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ABVP Handbook

Study & Reading Guide

Examination Blueprint

Mentors-Canine & Feline

 

Canine & Feline Practice Study & Reading Guide

Candidates for ABVP examination usually find recent review articles in journals to be helpful.

One of the best sources for current, in-depth review articles is the Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian published by Veterinary Learning Systems (subscription information at compendiumvet.com or by calling 800-426-9119).  The multiple-choice questions after each article help reinforce the material and have a similar format to the ABVP exam, so test-taking skills can be practiced.  Another useful periodical is The Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice published by Elsevier (vetsmall.theclinics.com or 800-654-2452).

Research-oriented journals that include topic reviews such as the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association are helpful.  Specific research studies are not included in the exam.  Candidates should be aware that due to the length of time between formulation of an exam item, validation, and organization into the databank the examination will not reflect very recent research studies.  Information from journals in the previous 2-10 year time period is more likely to be covered on the exam. 

The Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com or 800-700-4636) has many helpful features for candidates preparing for examination.  Continuing education courses, rounds sessions, message boards, abstracts from literature, proceedings, and search capabilities are all available.  The ABVP’s message board is listed under Associations and Foundations.  The International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org) maintains a library of books, proceedings, and articles.  The American Veterinary Medical Association (www.avma.org) has information on its website and in its members-only section (NOAH). 

National conferences and university continuing education seminars may present ABVP-level material.  State and local conferences are generally not as valuable.  Check the current information about ABVP meetings.

Studying with others is a good way to keep on track.  If you know colleagues who are also preparing for ABVP, feel free to contact them for support and motivation.  Your Regent is also happy to help facilitate the study process.

The following is a list of topics typically covered on the examination along with suggested textbooks.  The newest editions of these texts are recommended, and other recently published books may also be helpful.  Candidates are not expected to purchase or read all of these texts; emphasis should be on the areas of medicine and surgery where candidates feel deficient.

General Medicine

Bonagura JD, Twedt DC:  Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV, Elsevier, 2008

Bonagura JD:  Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIII Small Animal Practice, Elsevier, 2000

Tilley LP, Smith FW:  The Five-Minute Veterinary Consult:  Canine and Feline, 4th  ed., Wiley and Sons, 2008

General Medicine and Surgery

Birchard SJ, Sherding RG:  Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2006

Morgan RV:  Handbook of Small Animal Practice, 5th ed., Elsevier, 2008

Internal Medicine

August JR:  Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine Volume 5, Elsevier, 2006

Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC:  Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 6th ed., Elsevier, 2005

Nelson RW, Couto CG:  Small Animal Internal Medicine, 3rd ed., Mosby, 2003

Schaer M:  Clinical Medicine of the Dog and Cat, Iowa State Press, 2003

Behavior

Hart BL, Hart LA, Bain M:  Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy, 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2006

Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L:  Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2004

Horwitz DF, Mills DS, Heath S:  BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine, BSAVA, 2002

Hortwitz DF, Neilson JC:  Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, Blackwell, 2007

Cardiovascular

Tilley LP et al:  Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiology, 4th ed., Elsevier, 2008

Ware W:  Cardiovascular Disease in Small Animal Medicine, Blackwell, 2007

Endocrine

Feldman EC, Nelson RW:  Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2004

Mooney CT, Peterson ME:  BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Endocrinology, 3rd ed., BSAVA, 2004

Panciera DL, Carr AP:  Endocrinology for the Small Animal Practitioner, Teton NewMedia, 2006

Gastrointestinal

Hall E et al:  BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology, BSAVA, 2005

Steiner J:  Small Animal Gastroenterology, Blackwell, 2008

Tams TR:  Handbook of Small Animal Gastroenterology, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2003

Genetic

Ackerman L:  Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, AAHA, 1999

Hemic/lymphatic

Cowell RL et al:  Diagnostic Cytology And Hematology Of The Dog And Cat, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2008

Day MJ, Mackin A, Littlewood JD:  Manual of Canine and Feline Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, BSAVA, 2000

Immunologic

Tizard IR:  Veterinary Immunology: An Introduction, 8th ed., Elsevier, 2008

Day MJ:  Clinical Immunology of the Dog and Cat, 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2008

