• Section 1: Emergency Care Prehospital management of the injured animalInitial emergency examination, management, and triageEmergency diagnostic and therapeutic proceduresPain: assessment, prevention, and managementEmergency management of specific conditions Section 2: Patient Evaluation and Organ System ExaminationPatient evaluation The medical record The organ system examination Section 3: Clinical SignsAbdominal enlargement with ascitesAbdominal enlargement without ascitesAggressionAlopecia (See hair loss)Ataxia (See incoordination) Blindness (See vision loss)Blood in urine: hematuria, hemoglobinuria, myoglobinuria Coma: loss of consciousness Constipation (obstipation) Cough Coughing blood: hemoptysis Deafness or hearing loss Decreased urine production: oliguria and anuria Diarrhea, acute-onset Diarrhea, chronic Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress: cyanosis Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress: dyspnea Difficulty swallowing: dysphagia Hair loss: alopecia Hemorrhage (See spontaneous bleeding)Icterus (See yellow skin)Incoordination: ataxia Increased urination and water consumption: polyuria and polydipsia Itching or scratching: pruritus Jaundice (See yellow skin)Joint swelling: arthropathy Loss of appetite: anorexia Lymph node enlargement: lymphadenomegaly Pain Painful urination: dysuria (See straining to urinate)Painful defecation: dyschezia (See straining to defecate)Rectal and anal pain (See straining to defecate)Regurgitation Seizures (convulsions or epilepsy) Sneezing and nasal discharge Spontaneous bleeding: hemorrhage Straining to defecate: dyschezia Straining to urinate: dysuria Swelling of the limbs: peripheral edema Uncontrolled urination: urinary incontinence Vision loss: total blindness Vomiting Vomiting blood: hematemesis Weakness, lethargy, fatigue Weight loss: emaciation, cachexia Yellow skin or mucous membranes: icterus (or jaundice) Section 4: Diagnostic and Therapeutic ProceduresRoutine ProceduresDermatologic ProceduresAdvanced ProceduresSection 5: Laboratory Diagnosis and Test ProtocolsCommon reference range valuesSample handlingSubmission requirements for rabies suspectsHistopathology and cytopathologyBiochemistry--routineRoutine biochemical testingSpecial diagnostic tests and test protocolsHemostasis and coagulationEndocrinologyImmunologyInfectious disease serology and microbiologyUrineSection 6: Charts and Tables6-1: Emergency Hotlines6-2: Dog Breeds Recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC)6-3: Cat Breeds Recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)6-4: Useful Information for Rodents and Rabbits 6-5: Determination of the Sex of Mature and Immature Rodents and Rabbits 6-6: Blood Values and Serum Chemical Constituents for Rodents and Rabbits 6-7: Ferrets--Physiologic, Anatomic, and Reproductive Data6-8: Hematologic Values for Normal Ferrets6-9: Serum Chemistry Values for Normal Ferrets6-10: Electrocardiographic Data for Normal Ferrets6-11: Conversion of Body Weight in Kilograms to Body Surface Area in Meters Squared for Dogs6-12: Conversion of Body Weight in Kilograms to Body Surface Area in Meters Squared for Cats6-13: French Scale Conversion Table6-14: International System of Units (SI) Conversion Guide6-15: Units of Length, Volume, and Mass in the Metric System6-16: Vaccines Licensed for Use in Dogs in the United States6-17: Vaccines Licensed for Use in Cats in the United States6-18: Canine Vaccination Recommendations-Initial Puppy Series6-19: Canine Vaccination Recommendations-Adult6-20: Feline Vaccination Recommendations-Initial Kitten Series6-21: Feline Vaccination Recommendations-Adult6-22: Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2005, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV) 6-23: Prescription Writing Reference... Do's and Don'ts6-24: Common Drug Indications and Dosages

"From the perspective of using a book day-to-day as a reference for procedures, it is great" Veterinary Record, January 2012 "This handbook is designed to provide a wide range of veterinary information in an easy-to-access format. The overall focus of this book is as the title describes, however a large portion of the text is also a resource for consultation and physical examination advice, as well as a diagnostic aid for both emergency and non-emergency conditions...Kirk and Bistner's handbook of veterinary procedures and emergency treatment is directed to the veterinary technician, but is obviously handy reference for the experienced practitioner...if used more extensively will become a valuable resource for refreshing one's basic skill and knowledge in a general or emergency clinical setting."Australian Veterinary Journal, September 2012