The title of this text may be confusing to some, as it is not simply a text about nursing care of veterinary patients, but rather, a reference written for paraprofessionals, AHTs (Animal Health Technologists or as they are referred to in Britain, Veterinary Nurses).
A large soft-cover book of 719 pages divided into 26 chapters, it covers a very broad spectrum of topics from the basic sciences such as anatomy, microbiology, and genetics to the more clinically oriented topics of anesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, and nutrition. The text also includes chapters on soft skills such as principles of communication with clients and colleagues, and the legal and ethical aspects of veterinary nursing practice as they apply in Britain. Most of the text is devoted to cats and dogs, but some information is provided on several exotic species including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
The text is a good reference for simple procedures that may be hard to find in other references such as nail trimming/grooming for patients, handling client phone calls (especially in emergency situations), and elementary nursing care of hospitalized patients. Many good color diagrams, pictures, and tables are included to support the written text. However, this book serves more as a comprehensive quick refresher than an in-depth source of information on any one topic. While entire textbooks are written on most of the topics covered, this text devotes a few pages to each. For example, the subject of dentistry is covered in 14 pages including dentistry in lagomorphs and rodents, 5 pages or less are devoted to each of the following subjects: hematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, fecal analysis, and cytology. For the reader wanting more information, each chapter includes a “further reading” section.