Title Details

THE AUTHORS

Dr Jill E. Maddison BVSc, DipVetClinStud, PhD, FACVSc, MRCVS is Director of Professional Development, Extra Mural Studies and General Practice at The Royal Veterinary College, UK. Jill is actively involved in undergraduate teaching at the RVC in the areas of clinical problem solving and inductive clinical reasoning in small animal medicine and clinical pharmacology for veterinary students and nurses. She has published over 60 refereed papers in veterinary and medical journals and has been invited to speak at numerous international CPD meetings. In April 2012 she became the chair of the WSAVA Continuing Education (CE) Committee which facilitates CE for veterinarians in developing countries. Jill has been responsible for programming the clinical CPD streams at The London Vet Show since its launch in 2009.

Professor Holger A. Volk DVM, PGCAP, DipECVN, PhD, FHEA, MRCVS is Clinical Director of the Small Animal Referral Hospital and Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Royal Veterinary College, UK. He is a Recognised RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, and President of the European College of Veterinary Neurology from 2014 to 2016. He is fascinated by and involved in facilitating learning for any type or level of learners. He is a frequent speaker at national and international meetings, is section editor of multiple basic and clinical veterinary science journals and is widely published in scholarly journals.

Professor David B. Church BVSc, PhD, MACVSc, FHEA, MRCVS is the Vice Principal for Learning and the Student Experience at The Royal Veterinary College, UK. He is the author of numerous scientific articles and book chapters and has an ongoing interest in relevant continuing education for practitioners and in particular the value of the problem-oriented approach to small animal medicine.

Contributors vii

Foreword (Stephen May) ix

Acknowledgement xiii

1 Introduction to problem-based inductive clinical reasoning 1
Jill E. Maddison & Holger A. Volk

2 Vomiting and regurgitation 23
Jill E. Maddison

3 Diarrhoea 39
Jill E. Maddison

4 Weight loss 55
Jill E. Maddison

5 Abdominal enlargement 65
Jill E. Maddison

6 Weakness 75
Holger A. Volk, David B. Church & Jill E. Maddison

7 Fit, collapse or strange episodes 97
Holger A. Volk

8 Sneezing, dyspnoea, coughing and other respiratory signs 125
David B. Church

9 Anaemia 155
Jill E. Maddison

10 Jaundice 167
Jill E. Maddison

11 Bleeding 175
Jill E. Maddison

12 Polyuria/polydipsia and/or impaired urine concentration 191
Jill E. Maddison & David B. Church

13 Gait abnormalities 211
Holger A. Volk & Elvin R. Kulendra

14 Pruritus and scaling 241
Andrea V. Volk & Jill E. Maddison

Index 255

“The authors of this affordable book have deliberately focused their approach on the main symptoms such as diarrhoea, pruritus… and they guide the reader through the maze of clinical exams, secondary tests and intense mulling.  Elementary, my dear Watson.”  (Vet Nurses Today, 1 October 2015)

“This book will be a useful addition to the library of any practitioner.”  (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 15 September 2015)

"Overall, Clinical reasoning is a useful resource for the clinician, especially when faced with challenging diagnostic cases. Its use will help practitioners focus their approach and avoid missing something early on in a case, saving on unhelpful diagnostic tests. As a new graduate, I have found this text useful in clinical practice so far, and am sure it will get even more use with time. While of great use to recent graduates, this book would also assist any clinician who is interested in applying their knowledge in a more thorough and logical manner" (Australian Veterinary Journal, 27 November 2016)

The authors present a logical structured framework for diagnosing common clinical problems, which can be used by veterinary students just starting clinics, as well as experienced veterinarians faced with difficult undiagnosed cases. The book is easy to read, logically organized, medically sound and in my opinion, unlike any other small animal medical textbook currently available.
Susan E. Johnson, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVIM (Internal Medicine)
Professor and SAIM Service Head, The Ohio State University, USA

The veterinary profession has been in need of this book for many decades. The book is written in a down to earth style that shows an appreciation of the working environment and priorities of clinicians, making it a practical guide to efficient and effective clinical decision making.
Sue Bennett BSc, BVMS, MACVSc (Medicine of Cats), FACVSc (Small Animal Medicine)
Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine, Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, Australia

Clinical Reasoning in Small Animal Practice is an invaluable resource for undergraduates and recent graduates to help them to develop a structured, reasoned approach to every case. The book is clearly set out in 14 chapters which cover the most common problems confronting vets in general practice in a systematic and logical way and will become the go-to text for all veterinarians who strive to achieve the highest standards in small animal practice.
Dr Hugh White MVSc, MANZCVS
Director, Centre for Veterinary Education, University of Sydney, Australia

At last, here is a book that provides clinicians with a clear and structured approach to clinical diagnosis.  It provides a methodology for clinical problem solving:  for students, inexperienced clinicians, experienced veterinarians and specialists alike. If you think diagnosis is easy or if you find it difficultyou need this book. The authors have drawn on their extensive experience and championing of the clinical reasoning concept to provide a workable template to make a diagnosis for animals presenting with common clinical signs.  Adopting their problem based methodology will aid diagnosis, reduce unnecessary diagnostic investigations and make medicine enjoyable. This book is a ‘must read’ for veterinary students and all veterinarians in practice.
Boyd R Jones BVSC, FACVSc, DECVIM-Ca, MRCVS
Professor Emeritus University College Dublin, Ireland and Massey University, New Zealand