Feline Practice Study & Reading Guide

The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Feline Practice category congratulates you on your decision to pursue certification!

ABVP Feline Practice Category Examination

Questions on the examinations are of varying difficulty. All questions are referenced and have been reviewed by at least two (2) Diplomates. Every attempt has been made to verify that there is only one (1) right answer for each question and that each question reads clearly. However, if you would like to contest a question, please make note of the question and send your defense to ABVP within one (1) week of testing.

The Specialty Exam consists of three hundred (300) multiple choice questions administered in two (2) sections of one hundred fifty (150) questions each. Each section is over a four (4) hour period. The Feline Practical Exam will be seventy five (75) multiple choice questions with accompanying images. The presentation will be in PowerPoint and will require visual recognition of certain conditions as well as interpretation of laboratory results from the clinical case scenarios. The examination will take approximately three (3) hours.

Preparation for the ABVP Feline Practice Category Exam

Most Diplomates feel the most important factor for success was consistent studying every day. Plan on approximately one (1) hour a day of studying for the year prior to taking the exam. A total of 200-300 hours of studying is average. Be sure to review the general study recommendations for all ABVP Practice Categories.

Allocate your time based on the examination blueprint. Feline medicine specific publications can be helpful in determining your strengths and weakness and setting up your overall study plan. Candidates should be familiar with all current feline related topics. Material published within the year preceding the exam is not presented in the exam. Suggested texts and journals include:

• Little S: The Cat Clinical Medicine and Management, Elsevier, 2011
• August JR: Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine Volumes 5-6, Elsevier, 2006-2010
• Norsworthy G: The Feline Patient, 3rd ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2006
• Rand J: Problem-based Feline Medicine, Elsevier, 2006
• Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
• Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Clinical Practice
• Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian
• American Journal of Veterinary Research
• Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
• Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice

National conferences and university continuing education seminars may present ABVP-level material. AAFP offers feline tracks at national meetings in addition to its annual conference that offers appropriate level feline continuing education. ABVP's Symposium has a two (2) day track of feline continuing education designed for ABVP candidates and Diplomates.

Specific literature may help in the understanding of each topic. The following is a partial list of texts available. Additional in-depth material for each category may be accessed online on www.VIN.com.

General Medicine and Surgery

• Bonagura JD, Twedt DC: Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIV, Elsevier, 2008
• Cote E: Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats, 2nd ed., Mosby, 2011
• Tilley LP, Smith FW: TheFive-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, 4th ed., Wiley and Sons, 2008
• 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
• 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 Behavioral 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

Genetic

• Pedersen N: Feline Husbandry Pedersen, 2006

Hemic/Lymphatic

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

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

• Medleau L, Hnilica KA: Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2011
• 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

Musculoskeletal

• Houlton J et al:BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Musculoskeletal Disorders, BSAVA, 2006
• Hudson L, Hamilton W: Atlas of Feline Anatomy for Veterinarians, WB Saunders 1993

Nervous

• Bagley RS: Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Neurology, Blackwell, 2005
• Jaggy A: Atlas and Textbook of Small Animal Neurology, Blackwell, 2007

Nutritional

• Pibot P: Encyclopedia of Feline Clinical Nutrition, Royal Canin, 2008
• Buffington T et al: Manual of Veterinary Dietetics, Elsevier, 2004

Oral/Dentition

• Bellows, J: Feline Dentistry: Oral Assessment, Treatment, and Preventive Care
• Tutt C et al: BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dentistry, 3rd ed., BSAVA, 2007

Oncology

• Ogilvie G: Feline Oncology, Veterinary Learning Systems 2001

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

• Plumb D: Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., Blackwell, 2011
• Boothe DM: Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Elsevier, 2001
• Adams HR: Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 8th ed., Iowa State Press, 2001 

Reproductive

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

Surgical

• 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

* This is not an inclusive list. If you would like to have a publication considered for this list, please contact the feline regent.

Example Questions

To avoid the major complication of urethral stomal stenosis in perineal urethrostomy, which structures anchoring the urethra must be identified and transected?

1. Ventral ligament and the bilateral ischiocavernosus/ischiourethralis muscles
2. Ventral ligament, dorsal ligament, and bilateral retractor penile muscles
3. Dorsal ligament and the bilateral bulbourethralis muscles

Which one of the following breeds has the highest frequency of type B blood?

1. British Shorthair
2. Tonkinese
3. Himalayan

In the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, it is important to monitor for which of the following complications?

1. hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia
2. hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia
3. hypokalemia and hypercalcemia

Nystagmus may be associated with peripheral vestibular, central vestibular, and occasionally cerebellar lesions. The nystagmus associated with a peripheral vestibular lesion is most likely to:

1. be horizontal or rotary with the quick phase directed away from the side of the lesion
2. be vertical or rotary with the quick phase directed toward the side of the lesion
3. be horizontal or rotary with quick phase directed toward the side of the lesion

 

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