As recent graduates, we have a lot to remember and new challenges. We can easily forget a few things about important diseases, but having these books by my side has been helpful.
Here are three of my favorite books that have allowed me to review a lot of things:
1. The New Vet Jumpstart Guide – This book is amazing because it discusses the most common 20 cases found in general practice. I love how each chapter provides a brief description of the diseases, diagnostics, treatment plans, and communication tips on how to describe it to the clients. The guide also includes calculations and drug dosages, which is easy to follow and apply in real-case scenarios. A great guide for recent graduates who might struggle to find good references to treat diabetes or other common diseases.
2. Medical Mathematics for Veterinary Professionals – Another great book and lifesaving resource. I struggled with calculations a little bit in my clinical year. This book has all calculations you need to know in one place, providing practice exercises with step-by-step solutions. Some of the chapters cover topics like drug dosages, fluid rates, dilutions, drip rates, energy requirements, manual platelet count, blood cell count, and more. It also includes tables as a reference for fluid rates, corrected fluid deficit, urine output, and more.
3. The Merck Veterinary Manual – Maybe a given, but this is a very valuable book and online resource! It has a lot of information and includes both small and large animals. It makes it easy to look up diseases since it has been organized by the endocrine system, digestive system, circulatory system, and so on. The Manual provides relevant information such as clinical findings, common lesions, diagnosis, and prevention for each disease. It discusses the specificity and sensitivity of several diagnostic tools. The reference guide includes charts that are useful for remembering the normal values of rectal temperature, heart/respiratory rates, hematology, serum biochemistry, blood-gas test, and more.
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