Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology is a clear and concise guide to pharmacology concepts and commonly used veterinary drugs. Providing a succinct overview of veterinary pharmacology, this book presents information in a user-friendly outline format to allow quick access to practical drug information.
With chapters covering the basic principles, specific drugs, interactions, and legal considerations, Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology offers up-to-date information on basic and clinical veterinary pharmacology. As an aid to student comprehension, simple line drawings depict the mechanisms of action and study questions with explanations are included at the end of each chapter.
Appendices on withdrawal times for drugs in production animals and drug dosages in domestic species are a valuable tool, allowing quick decisions on drug therapy. Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology is an indispensable text for veterinary students and practitioners.
Review – Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology
(Reviewed by Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 246, Issue 6, Page 623, March 2015)
The content of the second edition of the Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology has been updated since the 2008 release of the first edition. This edition remains true to the book’s original purpose, which was to provide a concise reference for pharmacological concepts that will be appreciated by veterinary students during their clinical training and clinicians, especially during their first few years of practice. The organization of this edition remains the same as that of the first, with a general overview of pharmacological principles applied to all agents followed by chapters that focus on areas of usage (eg, drugs that affect the nervous system, behavior-modifying drugs, and anesthetics) instead of specific disease states. It is effectively divided into areas of interest that allow readers to quickly find information about specific groups of drugs. For each agent discussed in each chapter, an extensive description of that agent’s pharmacodynamics is provided that includes its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects. Although the author discusses drug uses and administration options, this book is not meant to be a treatment guide.
The liberal use of highlighted text and the test questions provided at the end of each chapter reinforce the feeling that this is a traditional textbook. Although this edition is well written and concise, it remains a reference book and it is intended for readers interested in improving their understanding of why drugs work the way they do. I recommend this book for the backpack of all veterinary students who are in the clinical training phase of their education and for the library of any clinician who wants a quick reference regarding the pharmacodynamics of the drugs they may use. It is not a formulary that contains doses for drugs or compares commonly used drugs, nor is it intended to be used to direct treatment. This book is meant to be used as a quick reference for important pharmacological properties of almost all commonly and not so commonly used drugs in veterinary medicine, and I feel that it meets that goal.
Reviewed by David Aucoin, D.V.M., Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology
VCA Antech
Any vet school or practicing vet needs Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology: it’s a guide to pharmacology concepts and commonly used veterinary drugs and provides an easy outline format to allow for quick access to drug information. Easy line drawings showing the mechanisms of action and study questions are included at the end of each chapter, with details on drug dosages, drug therapy for different domestic species, and clear diagrams. Perfect for students and practicing vets seeking a quick reference. –Midwest Book Review, January 2009
Review of First Edition: The explosive growth of pharmacologic information in recent decades has resulted in vast amounts of complex information that is often difficult for busy clinicians to assimilate and prioritize. The Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology offers a solution to this quandary by providing a concise reference for veterinary students and practitioners. The book focuses on applicable information about the drugs that are most likely to be used in clinical practice. It is appropriately organized, beginning with an introductory chapter that summarizes the fundamentals of the science of pharmacology, followed by chapters that are categorized in an intuitive manner for clinicians.
Because it is nearly impossible for a single individual to have full knowledge of all areas of pharmacology, the editor had various experts contribute chapters based on their expertise. An effort has been made to keep the information easy to locate by organizing all of the chapters in a similar manner. There are also helpful summary and explanatory diagrams in some chapters. Tables of dosage regimens and withdrawal times, which can serve as a quick reference for busy practitioners, as well as study questions and answers at the end of each chapter help readers assess their understanding of the material. –JAVMA, Vol 234 (6): page 760, March 15, 2009
Review of First Edition: This handbook for veterinary pharmacology has been designed as a quick reference in the field for practical drug information, including data on drug interactions and legal considerations. Hsu (Iowa State U. College of Veterinary Medicine) has arranged this reference to emphasize the most commonly used drugs to treat animals, and includes plenty of diagrams and illustrations to explain the chemical mechanisms behind each medication. Study questions have been provided at the end of each chapter, which will enable this book to be used in the classroom as well. –SciTech Book News, December 2008
Review of First Edition: This text is very nicely organized and concise. It contains 20 chapters, most of which focus on a class of group of drugs (eg, anesthetics, diuretics, fluid and blood therapy). The text is in outline format and is highly readable. Each chapter is followed by practice questions with answers (and explanations) included. The chapters on pharmacology fundamentals (principles of drug action, drug interactions and adverse drug reactions, legal aspects of medication usage) are up to date and provide excellent clinical relevant examples for the concepts presented.
The “drug parade” chapters are also up to date, and include newer drugs such as maropitant and pimbendan. Overall this text is excellent. I would gladly use it as a resource for first and second year veterinary students learning pharmacology. It would also be useful to veterinary students in their clinical years, as well as new veterinary graduates. –“Handbook of Veterinary Pharmacology” was published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. Vol. 12 (4) p. 363, 2010, by Dr. Lauren Trepanier, University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine
About the Author
Walter H. Hsu, DVM, PhD, is a Professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa, U.S.A.
