Customer Reviews

Merck Veterinary Manual CD-ROM

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Merck Veterinary Manual has been the bible for the veterinary students (and the beginning veterinary practitioners) for ever, and deservingly so. This 8th edition is even better than the previous one. If you don't have a professional library that covers every possible subject in veterinary medicine (or don't have the time to look for ever for a subject), you need the Merck. It has information not only on nearly every disease but also on physical examination and procedures. I learned, for example, that in an X-ray machine mA represented the amount of radiation while the kV represented its tissue penetration. Can you put it shorter and clearer? I can't! It has no references but it is not a reference book. It may be somewhat difficult for the non-initiated but it is for the profesional. All around, a great book!

Probably the best general veterinary reference book around. Although its primary users are veterinarians and vet technicians, it is relatively easy to understand for the average animal owner interested in learning more about the animal's physiology, behavior, management, nutrition, pharmacology, toxicology and general management. Even though most of the book's 2300+ pages deal with domestic animals, it has a few chapters devoted to exotic and Zoo animals.

This book has everything you need to know about Veterinary Medicine. It is especially helpful if you are a Veterinary Technician and want to become a Veterinarian. You can learn on your own time as with at your job (if you work with animals). I always refer to this book if I do not know what my Veterinarian is talking about or when I see it on a client's chart. It is very easy to comprehend. It would be very helpful to have a Veterinary Medicine Dictionary next to you as you read this book, to look up those terms you just can't figure out the meaning to. I don't have any particular dictonary in mind, though. So, all in all, if you want to become a Veterinarian - you should purchase this "Veterinarian Bible".

I've used the MVM for my dairy goats, dogs, cats & turtle :-) for probably 10 years. I'm an RN, so I can understand most of the medical terms used, but do still have to keep my Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary close by to look up many words it uses. Despite this fact, the book is a must have for breeders of any type animal. If all you know is a symptom (ie, itching, lameness, hair loss), this word will often (but not always) be listed in the index. A fault in this area is that not ALL pages are listed where the word is mentioned. Many times, I find information on one thing while I am reading about another thing & I wonder why that page was not also listed in the index. I just jot down these type things on the Notes pages in the back, for my own reference. If this book was indexed to include all the information it possesses, it would be almost perfect. This is the ONLY reason I do not rate this book a 5. But still overall, from the breeder's books I've read, this one is the most concise & complete for most animals. For each disease entity, there will be listed the Etiology (causes), Clinical Findings & Diagnosis (symptoms & other facts leading to a diagnosis), Treatment (meds or management suggestions) and sometimes a Prognosis (outcome prediction) and Control (measures needed to prevent future cases). Information & dosages of drugs for many animals are listed, along with specific information on drug families (adverse reactions, toxicology, etc). And the Zoonoses section shows which diseases are contagious to humans or other animals. The Poisonous Plant chart is also very helpful.

The Merck Manual's new edition is a much needed update to previous editions. The book follows the same, easy to follow formal and includes sections on exotic animals that were not a part of previous editions. It is a very affordable although fairly comprehensive reference to general veterinary medicine.

Some veterinary students have found this a very useful book for reviewing while studying for National Boards.

The book's main flaw is that references are poorly cited, and for the most part, are non-existent.

There's a reason my friends and I refer to this as the vet bible; it has an incredible amount of information stated concisely in an easy-to-find format. HIGHLY recommended.

As a veterinary technician who graduated in '94 and is out of the clinics, but still works in Animal care, it is the best. I refer back to it all the time. I don't remember everything I was taught and especially being away from practices, it is perfect. It has EVERYTHING!! I carry it with me, it is like my bible! Nothing beats this either, I had other books that I have tried to refer to, but this is ideal as I stated it has everything.

This is a great book. If you already know alot, then you will be all set. I've only been an assistant for 2years, and reading this is difficult, if I didn't have a vet dictionary I would be lost. If you are well trained then I see this as a wonderful book to have, maybe invaluable.

The Merck Manual is a MUST HAVE for all vet students. It discusses most species and the common problems of each. It has an excellent appendix with all sorts of useful information including normal TPRs, conversion charts, and zoonoses, etc. While it does not go into great depth on pathophysiology, it is a perfect place to look up quick rule outs and basics. No matter what species or organ system we're studying, I use my Merck nearly every day.

This edition is wonderful, and much easier to read and access than the previous versions. It's a must-have for veterinarians and veterinary technicians (such as myself) alike.