Small Animal Cardiovascular Medicine

by Mark D. Kittleson and Richard D. Kienle

Published by: Mosby Inc. 603 pages; 834 illustrations; 1998         

This textbook fills a previous void in the veterinary market for a comprehensive text of small animal cardiovascular medicine.  In addition, the book is logically organized, well written, superbly illustrated, and extensively referenced.  The authors’ stated intent was to provide a text that would be useful to students, interns, residents, general practitioners, and specialists in disciplines other than cardiology.  Overall, they have done a commendable job constructing a text that is, indeed, useful to such a diverse audience.  However, the often lengthy discussions of pathophysiology may somewhat limit the usefulness of the text to a busy general practitioner seeking a concise synopsis, and addition of a cardiovascular formulary would make the text a more useful clinical reference.

This text contains several excellent basic chapters covering embryology, anatomy, physiology, physical examination, radiography, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization.  Following these basic chapters are various general chapters discussing a range of topics including arrhythmias, antiarrhythmic agents, pathophysiology and management of congestive heart failure, syncope, and thromboembolic complications.  Included also is a useful and unique chapter focusing on classification of heart disease according to functional mechanism.

There are additional chapters presenting major congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases. Each of these chapters includes discussion of prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical features, management, and prognosis.  High quality photographs, primarily echocardiographic and radiographic, are included to illustrate and reinforce textual information. In addition, the book contains 120 color photos, many of which are post-mortem specimens and color Doppler images.  It is somewhat unfortunate that these color images are grouped collectively into three distinct sections of the book rather than being included with the appropriate textual discussions. However, this is a minor criticism considering the overall quality of the text and its illustrations.

As pointed out by the authors in their preface, much of the practice of veterinary cardiology is based on anecdotal evidence and extrapolation from human cardiology rather than on data from controlled clinical studies.  Consequently, there are many controversial aspects of diagnosis and management in this specialty.  In general, the authors have succeeded in identifying these controversies and presenting both sides of an issue.  The authors have actually done an admirable job of considering varying views and approaches and, ultimately, presenting recommendations based upon their interpretation of available data as well as upon their personal clinical experience.

 “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” (Old Scottish Proverb)

Janice M. Bright, BSN, MS, DVM

Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine & Cardiology)

Associate Professor, Colorado State University