Abstract
This book is the second edition of Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents, Clinical Medicine and Surgery. This book is similar to the first edition in its format and style. It is a concise and updated textbook covering a broad topic, with many new authors contributing information. This textbook is intended for veterinary students, practicing veterinarians, research scientists, and pet owners who may have contact with these species of animals. This textbook is divided into seven major sections: five on specific animal species and two on a formulary and general topics. The indexes are descriptive and have a total of 41 logically organized chapters on the specific topics on each animal species. Each section contains basic anatomy, physiology, husbandry, veterinary care, system diseases that include: gastrointestinal, urogenital, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, skin, muscusculoskeltal, neurologic, and neoplastic diseases. The tables on disease diagnoses are helpful. Surgical techniques are included in each animal species section.
There is little detailed information on disease pathogenesis and very few photographs on histopathology. Most of the 325 illustrations are black and white photographs and line drawings and are of acceptable quality, of clinical and gross lesions and radiographs/sonograms. Good color photographs are used in the hematology and cytology chapters. New chapters include sugar gliders, African hedgehogs, and prairie dogs and zoonotic diseases. A general small mammal topic section includes anesthesia, analgesia, dentistry, orthopedics, endoscopy, radiology, ultrasound, cytology, hematology, and ophthalmic diseases in small pet rodents. The animals discussed in this section include mice, rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters, degus, and prairie dogs.
In summary, this book has a broad overview of clinical medicine and surgical information on ferrets and rabbits and some small mammal species that are hard to find in one place. The book is easy to read and has complete and current references. This textbook is an important reference text for those veterinarians and others who work with these species of animals.