Infectious

Greene CE:  Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2006

Barr SC, Bowman DD:  The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion, Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Blackwell, 2006

Integument/mammary

Foil C, Foster A:  BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Dermatology, 2nd ed., BSAVA, 2003

Scott DW, Miller WH, Griffin CE:  Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology, 6th ed., Elsevier, 2001

Medleau L, Hnilica KA:  Small Animal Dermatology, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2006

Gross TL, Ihrke PJ, Walder EJ, et al:  Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2005

Metabolic

Cunningham JG, Klein BG:  Textbook of Veterinary Physiology, 4th ed., Elsevier, 2007

DiBartola SP:  Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2006

Willard MD, Tvedten H:  Small Animal Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods 4th ed., Elsevier, 2004

Musculoskeletal

Houlton J et al:BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Musculoskeletal Disorders, BSAVA, 2006

Slatter D:  Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2003

Fossum TW:  Small Animal Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2007

Piermattei DL et al:  Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair, 4th ed., Elsevier, 2006

Nervous

Bagley RS:  Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Neurology, Blackwell, 2005

Chrisman C:  Neurology for the Small Animal Practitioner, Teton New Media, 2002

Jaggy A:  Atlas and Textbook of Small Animal Neurology, Blackwell, 2007

Oliver JE, Lorenz MD, Kornegay JN:  Handbook of Veterinary Neurology, 4th ed., Elsevier, 2004

Platt S, Olby N:  BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology, BSAVA, 2004

Nutritional

Buffington T et al: Manual of Veterinary Dietetics, Elsevier, 2004.

Hand MS et al:  Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th ed., Mark Morris Institute, 2000

Oral/dentition

Gorrel C:  Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner, St. Louis, Elsevier Saunders, 2004

Bellows J:  The Practice of Veterinary Dentistry: A Team Effort, Iowa State Press, 1999

Tutt C et al:  BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dentistry, 3rd ed., BSAVA, 2007

Wiggs RB, Lobprise HB:  Veterinary Dentistry, Lippincott-Raven, 1999

Pathologic

Cheville NF:  Introduction to Veterinary Pathology, 3rd ed., Blackwell, 2006

McGavin MD et al:  Thomson's Special Veterinary Pathology, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2001

Pharmacologic

Boothe DM:  Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Elsevier, 2001

Adams HR:  Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 8th ed., Iowa State Press, 2001

Reproductive

Johnston DS, Kustritz MVR, Olson PNS:  Canine and Feline Theriogenology Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co., 2001

Feldman EC, Nelson RW:  Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, 3rd ed, St. Louis, Saunders, 2004

Respiratory

King LG:  Textbook of Respiratory Disease in Dogs and Cats, Elsevier, 2004

Special Senses

Barnett KC:  Diagnostic Atlas of Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2006

Dziezyc J, Millichamp NJ:  Color Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmology, Elsevier, 2005

Gelatt KN:  Veterinary Ophthalmology 4th ed., Blackwell, 2007

Gelatt KN:  Essentials of Veterinary Ophthalmology 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2008

Jones SP, Crispin S:  BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology, 2nd ed., BSAVA, 2002

Maggs DJ et al:  Slatter’s Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology 4th ed., Elsevier, 2008

Van Haagen AV:  Ear, Nose, Throat and Tracheobronchial Diseases in Dogs and Cats, Blackwell Publishing, 2005

Harvey RG et al:  Ear Diseases of the Dog and Cat, Iowa State Press, 2001

Gotthelf LN:  Small Animal Ear Diseases: An Illustrated Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2005

Surgical (general)

Fossum TW:  Small Animal Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2007   

Slatter D:  Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2003

Toxicologic

Gfeller RW, Messonnier SP:  Handbook of Small Animal Toxicology & Poisonings, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2004

Peterson ME, Talcott PA:  Small Animal Toxicology, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2006

Urogenital

Elliott J, Grauer GF:  BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Nephrology and Urology, 2nd ed., BSAVA, 2007 

Holt P:  Urological Disorders of the Dog and Cat, Blackwell, 2007

Zoonotic

Colville J, Berryhill G:  Handbook of Zoonoses - Identification and Prevention, Elsevier, 2007

Hugh-Jones ME et al:  Zoonoses: Recognition, Control, and Prevention, Iowa State Press, 2000