Book Description:
Small Animal Gastroenterology is a 2008 release by Schlütersche of Germany and edited by Jörg M. Steiner, with a host of contributing authors from the United States and Europe. The text aims to explain gastrointestinal health and disease for the practitioner and veterinary student by presenting fundamental anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract in a clear concise manner. Advances in human medicine as well as research facilities have allowed for more precise diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease in small animals and more refined diagnostic tests are becoming available to the general practitioner. The gastrointestinal tract also often responds to insults from other bodily systems so the practitioner must attempt to localize and treat the initial problem in addition to possible sequelae.
The text is divided into two sections, Part I: Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Disorders, and Part II: Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract. There are a variety of diagnostic tools available to the general practitioner that are feasible, economical, and easily accessible. Every examination must start with an excellent history and physical exam in order to localize a patient’s clinical problem to one or more body systems. Diagnostic imaging such as conventional radiology and ultrasound are frequently encountered in the small animal practice and emphasized in the text, however advances such as computed tomography (CT), endoscopic ultrasound, nuclear scintigraphy, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound have been utilized in some specialty referral research and university settings. Excellent quality radiographs and ultrasound studies have been included to highlight both normal and abnormal structures beginning with the oropharynx and working caudally through the gastrointestinal tract. The photographs are well chosen to represent commonly seen gastrointestinal conditions and labeled for clarity to aid the practitioner.
Routine blood work, urinalysis, and fecal examinations often will indicate nonspecific gastrointestinal tract disease in the small animal patient. Many symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea overlap several body systems so differentiating between clinical conditions or assessing multi-system involvement becomes more challenging. The text outlines the principles of additional hematological testing for specific clinical conditions, their usefulness as well as their pitfalls in addition to more advanced testing modalities such as endoscopy, laparoscopy, and histology.
Part II: Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract examines the anatomy, physiology, and specific diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in an organized, methodical manner. Clinical signs, diagnostic methods, general treatment options, as well as prognosis for common gastrointestinal diseases are reviewed. Key facts throughout both Parts I and II are outlined in text boxes with excellent flow diagrams and illustrations to further explain the conditions. For instance, the syndrome of feline megacolon is a complex issue that may begin as constipation, progress to obstipation, and with time could lead to megacolon. The practitioner is provided with a systematic diagram for the feline patient presenting with constipation as well as an algorithm for the management of constipation, obstipation, and megacolon. References are provided at the end of each subsection throughout the text if additional information is required.
Small Animal Gastroenterology is well written in user-friendly terminology with excellent descriptive photographs, charts, and illustrations. The text is easily navigated using the detailed table of contents and index provided in addition to the color-coded edging to delineate Parts I and II. General practitioners and veterinary students alike will find this a useful reference when presented with the small animal patient in need of diagnostic workup and treatment for a potential gastrointestinal condition.
Jörg M. Steiner, ed. Small Animal Gastroenterology. Schlütersche, 2008.
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