Master the role and responsibilities of the veterinary assistant! Elsevier's Veterinary Assisting Textbook, 2nd Edition provides a comprehensive overview of all the skills you need to begin a career as a veterinary assistant. NAVTA-approved guidelines help in learning to assist in laboratory and radiographic procedures, properly restraining animals, setting up equipment and supplies, cleaning and maintaining practice facilities, feeding and exercising patients, collecting samples, handling and dispensing medications, grooming patients, and record keeping. From respected veterinary educator Margi Sirois, this book covers everything you need to know to pass the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) exam and succeed in clinical practice.

New to this Edition
•NEW! Basic coverage of large animals is included throughout the book, preparing you for the veterinary assistant's increasing role in large animal care.
•NEW! Additional radiographic positioning images in the Diagnostic Imaging chapter demonstrate the proper positioning for specific radiographic techniques.


Key Features
•Comprehensive coverage provides details on the tasks performed by veterinary assistants, and covers everything you need to know to pass the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) exam and succeed in clinical practice.
•Step-by-step instructions and hundreds of full-color photographs show veterinary assisting tasks and clarify key concepts.
•Information on office procedures and client relations prepares you to be involved in many of the business aspects of veterinary practice and to work closely with management staff.
•Expert authors and contributors focus on the topics that are most critical to effective veterinary assisting.
•Coverage of the workflow in a veterinary practice helps you understand your role as well as the roles of all the other members of the veterinary health care team.
•Critical Concept boxes highlight important points and provide useful tips to improve your knowledge and skills.
•Student-friendly features in each chapter include learning objectives, a chapter outline, and key terms, emphasizing the concepts you are expected to learn.
•A student workbook provides activities to help you apply concepts to veterinary practice, including definitions of key terms, review questions, crossword puzzles, illustration labeling, sample cases, and clinical applications. Available separately.

1. Overview of the Veterinary Profession
2. Office Procedures and Client Relations
3. Medical Terminology
4. Anatomy and Physiology
5. Pharmacology and Pharmacy
6. Animal Behavior and Restraint
7. Animal Husbandry and Nutrition
8. Animal Care and Nursing
9. Anesthesia and Surgical Assisting
10. Laboratory Procedures
11. Diagnostic Imaging
12. Avian and Exotic Animal Care and Nursing
13. Large Animal Nursing and Husbandry
Glossary
Appendices
A: Normal Physiologic Data in Adult Dogs and Cats
B: Summary of Lengths of Estrous Cycle and Gestation Periods in Dogs and Cats
C: Normal Daily Urine Production for Dogs and Cats
D: Normal Blood Gas Values
E: Normal Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Dogs and Cats
F: Hematology Reference Range Values
G: Normal Chemistry Values
H: Normal Urinalysis Findings
I: Hemostasis Reference Range Values
J: Veterinary Assistant Model Curriculum Association of Veterinary Technician Educators
K: Policy on Assistant Training Curriculum Approval