Veterinary Medical Guide to Dog and Cat Breeds
The authors have released a clear and concise guide to medical conditions and breed information of 171 dog and 42 cat breeds with the first edition of this text. The introductory chapters provide the reader with a review of basic Mendelian genetics and expand to include information on breeding systems, genetic diversity, testing, registries, counseling, as well as recommendations for breeders. Further sections expand on genetic principles including definitions and advice for breeders regarding many modes of inheritance and types of genetic disorders.   The meat and potatoes of the book are the breed information vignettes themselves. Listed in alphabetical order, each breed is represented with a clear color image as well as several sections depicting historical and medical information. Each vignette spans 1-5 pages and provides the reader with breed history, function, physical characteristics (including ideal weight and typical lifespan), recognized behavior issues, normal physiologic variations, drug sensitivities, inherited diseases, disease predispositions, isolated case studies (for those zebra conditions out there), genetic tests, miscellaneous facts, and references. The clear headings make these sections easy to follow, concise, and provide peer-reviewed references for the scientific information contained within.  The final portions of the book contain several appendices providing an easy reference for available genetic tests, genetic testing centers, and a quick reference for breed specific conditions by breed. Several listings of cat and dog registries and kennel clubs, and a glossary of genetic terms are provided for those of us that may have long forgotten high school biology!  My only complaint with the text (if you can call it a complaint, more of a caution...) is that due to the ever-evolving field of genetic testing and markers, I fear that the book will become outdated quickly. New genetic tests are appearing every day, so I caution any practitioner using this book for genetic counseling to search elsewhere to supplement the most current information.  Overall I found this book extremely useful and engaging. It was easy to follow and the information provided is easy to find and use in a busy practice setting. The breed personality descriptions are entertaining, and according to the purebred dog owners on my staff, highly accurate. I personally found the breed summaries convenient enough to be able to copy and provide as handouts to my purebred and breeder clients. I feel this book is a must-have for any practitioner working with purebred dog or cat breeders and owners and I am happy to have it on my shelf. --Veterinary Information Network