For those of us who may have, at one time or another, approached their dermatology patient with a little bit of apprehension, this book is a step in the right direction in alleviating those fears. The authors have compiled a step-by-step guide as to how to perform and interpret tests that are essential to every dermatology case workup, as well as detailing other diagnostics which may be required in more complex cases. I believe this book will benefit students, technicians, and practicing veterinarians.
The book is comprised of 15 chapters, the first of which introduces us to the equipment needed for performing a dermatological examination. Included in this chapter are pointers on the use of the microscope and maximizing success in cytology slide preparation and staining. The reader is then guided through a systematic dermatology workup whereby the first half of the book revolves around fundamentals such as looking for parasites, performing hair plucks, trichograms and cytology, while the second half introduces the reader to histopathology, allergy, endocrine, and infectious testing and advanced imaging. There is an abundance of high quality photos depicting various procedures, organisms, and dermatological lesions as well as charts, diagrams, and graphs that are scattered throughout the book. I anticipate the parasite identification guide on pages 39–40 will be visited frequently and I would encourage everyone to read the section on basic histopathological terminology as it is very helpful. The discussion surrounding the interpretation of bacterial culture and sensitivity results in chapter 6 is highly relevant and practical. The schematic representations of tests (e.g., PCR, ELISA, fluorescent antibodies) in the infectious disease chapter were also very useful. T he chapter which I think will attract the most attention, however, is chapter 14, “Which Test to Choose When,” of which the figures regarding lesion distribution for pruritic skin conditions in dogs (there is also one for cats) is invaluable and highly needed. The references provided at the end of the book are very useful if more in-depth information is required.
Patients with skin and ear problems are a daily occurrence in practice. This book gives you the tools and confidence in working up these cases as well as knowing when to recommend referral.