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Life Science

 

Review Essays of Academic, Professional & Technical Books in the Humanities & Sciences

 

GIS and Spatial Analysis in Veterinary Science by P. Durr, A. Gatrell (CABI Publishing) is probably the first to review the subject of geographical information systems (including remote sensing) and spatial analysis as applied to veterinary science. Topics covered include the application of GIS to epidemic disease response, to companion animal epidemiology and to the management of wildlife diseases. There are also chapters on more general issues such as parallels with human health and spatial statistics in the biomedical sciences.

The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 sets the scene with two chapters that introduce basic concepts and principles and offer some illustrative examples of the relevance of GIS and spatial analysis in a vet­erinary context. The second part consists of two further chapters that set this work in a broader context, with reference to biomedical appli­cations and those in a human public health context. The chapters in the final part of the book deal with applications in various domains, ranging from parasitic disease through to companion animals, wildlife disease, epidemic disease response and disease spread.

The authors have created a website that contains further information and resources relating to GIS and spatial analysis in animal health: www.gisvet.org.


Small Animal Dental Equipment, Materials, and Techniques by Jan Bellows (Blackwell Publishers) was born out of a need to inform and share information with veterinarians, technicians, and human dentists. As in other areas of veterinary medicine and surgery, there are scores of methods, materials, and types of equipment used to perform dental care. The book's goal is to clearly explain how to choose dental equipment and materials and how to perform basic and intermediate dental procedures based on examination. Some advanced procedures are included for completeness, and are noted as such.

Veterinary educators stress that practitioners "do no harm." The veterinarian must appreciate and fully understand the science behind the procedures outlined in this book before performing them on clinical cases. Dentistry is not a step-by-step cookbook endeavor. Often there are procedural complications or cases that occur with other than "textbook" presentations. For those who attempt dental procedures without proper equipment, materials, and knowledge, there is the  potential to make a patient worse from the experience. The reader is advised to practice these procedures on cadaver specimens and dental models. Proficiency can be obtained by working with human or veterinary den­tists and attending veterinary dental hands-on wet labs—coupled with reading, reading, and more reading. Results should be evaluated by someone knowledgeablebefore attempting clinical cases. The reader is advised to contact the American Veterinary Dental College or the American Veterinary Dental Society for a list of contin­uing education opportunities.

My goal was not to write a text that listed all equipment, materials, and techniques available for patient care. I have included those materials, equipment, and techniques that I and many of my colleagues have found valuable in the practice of veterinary dentistry. Where useful, I have included a summary of the manufacturer's instructions. The reader is advised to consult with the complete directions before product use.

It is important for veterinarians to find their own sources of material and service and develop a relationship with those suppliers. Burns Veterinary Supply, Cislak Manufacturing Inc., and Henry Schein Company are leaders in supporting veterinary dentistry. Without their help, veterinary dentistry would not have advanced to where it is today. I have made every attempt to list their current product numbers where applicable.

Small Animal Dental Equipment, Materials, and Techniques provides readers with a good starting or continuation source for the dental education journey to improve the level of dental care available to animals everywhere.

Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds by J. Scott Hamilton, Robert E. Schmidt, David N. Phalen ( Iowa State Press: Blackwell) The number of pet and breeding birds in captivity and in ornamental and zoological collections has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. With the growth in the bird owning public comes a corresponding growth in the number of veterinarians providing care for birds. Avian veterinarians and bird owners depend on the pathologist to make an accurate diagnosis and provide advice on the significance of their findings.

Diseases of pet and aviary birds differ significantly from those of poultry and from many of the common diseases seen in wild birds-even wild birds of the same species. Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds

  • offers a comprehensive review of the gross and histologic features of the diseases of pet and aviary bird,

  • provides a guide to ancillary diagnostics,

  • presents a context in which to interpret the pathologic findings, and

  • helps to create an understanding of the pathogenesis of the clinical manifestations of disease.

The material is organized by system so that the pathologist faced with a diagnostic challenge involving a particular organ can go to the appropriate chapter, rather than having to search through extraneous listings under etiology or by bird species.

Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds is an indispensable reference for avian practitioners and students of avian medicine, veterinary pathologists and pathology trainees who will be engaged in diagnostic pathology or research on avian diseases.

 

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