Veterinary Medical Terminology by Dawn Christenson LVT. It was rec. a while back as a nice easy read that sort of covers all the bases. I bought the older edition for very little on half.com and I think it is a great book! It covers basic anatomy, physiology, etc. and has secitons on phramacology, etc.
I wish I had found it a long time ago!
Here it is on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Veterinary-Medical-Terminology-Dawn-Christenson/dp/0721697267/ref=pd_sim_b_12
I wish I had found it a long time ago!
Here it is on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Veterinary-Medical-Terminology-Dawn-Christenson/dp/0721697267/ref=pd_sim_b_12
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2008
- Messages
- 327
- Reaction score
- 1
The Merck Manual is great, it covers a huge range of disorders, and species, as well as basic info. I've used it to look up cases I didn't know much about and at one point I had the lofty goal of reading it cover to cover. That went by the wayside pretty quickly....
so would you say that the merck manual covers practically "everything"? everyone seems to have their own opinions on books but i really have ben trying to find the top sellers in order to make a selection. I want to make sure i am getting the best of the best that is very easy to understand
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
- Messages
- 285
- Reaction score
- 2
I think the Merck Manual is a great one to have on hand. I have definitely come home and looked things up in it. I wouldn't describe it as a beginners guide by any means, but it is a useful supplement for any pre-vet I think!
But if you are looking for a book that is easy to understand and will help you improve at work, I second my own rec of the terminology book (can I do that?
). It is a great great resource, even has little excercises and crossword puzzles in it. It was super cheap (you can geta copy for $5 here: http://product.half.ebay.com/Veterinary-Medical-Terminology_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ400391) and super useful. Very different from the Merck (not even similar)!
But if you are looking for a book that is easy to understand and will help you improve at work, I second my own rec of the terminology book (can I do that?
). It is a great great resource, even has little excercises and crossword puzzles in it. It was super cheap (you can geta copy for $5 here: http://product.half.ebay.com/Veterinary-Medical-Terminology_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ400391) and super useful. Very different from the Merck (not even similar)!
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2009
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 0
Every veterinarian I know has the Merck Veterinary Manual somewhere on their shelves. My academic advisor, also a DVM, had every edition starting from when he was in school (totaling 4-5). It's also commonly referred to as the "Veterinary Bible." I really don't think that you can go wrong buying it.
well is the Mercks somewhat understandable for a beginner to veterinary medicine? and does it cover all the basics as well with many charts, diagrams, anatomical pictures, detailed pictures of diseases and disorders etc?
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2004
- Messages
- 255
- Reaction score
- 0
You can get the full text of merck vet manual here http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2007
- Messages
- 2,126
- Reaction score
- 34
I thought every vet had the Merck manual because they got a free copy of it somewhere along the way?
The Fossums surgery book is really cool because it has lots of pictures. And who seriously doesn't love pictures?
The Fossums surgery book is really cool because it has lots of pictures. And who seriously doesn't love pictures?
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2004
- Messages
- 255
- Reaction score
- 0
You also might want to try merck's manual for pet health, good information but geared toward the pet owner so it's easier to understand. I also like "Common diseases of companion animals" by Alleice summers. It's made for vet techs I think, but good information, easy to read and isn't as heavy as merck's vet manual. Good starter but by no means comprehensive.
