BOOK REVIEW

Veterinary Surgery 25 417, 1996

Applied Pharmacology for the Veterinary Technician by Boyce P. Wanamaker and Christy L. Pettes

DUCATORS who are looking for a pharmacol- E ogy textbook and veterinary technicians who are already in practice will find Applied Pharmacdogy for the Veterinary Technician by Boyce P. Wana- maker and Christy L. Pettes to be an excellent basic text that presents veterinary pharmacology in an eas- ily accessible form. The book contains many features that make it a good teaching tool. Each chapter starts with an outline of its contents, a set of learning objec- tives, and a table that contains short definitions of important terms that will be found, printed in bold type, throughout the text. The authors have filled the book with tables, illustrations, photographs, and ‘‘Technician Notes” that contain information re- garding hazards or misuse of medication and tips on how to administer medication. The chapters that cover the drugs used for a particular organ system also contain information on the anatomy and physi- ology of the system. Every chapter ends with a list of review questions that are answered at the end of the book.

The authors have clearly thought about what vet- erinary technicians must know about drugs to do their jobs effectively. At the most basic level techni- cians need to know the correct route and technique for administration of drugs and how to calculate the dose properly. These fundamental techniques are discussed in several chapters of the book. There is a chapter on routes and techniques of drug adminis- tration and a chapter that describes units of measure and explains how to do dosage calculations. The subject of drug administration and dosage is de- scribed in detail in the text and illustrated with dia- grams and photographs. Examples of drug dose cal- culations are worked out, and sample problems are given for the student to solve. The chapter that cov- ers fluid therapy also includes a description of how to administer and monitor intravenous fluids. Veteri-

nary technicians also assist the veterinarian by edu- cating clients, recognizing adverse reactions to drugs, and by making the veterinarian aware of situa- tions that might influence whether or not a drug should be used. Performing these jobs requires a deeper understanding of physiology and pharmacol- ogy. The chapter on cardiovascular drugs provides a good example of how the authors give the technician insight into how a particular class of drugs is used to treat a disease and how that treatment affects the patient. The chapter begins with an introduction dealing with cardiac disease in veterinary practice and the technician’s role in its treatment. The authors then describe the anatomy and physiology of the heart, compensatory mechanisms of the cardiovascu- lar system, and basic objectives in the treatment of cardiovascular disease before they discuss cardio- vascular drugs. Cardiovascular drugs are divided into sections on positive inotropes, antiarrhythmic drugs, vasodilator drugs, and diuretics. Each of these cate- gories includes information on the mechanism of action of the drug, its adverse effects, its clinical uses, and dosage forms.

Although I have found nothing in terms of content or presentation that would prevent me from recom- mending this book, the chapter on central nervous system drugs might be improved in future editions by including a section on volatile anesthetic agents. Isoflurane and halothane are used in most veterinary practices on a daily basis and certainly deserve to be included.

Applied Pharmacology for the Veterinary Techni- cian, written by Boyce P. Wanamaker and Christy L. Pettes. Published by W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1996, 372 pages, illustrated.

CRAIG CORNELL, BS, RVT DAVIS, CA

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